Barbie has been collected seriously for over 60 years, and the market is bigger than most people think — from $15 Fashionistas to vintage pieces worth hundreds. Here's how to think about it.
Boxed vs. loose
The single biggest value factor is the box. A doll new in box (NIB) with its accessories is worth more than the same doll loose, and it's much easier to resell. If you're buying to collect, buy boxed when you can. If you're buying to display, loose is fine — just check that all the accessories are there.
Fashionistas: the modern line
Mattel's Fashionistas line is where most new collectors start — diverse body types, skin tones, and hair, at play-line prices. Current examples in the store: Fashionistas #125, Curvy African American with purple hair ($18.76), the Vitiligo doll with curly brunette hair ($16.08), and the Fashionista in a sweater dress with a prosthetic leg ($16.08). The long pink hair Fashionista in a red paisley top and skirt is $30.00.
Fantasy and Dreamtopia
The fantasy lines are popular gifts: the Dreamtopia Sweetville Princess ($16.75) and the Fantasy Hair doll with mermaid and unicorn looks ($36.18).
Vintage is getting harder to find complete
Early-90s pieces with all their accessories are drying up. The 1993 Ken Activewear baseball outfit ($50.25) is a good example — a complete vintage outfit, not just the doll.
Keeping a collection in shape
Keep boxed dolls out of direct sun and heat, which fade boxes and yellow plastic. Store loose dolls standing or wrapped in acid-free tissue, never in an attic or garage where temperature swings do the damage. And keep the accessories with the doll — a complete doll is worth more than a pretty one missing its shoes.
