Francie was Barbie's MOD'ern Cousin from the U.K. The character capitalized on the British Invasion in pop culture, coming with mod-style clothing of the late 1960s and early 1970s. She had a friend named Casey, whose head mold was also used for Mattel's Twiggy doll. Francie was also made as an African American doll, but this version was not labeled as Barbie's cousin. The AA Francie doll used a now-outdated term in the doll's name. Francie never got a boyfriend, however. Before she disappeared, Francie was incorporated into the annual Barbie swimsuit line (known by the Malibu name until the mid-80s).
Mattel's 1971 catalog promoted a doll named Becky (with Casey's head mold) as a new friend of Francie, but the Becky doll was never produced. In 2009, however, a Most Mod Party Becky doll was made. Yet another use of the Becky name in the Barbie line.
Francie would not be the only cousin of Barbie's to have her own line of friends and fashions. Another will be mentioned later.
7 comments:
Francie rings a vague bell for me, very vague.
I had no idea there were some many Barbie dolls. Have a grand weekend.
They were a real hit when we were kids. Some of my friends collected any of the dolls they could find. I had one Barbie- I think my family thought that was enough.
Cheers and Happy A to Zing
Moonie
Fighting Fire with Children
Yet another than I had never heard of...
The name sounds familiar, but the era is too early for me. That 30th anniversary one might be where I know her from.
I had an early Francie. Well, I'm not sure I had a real Francie, but maybe just a fake Barbie doll in a Francie case. It was still great because my grandmother made her an entire wardrobe of really awesome clothes, and I still have them. :) hugs-Erika
Never heard of this one. Interesting that she became blonde when she moved to Malibu...
Ronel visiting for F: My Languishing TBR: F
Gorgon
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