I find so much joy in adding another beautiful fashion doll to my collection, and Barbie Deluxe Style Doll #13 immediately caught my attention because she has such a fun, glamorous look. I love dolls that feel fashionable enough to display while still inspiring me to imagine different outfits, hairstyles, photographs, and little scenes for my dollhouse. This doll is part of Mattel’s Barbie Deluxe Style collection, which focuses heavily on fashion, statement fabrics, trendy silhouettes, and accessories. Doll #13 has a particularly pretty combination of bright Barbie pink and glossy black that gives her a modern, dressed-up look without making her feel too formal.
First Impressions of Barbie Deluxe Style Doll #13
My first impression of this doll is that she is very pretty and very stylish. There is quite a lot happening with her outfit, but everything coordinates beautifully. The pink, black, and silver colour combination gives her a polished fashion-doll appearance, while her long black hair creates a gorgeous contrast against the bright pink clothing.
Another detail I really like is her petite body type. I enjoy seeing different body types among fashion dolls because it makes a collection much more interesting. It also gives me another doll to think about when designing and sewing doll clothes, since different Barbie body types can create slightly different fits and silhouettes.
Her Face, Hair & Overall Look
Barbie Deluxe Style Doll #13 has long black hair, brown eyes, and a medium skin tone. Her dark hair is one of my favourite things about her overall appearance because it looks especially beautiful with the bright pink top.
Her makeup also complements the outfit rather than disappearing behind it. The pink tones around the eyes and lips continue the colour story of her clothing, giving the entire doll a deliberately coordinated appearance. She feels like a doll that was designed as one complete fashion look rather than simply a doll wearing a random outfit.
I can also imagine her looking beautiful after a restyle. Long dark hair gives you so many possibilities for doll photography and fashion displays, whether it is worn loose, pulled into a ponytail, styled with tiny accessories, or paired with completely different clothing.
The Pink Off-Shoulder Top
The pink off-shoulder top is probably my favourite part of her original outfit. Mattel describes it as a velvety pink top with statement sleeves.
Of course, I have a soft spot for off-shoulder blouses on fashion dolls! This one has a very feminine silhouette, and the dramatic sleeves give it much more personality than a simple fitted doll top would have.
I also love the texture. When you are working with clothing this tiny, fabric choice can make such a difference. Using a fabric with a noticeable texture helps the top look more like an intentional miniature fashion piece.
The Glossy Black Mini Skirt
The bright pink top is paired with a glossy black mini skirt with a slit. I think the black skirt was a good choice because it keeps all that bright pink from becoming overwhelming.
The glossy finish also adds another texture to the outfit. You have the soft-looking pink top against the sleek black skirt, which makes the separate pieces stand out from one another.
I could easily see myself separating these pieces when restyling the doll. The pink blouse could look cute with a tiny denim skirt, trousers, or a fuller handmade skirt, while the black mini skirt could be paired with all sorts of miniature blouses and tops.
Shoes, Handbag, Sunglasses & Jewellery
Accessories can make such a difference with fashion dolls, and Doll #13 comes with a nice selection. Her outfit is completed with silver jewellery, black strappy heels, a pink purse, and pink sunglasses.
I especially like the little pink handbag because it continues the pink theme without introducing another competing colour. The black heels coordinate with the skirt, while the silver jewellery gives the outfit a little sparkle.
The sunglasses make the look feel playful and very fashion-doll-like. Altogether, the accessories help make her feel ready to display straight out of the box.
A Doll Made for Restyling
One of the reasons dolls like this appeal to me so much is that I don’t only see the outfit they arrive in. I immediately start imagining what else I could make for them.
I would love to see this doll in tiny cottage-inspired dresses, puff-sleeve blouses, gingham separates, miniature sequin party dresses, tulle skirts, romantic gowns, crochet blouses, and all sorts of handmade fashions.
Her petite body also makes her an interesting model for experimenting with doll-clothes fit. If you sew or crochet clothes for several different fashion dolls, it is always worth remembering that garments may fit differently depending on the particular Barbie body type.
Is Barbie Deluxe Style Doll #13 for Children or Collectors?
Mattel recommends the doll for ages four and up, but the Deluxe Style line is explicitly presented as something that both children and collectors can enjoy. I can certainly understand the collector appeal.
She is fashionable enough to look lovely displayed on a shelf or in a dollhouse, but she is not so elaborate that I would be afraid to change her clothes, restyle her, photograph her, or use her as a model for handmade doll fashions.
That balance is important to me. I love a beautiful doll, but I also love actually doing things with my dolls.
What Comes With Barbie Deluxe Style Doll #13?
The set includes the Barbie doll along with her fashion accessories. Mattel notes that the doll cannot stand on her own, so collectors who want her permanently posed in a display may want to use a doll stand.
Her complete original look includes:
- Petite Barbie doll with long black hair
- Pink off-shoulder statement-sleeve top
- Glossy black mini skirt with slit
- Black strappy heels
- Pink handbag
- Pink sunglasses
- Silver jewellery
It is a nicely coordinated little fashion set, and I especially appreciate that the accessories match the clothing instead of feeling like unrelated extras.
My Overall Thoughts on Barbie Deluxe Style Doll #13
Overall, I think Barbie Deluxe Style Doll #13 is a beautiful addition to the Barbie Deluxe Style collection. The long black hair, petite body, bright pink off-shoulder blouse, glossy black skirt, heels, handbag, sunglasses, and jewellery come together to create a doll with plenty of personality.
For me, however, part of the fun begins after the original outfit comes off! I can already imagine this doll modelling handmade sewing patterns and crochet pieces, being photographed in different outfits, and finding her way into all sorts of little dollhouse scenes. She has the kind of versatile look that can change dramatically depending on how she is dressed, which makes her especially fun for anyone who enjoys doll fashion and restyling.
You can see the Barbie Deluxe Style Doll #13 listing on Amazon here: View Barbie Deluxe Style Doll #13 on Amazon.
Keep visiting because I have so many more doll fashions, patterns, projects, and dollhouse ideas to share. Browse the blog and download more free doll clothes sewing patterns, free doll clothes crochet patterns, and check out my beautiful dollhouse and my Barbie doll reviews. Whether you love collecting dolls, making tiny clothes for them, decorating dollhouses, or simply enjoying all the wonderful little details of doll fashion, I hope you will find plenty of inspiration here for your own collection.
