CRISSY, FRIENDS & FASHION
CRISSY DOLLS INTRODUCED IN 1969
Ideal's Beautiful Crissy hit the scene in 1969 with long lovely locks that fell well past her feet and curled on the floor. Today, most of these Crissy's have had their ponytails cut or the frizz trimmed. Due to some technical issues with the longer ponytail, the second issue Crissy arrived with her hair falling below her bottom to her knees. Both the first and second issue dolls were dressed in an orange lace dress with matching shoes and panties. Some of the second issue dolls have also been found with a hair color that leads to more brown than red. These dolls have been dubbed "Brownettes" by collectors and are highly sought after. A first and second issue black version of the Beautiful Crissy doll was also available. She is harder to find and was dressed in an apple green lace dress with matching shoes and panties.
First Edition Head-to-Toe Beautiful Crissy Doll
Second Edition Beautiful Crissy Dolls showing the red and brownette hair colors
|
Second Edition Beautiful Crissy
|
First Edition Head-to-toe Beautiful Crissy Doll
Back view color comparison showing the red and brownette hair colors
|
If you were one the lucky little girls whose parents shopped at Sears, you might have received one of the three variations of the highly sought after and hard-to-find Marabou gowns. The gowns were packed inside the boxes of the Beautiful Crissy dolls sold exclusively at Sears. The dolls box simply had a sicker on the side indicating the extra outfit inside. No picture of the gown is on the box.
Lined Marabou gown with slits to the knees on each side. The gown is lined with orange cotton.
|
This gown has now side slits and is not lined.
Note the sticker on the box advertising the Exclusive Gown
|
Same fabric was the other gown, but with slits up the sides and lined with orange cotton.
|
1969 FASHIONS
Six outfits for Crissy were released in 1969. They were: Groovy Jumpsuit, Sleeper Bells, City Pants Look, Turned on Mini, The Fun Fur Cape, and the Bold Blazer.
City Pants Look - Cotton Version. This outfit also came with black shoes.
Fun Fur Cape - Pink Version. This cape was also sold with black shoes
Sleeper Bells - Dark Yellow Cotton Version. Sold with white shoes. There is also a Light Yellow Version.
The Groovy Jumpsuit Flowered variation #1 shirt. This shirt while similar to the other flowered shirt has little square holes that run the length of the floral pattern. Sold with lime green shoes.
|
Turned on Mini - This outfit came with the gold fishnet stockings and black shoes.
Fun Fur Cape - Green Version.
Bold Blazer Outfit sold with black shoes. This outfit is missing the scarf, which has several variations.
The Groovy Jumpsuit Polka-dot variation. Note that the overalls are also a more minty green. Outfit was sold with lime green shoes.
|
City Pants Look - This is the synthetic version. Note that fading in the pants is common.
Fun Fur Cape - Tan Version.
Sleeper Bells - This is the harder to find satiny variation.
Groovy Jumpsuit Flowered variation #2. This variation has a solid floral print cotton shirt. Shown with forest green shoes, but originally sold with lime green shoes.
|
DOLLS RELEASED IN 1970
1970 saw the release of two new dolls for the Crissy family. The third issue of the Beautiful Crissy doll got a change of wardrobe and was sold in a long sleeved aqua blue silky dress with matching belt, panties and shoes. Like the second issue of Beautiful Crissy, her hair fell to her knees. This doll was also released in an African American version, but she still wore the same apple green dress as the first two editions of the doll.
Gorgeous Tressy was released as a Sears Exclusive. She wore an orange and white geometric print dress with matching panties and black shoes. Some of the Tressy dolls released this year were sold with a bonus hair care kit. No black version of this doll was available.
1970 saw the release of two new dolls for the Crissy family. The third issue of the Beautiful Crissy doll got a change of wardrobe and was sold in a long sleeved aqua blue silky dress with matching belt, panties and shoes. Like the second issue of Beautiful Crissy, her hair fell to her knees. This doll was also released in an African American version, but she still wore the same apple green dress as the first two editions of the doll.
Gorgeous Tressy was released as a Sears Exclusive. She wore an orange and white geometric print dress with matching panties and black shoes. Some of the Tressy dolls released this year were sold with a bonus hair care kit. No black version of this doll was available.
Beautiful Crissy - 3rd Edition with her box.
|
|
1970 FASHIONS
Three new outfits were released by Ideal for Crissy and her Friends in 1970. They were: The Peace Poncho, The Seventies Satin, and With It Knit dress. The City Pants Look, Turned on Mini, and Sleeper Bells were also reissued for this year.
