Francie's Groovy Day

 Mattel's recent reproduction of the Black Francie doll reignites Dolldom's passion for the styles of the late 1960s. And "Floatin' In" Francie is the perfect model muse to star in a little adventure into the world of Crest of the Hill Knits' (formerly Hill Crest Barbies) hand crafted fashions.

Associated with the homemade, knitted garments are often overlooked and under appreciated by collectors of fashion dolls. But Dolldom is sure that this Black Francie and Crest of the Hill Knits combo will surely whet your appetite for a little yarn. Knitted specifically for the slender silhouette of Barbie doll's MODern cousin, the looks reference Flower Power, YSL and Emma Peel. Isn't that groovy?

Crest of the Hill Knits on Etsy

A Flower a Day...

This saturated marigold yellow dress features a single cornflower blue blossom producing undeniable graphic impact. 

Museum Piece...Not!

The reference to YSL's famous Mondrian dress is there but with a glittered driving cap by Maryann Roy and her swinging attitude, Francie takes the look out of the museum and into the streets of Swinging London. 

The Emmapeeler

Cause a gal needs to have a black catsuit! Knitted to fit like a glove, Francie's jumpsuit features shot-with-silver-thread black yarn for extra glam. 

Credits:

All fashions by Crest of the Hill Knits on Etsy

Driving cap and "apostrophe" chair by Maryann Roy

Table by Darren Cole for LizRetros

Note: Francie's hair was restyled for these photos. The restyling consisted of washing, hot water straightening and then careful trimming of the ends. 

À la MOD*ern Cousin

The Francie doll defines youthful style. To this day, Barbie doll's MOD*ern cousin is the point of reference for any doll-related evocation of the 1960's Swinging London look.

Recently, HillCrestBarbies, known for its delightful vintage-inspired knit fashions, offered two fancy numbers for Francie and friends of which our editors took notice. After a couple of messages and exchanged photos, Henrietta Lockhardt, owner and master knitter, came up with three very Francie Fairchild looks that inpsired this ode to the cousin who brought the Mod Era to the world of the Barbie doll.

For more information on HillCrestBarbies' knits visit Ms. Lockhardt's Etsy boutique.



"La Fleur" combines marigold yellow and cornflower blue in perfect day dress, modeled by Silkstone "Kitty Corner" Francie (restyled by Bobby Taylor).





"Color Lines", modeled by a Japanese issue Francie, is a cheery combo of horizontal stripes. Hat by Maryann Roy. Purse by Integrity Toys for Poppy Parker.





"Square-Off" is HillCrestBarbies' tribute to YSL's "Mondrian" dress, modeled by the one and only Twiggy doll. Hat from Barbie's "London Tour" ensemble.





"Cat, Girl", modeled by a straight leg standard Francie,  is a cozy black jumpsuit of subtle sparkling yarn. Necklace by Robert Best for Model of the Moment line.

 



"Go, Go-Go!" closes the show with a splash of pink, cream, and lavender. The quintessential dancing dress, modeled by a first-issue black Francie, is made for fun. Necklace by Mattel. Hose and shoes from Francie's "The Silver Cage" fashion.

Francie and SquishTish

Joana Costa, owner and designer of SquishTish, is known for her handmade clothing for dolls. SquishTish always surprises with a well-curated selection of textiles unlike anything else in the market. SquishTish's designs are exemplars of classic simplicity with clean lines, youthful silhouettes, and a most precise fit.

MODenr cousin Francie, in her "Kitty Corner Silkstone" iteration (restyled by genius extraordinaire Bobby Taylor of Pink Bubbles Doll Spa) models a pitch-perfect ode to the 1960s: two darling dresses that evoke the art of Vera Newman - fresh, new, joyful.

Dolldom wishes to thank Joana Costa and SquishTish for another inspiring collaboration. Muito obrigado!

Francie's 50th!

When one's cousin turns fifty, what to do? Throw a big party! And that's exactly what the Barbie doll is doing in this Dolldom exclusive entry - celebrate her MOD*ern cousin!

Francie was introduced in a smooth black and white commercial back in 1966:

" This is Francie. Long hair. Real lashes. And bendable legs. She's MOD. Real kicky things. Granny gowns, groovy jumpers, and stockings. Like wild! Francie, Mattel's MODern new teenage doll. She's what's happening. You can tell she's Mattel, she's groovy"

And groovy she is as the following photos illustrate.

