Barbie has had her share of controversy over the years, but kids have adored her through it all for more than six decades. She is arguably at her best when she is decked out for the holidays. Put a holiday Barbie under the tree and prepare for squeals of delight.
If you are looking for a traditional glamorous holiday Barbie, you cannot go wrong with a Barbie Signature Holiday Doll. The latest model features an exceptionally sparkly dress of silver and white. She comes in brunette, braided brunette and blonde models, and includes a certificate of authenticity.
What to know before you buy a holiday Barbie
Collectible investment
Mattel only comes out with one official holiday doll each year, which makes each an excellent collector item. The values haven’t risen to astronomical numbers yet for most dolls, but that could easily change in the future. A recent-year holiday Barbie goes for about $35 these days. But one of the most popular and collectible — the 1988 Happy Holidays Barbie — has been valued at over $3,000.
Unofficial dolls are fun too
You might want to keep the official holiday Barbies that are released in limited numbers every year in the original box on your shelf. But if you’re looking for a gift to give a young child, there are many options, including Barbies of various shapes and sizes, that are fun to play with. You can take them right out of their box and into the playroom without much thought of future resale value.
Buy them early
Holiday-themed Barbies or any trendy Barbie sold around the holiday season can sell out quickly, or at least get harder to find in stock, especially since both adult collectors and children enjoy these dolls. If you are thinking of buying a Barbie around the holidays, get it early in the season to avoid the last-minute scramble.
Holiday Barbie features
If you are interested in the official signature holiday Barbie, you have three choices — brunette, braided brunette or blonde. They all are in the exact same dress and come with the exact same certificate of authenticity. However, if you are looking for a non-holiday Barbie as a present for the holidays, you have several styles and versions of Barbie to choose from.
Movement
Basic Barbies have swiveling heads and legs that move at the hips. There are more manipulable versions of the doll, including one with 22 joints. These joints allow Barbie to do yoga, gymnastics and any other playtime activities.
Standalone or set
Lots of Barbies come in themed playsets that broaden the scope of one’s imagination. However, it can also be fun to buy a basic doll and leave the rest to the imagination of the recipient. You can purchase a basic doll and a few outfits separately to get them started.
Vocation
Barbie was first put in a spacesuit in 1965 and she has been on many adventures since, including winning a gold medal, working as a surgeon and running for president. One recent popular playset is a pet grooming shop. As Barbie washes an included pet, its surface changes color. If your child has a specific interest, there is almost certainly a Barbie that shares their interest.
Holiday Barbie cost
A current-year official holiday Barbie with a certificate of authenticity costs around $40. Some of the more intricate playsets also cost about that much. A more basic Barbie costs around $7.
Holiday Barbie FAQ
What was the most expensive Barbie ever?
A. One Barbie was designed by Stefani Canturi in 2010 to raise money for cancer research and sold for $302,500. The design features a necklace of pink and white diamonds.
How do I keep Barbie clean?
A. Barbie hair and clothing is washable if you are careful. Start by combing the hair and then add some conditioner or fabric softener. Rinse that off and shampoo the hair and rinse. Apply conditioner one more time and rinse. Add some leave-in conditioner and comb. Allow to dry and you will have like-new hair. Clothing can be hand-washed or even tied inside a nylon stocking to protect it in a gentle cycle.
Which holiday Barbie should I get?
Best of the best holiday Barbie
Barbie Signature Holiday Doll: available at Amazon
Our take: The 2021 doll sparkles with its metallic bodice and gauzy layered skirt. Whether you want it to gift to a child or an adult collector, it is sure to wow.
What we like: The make-up and accessories match the rest of the ensemble perfectly and the included certificate will help this doll retain its value through the years. This doll catches the light and shimmers from every angle.
What we dislike: If you are buying for a child the price tag is going to feel pretty high.
Best bang for your buck holiday Barbie
Barbie Color Reveal Doll: available at Amazon
Our take: This set is great for gifting as it features several surprises beyond just opening the package.
What we like: You do not know what anything looks like — including hair color, eye color and outfit — until you open the packages and, in some cases, dip them in water. You get a lot of fun for a relatively low price.
What we dislike: You may end up buying several if your child does not get the one they wanted on the first try.
Honorable mention holiday Barbie
Big City Big Dreams Singing Barbie: available at Amazon
Our take: The added elements of sound and light will be fun for a lot of kids.
What we like: This Barbie sings one of two songs and her dress lights up when the microphone goes up to her face. The singing stops when the microphone goes down.
What we dislike: The sound element might eventually annoy the rest of the family. Angie Parkinson is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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