Three new outfits were released by Ideal for Crissy and her Friends in 1970. They were: The Peace Poncho, The Seventies Satin, and With It Knit dress. The City Pants Look, Turned on Mini, and Sleeper Bells were also reissued for this year.
Seventies Satin with scarf. This outfit was sold with white shoes.
Peach Poncho outfit complete with necklace. This outfit was sold with black shoes. It also came with a a few variations for the shirt that was under the poncho.
|
The With It Knit outfit was sold with a scarf. Here are two of those variations. One is solid orange, the other has white polka-dots. NOTE: The brown cord belt was borrowed from the Movie' Groovin' Crissy outfit.
Three of the different available shirts that came with the Peace Poncho outfit.
|
The With It Knit Outfit complete with orange belt and white shoes.
A close-up of the necklace that came with the Peace Poncho outfit.
|
DOLLS RELEASED IN 1971
Four new dolls were introduced to the Crissy family in 1971. Movin' Groovin' Crissy and Posin' Tressy, Talky Crissy and Kerry. The Movin' Groovin Crissy and Posin' Tressy dolls also had African American versions. Kerry's jumpsuit has been found in several variations including elephant print with two feet and elephant print with four feet and in both jersey and polyester fabrics. Kerry has also been found wearing the forest green bow flats and the green t-strap shoes.
Ideal Kerry doll in the elephant romper variation with only two feet.
Movin' Groovin' Crissy
|
2nd Issue Posin' Tressy doll.
|
Ideal Kerry doll modeling the elephant romper with four feet.
My favorite and the one I had as a child - Talky Crissy.
|
1971 FASHIONS
1971 saw the addition of 8 new outfits to Crissy and her friends wardrobe. They were: Grape Drape, Funderwear, Jean Machine, Hob Nobber, Surfs Up, Drenched Trench, Snuggler, and Gypsy. Note that Ideal quit selling shoes with the outfits in 1971 and shoe packs became available.
The Grape Drape Outfit. Looks great with the white boots, too!
The Drenched Trench coat complete with scarf and belt.
The Gypsy outfit with the colorful scarf.
|
Surfs Up outfit. This outfit is complete with Red headband and colorful bracelet.
Jean Machine with that elusive leather-like belt.
Kerry is modeling the Funderwear outfit.
|
The Snuggler, complete with waist sash and hoodie ties.
Hob Nobber. Like the pants for the City Pants Look - this skirt is also found with fading.
|
DOLLS RELEASED IN 1972
Two new dolls were released in 1972: LOOK AROUND CRISSY and Crissy's California cousin, BRANDI. The concept behind the Look Around Crissy doll was to pull a string in her back and she would mechanically turn from side to side at the waist to "look around". You can still find most of these dolls in good working condition. Brandi sports a gorgeous suntan and wears a light peachy orange swimsuit with orange lace up clogs. She has two small side braids in her rooted hair and a small heart shaped tattoo under her right eye.
|
|
|
1972 FASHIONS
1972 was a banner year for Crissy and her friends. They received a total of 12 new outfits in two collections. The Dress Up Collection and the Dress Down Collection. The Dress Up collection offered 4 new outfits: Lemon Lite, Feminine Fancy, Blazering and Very Vanilla. There were 8 outfits in the Dress Down Collection: Patchworker, Hippie Happening, Lip Smackin Good, Starshine, Moonshine, Funky Feathers, Burlap Bag and An Overall Effect.
1972 was a banner year for Crissy and her friends. They received a total of 12 new outfits in two collections. The Dress Up Collection and the Dress Down Collection. The Dress Up collection offered 4 new outfits: Lemon Lite, Feminine Fancy, Blazering and Very Vanilla. There were 8 outfits in the Dress Down Collection: Patchworker, Hippie Happening, Lip Smackin Good, Starshine, Moonshine, Funky Feathers, Burlap Bag and An Overall Effect.
Very Vanilla coat and hat. This a beautiful broached coat with knit hat and just a splash of raspberry pink.
The Lemon Lite outfit with matching netted hat with silk rose.
This is the Moonshine outfit, you can't really see them but it also came with hip hugger white cotton panties.
Funky Feathers complete with original feather necklace. This is the variation with the tan belt.
The Hippie Happening. Yes, that yarn belt is original!
|
Feminine Fancy outfit. Yes, that is a see through outfit!?!
Lip Smacking Good Outfit complete with the felt hat!
The Burlap Bag outfit. The cord in the belt is.a replacement. The ties were original orange felt to match the belt.
Funky Feather outfits side-by-side. Note the differing patterns in the "denim" jeans.