Happy 50th, Groovy Girl!


Hello, I'm Francie Fairchild
Portrait of a brunette standard Francie doll. This doll has been closely reproduced by Mattel's Bill Greening in her 50th Anniversary version.

Mod*ern Cousin, You Bet!
A standard brunette Francie doll arrives to shake things up in Barbie doll's world! Her hooded ensemble, "1264 "Swingin' Skimmy" from 1966-67, and #1250 "Gad-Abouts" from 1966-67 evoke the Youthquake period to perfection.

Malibu Style
A first issue Malibu Francie from 1971 is ready to impress her fellow sun-seekers in #1290 "Denims On!" from 1967




Francie in Japan 
The Francie doll was immensely popular in Japan, so much that she had her own Japanese face-up and fashions. Sold only with brunette hair, Japanese Francie models a reproduction of her lace kimono, made with loving expertise by Sylvia Campbell for Snowdance Fashions.


Most Beautiful Francie
A Black Twist-and-Turn Francie from 1967 represents a bold move to integrate African American dolls into Barbie doll's world. Miss Francie looks smashing in #1208 "The Silver Cage" from 1968-69.

Pink and Pure
A blonde Francie Twist-and-Turn- looks spring-perfect in  #1276 "Summer Frost" from 1967.


Brave New World
Francie came back in 2012 as part of the BFMC and made of Silkstone. Kitty Corner models a vintage Royal two-piece set made in British Hong Kong and her original stockings and shoes. Her hair was restyled by Bobby Taylor of Pink Bubbles Doll Spa.


The London Look
Green and blue combine in two different yet very iconic looks: #1250 "Gad-Abouts" from 1966-67 on a blonde standard Francie doll and #1251 "It's A Date!" from 1966 on a brunette bendable leg doll. Mid-Centrury Modern table by Darren Cole for Retros. Chair by Maryann Roy.




I'm with Francie!
Francie ushered a new era to the Barbie doll's world. In #1207 "Floating-In" from 1968-69, a blonde bendable leg doll leads her cousin in style and youth appeal.


At the Parade
The color palette of #1266 "Quick Shift" from 1966 matches Midge's "Poodle Parade" (#1643) from 1965.


Out of the Bag
A "baggie" Francie (Mattel sold left-over dolls in clear plastic bag packages in 1975) gives good face in #1291 "Check This!" from 1967.


Happy Birthday, Francie!
The gang comes together to wish Francie the very best. Francie chooses to model Poppy Parker's Joyful Celebration gown at her very joyful celebration.

Dolldom dedicates this feature to Mr. A. Glenn Mandeville whose research and photographic work in the area of vintage Barbie and other fashion dolls has and continues to inspire us.

Credits:
Sylvia Campbell's Snowdance Fashions

Bobby Taylor's Pink Bubbles Doll Spa 

Welcome Home Furniture 

Darren Cole Furniture 

Morrison Furniture Studio

Francie's Finally Fabulous

Francie made her debut in Silkstone in 2011. Dolldom cheered the return of the Barbie doll's cousin to the fabulous world of the Barbie Fashion Model Collection.



The new body sculpt retains the original doll's measurements with enhanced detailing of her hands and feet, so it's easy to welcome a Silkstone Francie to your collection and have her model fashions from the fab mid 1960s or any of the superb creations available from many gifted freelance designers. Even her chair, handmade by Maryann Roy, illustrates the wealth of offerings of which our dolls may partake these days.

For this exclusive portfolio, Kitty Corner Francie went to Pink Bubbles Spa to have her hair styled. The operation performed by the professionals at Pink Bubbles achieved the look that the prototype doll has but that was not achieved in production. Dolldom wonders out loud why hairstyles these days seldom attain the level of precision and respect to scale that was the standard when Barbie was manufactured in Japan. But we digress, for this is all about Francie being finally fabulous.

In Monsieur Z's Flaunt It fashion, a white enamel cuff bracelet, mood ring by Joy Jarred, and her newly styled flip, Miss Fairchild gives Dolldom a little bit of Youthquake fun! Enjoy!