Sindy was far superior to Barbie

[LittlePotteryBird]

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.

Yeah, me too @CointreauVersial. £816 for one doll was the highest I achieved back in about 2006.

I had Pippas (and the cheaper Dawns) too and one of those - her Japanese friend Jasmine - went for quite a lot, iirc.

I've also still got my Anna and Happytime!

A lot of mine from the 80s had bendable legs too. The knees had at least 2, possibly 3, "bends" and they had a flexible metal rod running through each leg (one of mine split at the foot so I investigated 😅).

Are we thinking Paul might not have been that kind of boyfriend…?

Oh goodness! That photo sums up my childhood. I'd forgotten about the inflatable tent (& how much I loved it) but seeing that photo I can actually smell the plastic again 😅

I was looking for a Pippa comment! I had a Sindy but preferred Pippa!

I had Barbie, Sindy, Tressie, Skipper, Penny Bright - they are in a box somewhere. I kept my DD's Barbies, Skippers, Chelsea's and Kellys (I don't remember Sindy being around) and gave them to DGC the other day. She is way to young but she likes taking the clothes off them. I've seen the Lottie doll upthread and I think if she really gets into dolls that's what I will be buying her. Skipper and Penny Bright were a bit more like Lottie

I'm team Sindy too! Happy days playing with her and Pippa (who I also modelled as her younger sister). As a horse fan I got both the brown and grey horses plus carriage and stables (and pippas horse too so they could all ride together). Didnt want the house as the stables were more important.

I loved those dolls. Am gutted now as gave them all away to my god-daughter when I stopped playing with them. Now looking to restock via ebay.

There are facebook group fandoms now I have joined, who talk about rehairing amongst many other delights.

Me and my sister had the house with stables and extension. Just like this one, we had horses and pets as well. Dogs and a cat, along with the cooker that made very convincing cooking sounds when you put different pans one it. I loved our Sindy house.

Sindy was the best!

I also had a Tressy doll - anyone on here remember her? 'Her hair grows'!

Just bought a Lottie for my granddaughter but as she is not yet 2 , I will play with her first!
I never had a Sindy or a Barbie so I'm making up for lost time!

I had a Sindy. DM would make clothes for her and if they were any good she would replicate them for the toy stall at my school's Christmas fête. DF would make furniture for them.
I also had a Pippa doll with dark "skin" and blonde hair. She was very striking. My parents made her a kitchen and a bedroom "a la Blue Peter".

Sindy was definitely better- I still have some sindy clothes and accessories from the 80s and they’re so much better quality than the rubbish they make for Barbie these days.

Sindy also had way better shoes!

Loved Sindy, never had a Barbie. I remember the white and gold wardrobe and dressing table vividly. I preferred Pippa though, especially my beloved Princess Pippa with very long hair. I put them in trees so they looked like fairies!

I only had one Sindy, the ‘active Sindy’ ballerina one - with brunette hair in a bun. She was lovely.

It was 1976 and I was six. I saved up for her for what felt like a long time but I suspect my mum had given in and paid for most of her. We went to the big toy stall in the middle of the indoor market in Halifax and I asked for her myself. I was so proud holding that paper bag on the bus home I could have burst.

I knew nothing of Barbie.

I had the ballerina Sindy - I loved her. I also had an action girl with fabulous long black hair. My DGP made lots of furniture for them and DGM upholstered it and made bedding. She was a retired court dressmaker so as you can imagine they both had incredible wardrobes.....

@MrsMoastyToasty
My grandad made a stable for my Barbie horse ❤️
Gran knitted so many dresses and suits for Barbie.

Yup. With the blonde hair and eyes that closed and had eyelashes. Extremely important when you're five years old.

Oh I was a Sindy girl I remember mine had jeans and a t shirt with her name ! I had the house with the shower and magic cooker and the caravan and buggy as well as the horse and tent... she went away on mini breaks with action man quite regularly !!! Happy days 😊

I liked Barbie better just because she had a smile on her face and Sindy always looked pissed off to me.

I had Sindy everything back in the ‘80s. Including ye old caravan and yellow open top car. I recall being very concerned by the lack of bathroom facilities in the van. Mucho consternation ahoy.

Naturally I loathed poor Sindy and would have sold my grabby wee soul for a Barbie, but as with all things, my parents were so far behind the curve they were actually out in front of it.

Vive Sindy!

I also
had the sindy horse . I remember in the mid 80’s have a very awful short haircut and I cut the horses tail of to make it into a rat tail , I used to Kirby grip it into my hair! God I was really a weird child

@LittlePotteryBird I still have the picnic basket that’s in front of the tent in that photo. Sindy “died” but I’ve ever since used the basket to store blue tack in….. 40 years of useful service and it still looks as good as new!

I just found this! https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jul/27/barbie-sindy-doll-queen-supreme-cruel-demise?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Sindy had a massive head.