An OverAll Effect outfit with white lawn shirt. One of my favorites!
|
The Blazering outfit. A matching Blazering outfit was made for Velvet, but with a shorter skirt.
Starshine outfit with the scarf.
The Patchworker outfit is adorable. However, this one is missing the felt heart choker.
Funky Feathers complete with feather necklace. This is the yellow belt variation.
|
THE WEDDING BELLES Collection was offered exclusively through the Sears Catalog. Tressy's Bridal Gift Set was sold individually or as a gift set with the doll. Included with this set was the dress, matching panties, the veil and bouquet. THE WEDDING BELLES VARIATION. I have found two variations to Tressy's wedding dress. The variation is in the ribbon around the waist of the dress. One of the dresses has the smooth ribbon as shown in the catalog. The other dress has a lace ribbon at her waist. A brides maid dress was also sold for Cricket.
THE WEDDING BELLES Collection was offered exclusively through the Sears Catalog. Tressy's Bridal Gift Set was sold individually or as a gift set with the doll. Included with this set was the dress, matching panties, the veil and bouquet. THE WEDDING BELLES VARIATION. I have found two variations to Tressy's wedding dress. The variation is in the ribbon around the waist of the dress. One of the dresses has the smooth ribbon as shown in the catalog. The other dress has a lace ribbon at her waist. A brides maid dress was also sold for Cricket.
DOLLS RELEASED IN 1973
Beautiful Crissy with Swirla Curler was introduced in 1973. This doll came with a circular piece of plastic with 5 prongs up and 1 prong down. The single prong fit into the ponytail hole and you would wrap sections of the ponytail around the other five prongs. Spray it with water and let it dry. When dried, Crissy's hair would have beautiful curls.
Beautiful Crissy with Swirla Curler was introduced in 1973. This doll came with a circular piece of plastic with 5 prongs up and 1 prong down. The single prong fit into the ponytail hole and you would wrap sections of the ponytail around the other five prongs. Spray it with water and let it dry. When dried, Crissy's hair would have beautiful curls.
Swirla Curler Crissy
1973 FASHIONS
1973 saw the introduction of four new outfits: Summer Social, Double Dip, Skimmer, and The Dreamer. Hippie Happening and Funky Feathers were re-issued.
Summer Social dress with original brown suede fabric. belt.
|
Skimmer dress. This dress also came with a pair or white nylon panties.
|
The Dream, Crissy nightgown. Lime green nylon with aqua blue bow trim.
|
The Double Dip outfit has been found in two fabric variations. This is the daisy pattern.
|
|
This is the other Double Dip variation. A tan floral pattern.
|
DOLLS RELEASED IN 1974
1974 saw the release of the last Crissy doll,until 1977. The Beautiful Crissy with Twirly Beads would be the last doll released I the original Crissy Collection until the 1977 release of Magic Hair Crissy. The idea behind the Twirly Beads is that the little girl would insert a string of plastic beads on a peg into the doll's ponytail hole and then be able to decorate and style the doll's long ponytail with the beads. Sadly, Ideal did not release any new outfits for Crissy in 1974.
MAGIC HAIR CRISSY - 1977
In 1977 Ideal re-imagined the Beautiful Crissy doll using the same body as that of their popular Tiffany Taylor doll. Magic Hair Crissy came with the pink satiny skirt, white eyelet camisole and matching high-heel shoes. She also came with a short bubble cut hairstyle and five different wigs that the child could use to change up her hair style. These extra hair pieces attached to a spot on the doll's head with Velcro.
CLASSIC CRISSY - 1982
In 1982 Ideal reintroduced Crissy as a "Classic". This time, however, she was brought back using Velvet's head and body molds. You will often find her mistakenly identified as the "red haired Velvet. “Her ponytail was back and the growing feature is controlled by a pull string in her back. Crissy wears a white cotton dress with lace trim, pink bow at her waist and floral applique on the front of the dress. She has matching panties and white shoes. Instead of the original black eyes, this Crissy has soft brown eyes.
Country Crissy, not shown, came dressed in a purple and white checked maxi dress with straw bonnet. (Not Pictured).
In 1982 Ideal reintroduced Crissy as a "Classic". This time, however, she was brought back using Velvet's head and body molds. You will often find her mistakenly identified as the "red haired Velvet. “Her ponytail was back and the growing feature is controlled by a pull string in her back. Crissy wears a white cotton dress with lace trim, pink bow at her waist and floral applique on the front of the dress. She has matching panties and white shoes. Instead of the original black eyes, this Crissy has soft brown eyes.
Country Crissy, not shown, came dressed in a purple and white checked maxi dress with straw bonnet. (Not Pictured).
