Mattel has made thousands of memorable dolls over the years, including some that are very hard to find or yet to make a comeback. As a doll collector, I am always looking and researching some of the dolls that have been made in the past that simply cannot be found anymore. I am also an OOAK doll artist, which means I refurbish and remake/custom dolls. I have quite a collection, but I am still looking for more dolls! One of my favorite lines of Mattel dolls was the “Hot Looks.” These dolls had a plastic head and a plush-like bendable body. This particular line of dolls by Mattel came out in the mid-80s. Since the late 80s, they have disappeared from the market. But there are some dolls that have been made as slight resemblance, such as the Moxie dolls and the Liv dolls, but they still are not the same. Taking a closer look at the Hot Looks, let’s see what made them uniquely special.
There were five American-made dolls that were available in the United States. Each doll was specially made as a character that was different. Elkie, Mimi, Chelsea, Stacey and ZiZi were the five dolls that were released in the mid-80s, and each one was from a different country but available in the United States. I remember my mom bought me both Elkie and Mimi for Christmas one year. I was so impressed at an early age of how the dolls moved and how the different outfits and costumes complemented the dolls. Elkie, for example, was a photographer and had a unique look to her outfits, equipped with a camera and even some safari outfits. Mimi was the more “girly” doll from France with pink lacy hair bows and ballet shoes. Stacey from the United States was the tomboy with her red overalls and her handy tools attached to her belt. Chelsea was the workout sporty doll with crimped hair. Finally, Zizi was the African doll with an amazing hot pink jumpsuit and mounds of dark curly hair.
Perhaps the most unique part of these dolls was that they were bendable. They actually were very pliable for whatever position they could twist and turn into. There were also many play sets, outfits and accessories. In addition to the American line of dolls, there was a few rare European dolls released, which are very hard to find. Hot Looks can no longer be found in major toy stores or even around discount stores. I must say it is very sad because I genuinely loved these dolls. I have re-bought two of the dolls on eBay for fairly cheap. But the more time goes by, the rarer the dolls are. A mint, in-box Hot Looks doll can now sell for up to $100. Who would have ever thought?
Hopefully, one day, Mattel will be able to bring back a similar line of dolls or even make a second rendition of the dolls. It is amazing how toys and dolls come and go so quickly. As an avid doll collector and artist, I love finding out more about the retired doll lines. Doll collectors should seriously consider looking on eBay, Etsy, online yard sales, consignment and thrift shops for older dolls from their generations. A doll may not be anything when you first get her but a play toy, but later on I think we look back on these special figures as our keepsakes that can still be cherished in your later years.