The Make-over & The Consquences
Lately, I've observed a shift in the doll collecting market dynamics. By monitoring eBay seller accounts, doll listings, and prices, I've noted a subtle decline in the amount of money being exchanged for Sindy dolls. Dolls that fetched exorbitant prices last year seem to be facing some challenges in finding buyers this year. I have a Sindy doll named Nancy, whom I've affectionately dubbed "Fancy Nancy," and despite listing her at what I believed was a reasonable price, she remained on eBay for several months with minimal interest. Oddly enough, I've seen many Sindy dolls in worse conditions and even undressed, command higher prices than what I was asking for Nancy. This begs the question: why didn't she sell?
It's worth noting that the financial climate hasn't deteriorated to the point of halting doll purchases altogether; there are still instances of buyers paying extravagant amounts for dolls. Could the fact that Nancy was listed as a "Buy It Now" price have influenced her lack of appeal? I'm aware that some eBay users relish the excitement of bidding and might be deterred by this purchasing method. Despite this, I've consistently listed my dolls with a "Buy It Now" option alongside the opportunity to make an offer, and this had never posed an issue before.
With these thoughts in mind, I entertained the idea that perhaps it's Nancy herself who might not be captivating enough. Hence, I decided to undertake a makeover for Nancy and completely transform her appearance.
Nancy’s hair had become dry at the ends and had even experienced a previous cut in its history. So, I visited my local hair store and purchased wig restorer, known for its effectiveness in rejuvenating synthetic hair. After spraying her hair, I gently combed it through and set it in small perming rollers, using a mix of on and off base curling techniques along with perm papers to shield her ends. I steamed her hair over a boiling kettle for a few minutes and allowed it to air dry naturally for a full day.
When the rollers were removed, her hair unveiled a stunning 1970s disco perm. I separated the curls using a pintail comb’s end to add gorgeous volume. I adorned her in a fantastic two-piece outfit crafted by the talented Diva Crafts.
To complete her look, I added Barbie sunglasses (though a tad small for her head), a rare gold Zulu ‘mini fashions bag’, a belt that I made, and earrings (which I later swapped for gold hoops from Primark.) The fabulous shoes she’s wearing belong to Cleo De Nile from Monster High’s Oasis Spa set. While Monster High and Ever After High shoes are a bit large for Sindy, those with ankle or leg wraps can work for photography and posing purposes, especially for active Sindy dolls with adjustable ankles.
This makeover was incredibly enjoyable, piecing everything together. With her revamped outfit and hair, she exudes the aura of someone ready to dominate the 1970s disco scene. Nancy now carries an air of maturity, sophistication, and sassiness.
Interestingly, the outcome of this makeover has left me reluctant to list her on eBay—I simply don’t want to part with her.
Feel free to take a look at her Instagram post, titled “Nancy’s glow up.”