Dusty!

[RSS]

I don't think I've ever blogged about Kenner's Dusty, which was their attempt to get in some of those pink Barbie dollars. A lot of effort went into the line, and I think Kenner seemed to be intentionally making Dusty look far less glamourous. While Barbie was a model, Dusty looked like your pretty neighbour.

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[Werewolf]

I remember Dusty. "Less glamourous" is being kind. From what I remember, the doll was considered down right homely and sold rather poorly. Kenner faired better with their Darci line a few years later. Many of Darci's molds were then later reused and slightly altered for their Jem line.

[HardyGirl]

The line was a pretty cool innovation, w/ the sports action and all, but the doll really was ugly. I remember when I would go to my friend's house, she had this doll, and while the accessories intrigued me, I never really wanted to play w/ it. I think later on, she got the black version called Skye.

[Werewolf]

but the doll really was ugly.

The last series of Dusty dolls were ugly. The first issue dolls were scary ugly.

[Earth 2 Chris]

No offense to anyone, but the name "Dusty" doesn't conjure up the idea of an attractive woman to me anyhow. More like a faithful golden retriever or something...

20 years ago, some fly-by-night toy company marketed a "Happy to be Me" doll that promoted a more realistic self-image by portraying a doll that had fairly anatomically correct proportions, including a thick waistline, human-sized hands, etc. I remember my future-wife buying one of these on one of the many occasions I dragged her to TRU. She felt it was a good message (and honestly, I did too), but it wasn't long before she had enough Barbies to fill a moving truck. It was a gateway drug, I tells ya...

Chris

[MIB41]

When I think of the name, I think of Dusty Springfield. And I'm confident that was the inspiration for the figure since she was such a big star in those days. The doll even looks a little like her. I think Mego went after anyone who had a presence during that time. Anything to distinguish them from the rest of the industry. They did that well for a while.

[palitoy]

I remember Dusty. "Less glamourous" is being kind.

It was, it seemed kind of negative of me to crap on what could be somebody's favourite childhood toy but jeez, the sculpt combined with that expression kind of makes me think of my uncle's third scary wife. Just missing the Benson and Hedges king size dangling from her finger.

[EMCE Hammer]

Scott Adams is doing an Ebay search for "Dusty plane" as I write this.

[Werewolf]

It was, it seemed kind of negative of me to crap on what could be somebody's favourite childhood toy but jeez,

It was a nice sentiment. But I really don't think Dusty was, honestly, too many people's favorite childhood toy. With her short, thin, choppy, uneven bleached white hair, stocky broad shouldered build, overly tanned skin, freckled face and demented expression, Dusty is considered one the ugliest fashion dolls ever made.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^Yeah, I mentioned this thread to Cindy this morning:

"Ever heard of a doll called 'Dusty'?"

"Yeah, ugliest fashion doll ever made."

Chris

[jwyblejr]

If she looked like my neighbor,I would have ran for the hills.

[turnbolt]

God Bless early Kenner.

[The Toyroom]

I must be the only one that likes Dusty because she IS so creepy looking I have one in baseball gear on display

[torgospizza]

I don't think Dusty's creepy, just kind of tomboy-ish. I don't have one, but I thought it was gutsy of Kenner to make a fashion doll that was like a plastic version of Jodi Foster.

[megoscott]

Scott Adams is doing an Ebay search for "Dusty plane" as I write this.

Pass. Did they even make it? The Barbie is the same design and as common as dirt.