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Original poster

Sindy was far superior to Barbie

213 replies

LittlePotteryBird · 05/01/2026 09:44

I feel sorry for girls today who don’t know the pleasure of playing with a doll whose arms and legs bent (sometimes resulting in a nasty open fracture but never mind). I loved my Sindys and the outfits and accessories were so much better and more conducive to imaginary play than the Barbie stuff I see around. Barbie outfits in particular look shite to me.

Does anyone know of a poseable doll like Sindy that comes with good accessories? I know my granddaughter would love a ballerina, or a police officer, or a doll that wore normal clothes.

OP posts:
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18
Imveryold · 05/01/2026 13:33

Sindy was vastly superior! She didn’t look like a sexualised teenager and had a nice face.

When my DD was about 5 she had a Sindy she adored. She called her Matilda. One day the band holding Matilda's arms on snapped. (Not too surprising as she was played with so much that she looked well-worn.) DD was inconsolable and indignantly rejected the offer of a new doll. I sent Matilda to the manufacturers (Mattel?) with a letter explaining the situation and asking if they could possibly put a new band in.

They sent back what was obviously a new Sindy body with Matilda's head on! DD was overjoyed and played with her for another couple of years before moving on to Flower Fairies.

DD is now in her 40s and still has Matilda (but claims she doesn’t play with her any more).

SummerHolidaysAreHere · 05/01/2026 13:31

You're not wrong - Sindy even had a dressage outfit

schnubbins · 05/01/2026 13:28

I won a Ballet Sindy and her house with clothes from a colouring competition on the back of Kellogs Rice Krispies when I was 11 years old .I didn't know I had won until a massive box arrived at the door .I was the star at school and brought my winnings to show every class .I was so proud and so lucky .

Action Man was her boyfriend living in the house with her . Happy Days!

HorseyWoman · 05/01/2026 13:22

Unpopular opinion but I used them interchangeably and indiscriminately. They got called what they got called. If Ken found himself lying in bed with Sindy one night, well so be it. I didn't care. They were just glamorous dolls to me.

farmlass · 05/01/2026 13:20

Loved Sindy .
Early 70s not sure Barbie really crossed my radar ! Unless I was kept in the dark about Sindy’s more glamorous cousin !
Also had pippa .
Craved tiny tears but never had one !

BillieWiper · 05/01/2026 13:19

TeaRoseTallulah · 05/01/2026 13:06

You didn't discover Fairies Glen clothes then which fitted Sindy perfectly? 😢

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No, sadly not. This was in the 80s. I'm not sure I know of fairy's glen! X

OrsolaRosso · 05/01/2026 13:18

Just came on to say Pippa!

madaboutpurple · 05/01/2026 13:16

I loved my Sindy dolls. I had the clothes catalogue and it had clothes for Paul her boyfriend. I remember telling my dad he would be as well to get some Chelsea boots as they were in the catalogue and it said Chelsea boots made Paul look smart.

CointreauVersial · 05/01/2026 13:14

Going to throw in a curveball and mention Pippa!

I had a whole legion of the tiny little blighters, Pippa, Britt, Penny, Marie (and her fabulous suntan), complete with outfits, weeny shoes and accessories - oh, I loved them so much.

A few years ago DM dug a box out of the loft, and there they all were! After a little play for old time's sake I made a LOT of money on eBay, selling them all. I had most of the complete outfits too.

HessianSack · 05/01/2026 13:13

Thortour · 05/01/2026 13:06

Pippa Dolls were supreme.

We had Pippa. Much smaller than Sindy - only about 6 inches tall? I think my sister had Pippa's apartment!

wornoutjeans · 05/01/2026 13:09

Why did they stop making Sindy? I had the ballet one and several others . Off course my brothers action men were boyfriends , I used the sindy vanity case for my ballet class, I don’t know why!

KimberleyClark · 05/01/2026 13:08

ManyPigeons · 05/01/2026 13:05

Sindy has a baby head and an adult body… very bizarre doll

Yes and a strangely plain face. Barbie had cheekbones.

TeaRoseTallulah · 05/01/2026 13:06

BillieWiper · 05/01/2026 12:44

I thought Sindy was awful! Her head was too big and I didn't think she was as pretty as Barbie. There seemed to be less of a range of Sindys and their accessories. Her clothes seemed more old fashioned. I also used to hate that they couldn't share shoes with Barbie!

Edited

You didn't discover Fairies Glen clothes then which fitted Sindy perfectly? 😢

Thortour · 05/01/2026 13:06

Pippa Dolls were supreme.

ManyPigeons · 05/01/2026 13:05

Sindy has a baby head and an adult body… very bizarre doll

outofideas2 · 05/01/2026 13:03

Not sure what happened to my Sandy but I still have Paul (from the early 60s) somewhere in my loft.

BlackSwan · 05/01/2026 12:59

Active Sindy - the ballerina. Beautiful. She was the only one I had, given to me by an Aunt who lovingly bought me toys my parents didn't.
My mother got rid of my toys when I moved overseas.

I bought a replacement on Ebay but sadly she's not a brunette as my original was.

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 05/01/2026 12:51

I always liked Sindy better. Barbie was always the baddie. 🤣

BillieWiper · 05/01/2026 12:44

I thought Sindy was awful! Her head was too big and I didn't think she was as pretty as Barbie. There seemed to be less of a range of Sindys and their accessories. Her clothes seemed more old fashioned. I also used to hate that they couldn't share shoes with Barbie!

Jamandtoastfortea · 05/01/2026 12:44

Loved Sindy. Played for hours on end with my collection. The latest accessory or piece of furniture was slwsys on my Xmas list! Still have the horse and the (Dallas style) swimming pool in my dad’s attic!

TeaRoseTallulah · 05/01/2026 12:43

Sindy had eyelashes too,didn't she?

ChikinLikin · 05/01/2026 12:42

What is Sindy short for?

MillicentFaucet · 05/01/2026 12:37

Foyleriver · 05/01/2026 11:19

I had that yellow kitchen - adored it !!

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Me too, coincidentally the dooer-upper that DH & I bought 25 years ago had a very similar Hygena kitchen.

smallglassbottle · 05/01/2026 12:31

I have a vintage Sindy with a 1960s nurses outfit. She is a very nice young lady and thoroughly hardworking and respectable.

Barbie is a vacuous slut.

NorvelleRogers · 05/01/2026 12:26

Lightwell · 05/01/2026 12:09

If you had blonde Sindys you could make their hair dark copper or ashy permanently by using wash in wash out human Shaders and Toners dye. Little pro tip from the late 80s for you there.

Can concur that this did indeed work Smile