by Dolly DeVonderland

Created on: February 14, 2009

Barbie is an icon, not just a doll. Collecting these beautifully sculpted and dressed little ladies attracts many different types of collectors. Before you rush out to begin your collection, bear in mind that while increasing in value is nice, it's a hobby to collect something. Collect what you enjoy first and foremost, should it be play line' dolls intended for children's hairdressing or fairy tale fantasies or vintage reproductions kept mint in their boxes. The modern production items offered by Mattel range from high-end collector dolls to pink box' play dolls, and there's a collector out there for every single one. Finding where your tastes and budget fit into this spectrum is where the fun comes in, would you prefer to own one strikingly beautiful limited edition doll or a whole stack of play line dolls to redress and display?

Of the myriad of niches within the collecting world, one of the more interesting to me is the foreign release, dolls and fashions made for Europe, Asia and anywhere besides Barbie's home in the United States. Some collectors take delight in the intricately patterned saris of the dolls made for India, while darling school girls and sweetly innocent fashions are offered in Japan. During the 70's, which is technically is modern' Barbie to the collector market, Germany saw a stunningly fresh-faced version of Francie, that Mod-ern' cousin, who is highly sought after by collectors. Store exclusives can also yield some very precious gems to a collector, over the years Barbie has shopped at United Colors of Benetton, Target, The Gap and Paul Frank just to name a few of the highly collectible store exclusive dolls. Focusing your collection is one way to enjoy Barbie, but collect what you love and love what you collect and you'll never regret it.

Fashion designers have also long been friends with our beloved Miss Barbara Millicent Roberts, as she may be known to the seasoned collector. Bob Mackie has dressed some of the most memorable collector edition dolls, so much so that one of the more popular facial molds is known as the Mackie face'. Vera Wang, Todd Oldham and many other high end designers have worked with Mattel to create stunning ways to enjoy designer labels without filling your own closet, or draining your checkbook.

One of the more budget-minded ways of collecting modern Barbies is the split; wherein dolls and their outfits are offered up for sale separately by a private individual often found on auction sites and occasionally on message boards for the sale or swap of dolls. A stunning gown from a collector edition doll can be worn just as gracefully by a play line doll, should that be your favorite model. It can take diligent searching to find the piece you really want, but somewhere it's up for sale. The costumes of certain dolls have become so popular with collectors of other types of fashion dolls that certain pieces can cost more than the whole set did when released!

Whether you find that you like your dolls all perfectly presented in their original boxes or you prefer to redress a favorite doll you've lovingly customized in all the latest fashions, there's no wrong way to collect. Collecting for the increase in value is the wrong mindset; if you'd like to make money, spend your time working. Collecting Barbie dolls should be about the joy the collection brings to you. If you find several unrelated dolls you simply adore, don't worry that your collection has no focus, it does have a focus, it's things you love.

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