Mattel’s anthropomorphic line of fashion dolls were unusual, to say the least. They caught the imagination of kids at the time, but the line was not developed further.
The whole gang of Gorgeous Creatures as visualized by Mattel’s illustrator. Unusually, the drawings do actually resemble the dolls!
The Gorgeous Creatures were a line of 7½-inch tall fashion dolls made by Mattel in 1979. The figures were voluptuous, and they featured animal heads with full make-up. Although a little macabre, they do possess a certain charm.
The full line up was Cow Belle (has a creamy complexion), Ms. Heavenly Hippo (as pretty as a pitcher), Ms Giddee Yup (a real clotheshorse), and Princess Pig (loves Snacks 5th Avenue).
… and here they are in their original boxes, looking gorgeous, obvs.
The dolls were billed as having pretty parlor hairdos, and shapely poses – with moveable arms and legs. Each was fully dressed in a gown with hat, shoes, stole, hanky, opera gloves, and boyfriend’s picture with a frame. Additionally, there were some plastic hair-styling and dressing table accessories included.
The boyfriends. These aspirational chaps appeared only in print, as framed pictures to adorn the ladies’ bedside tables. They were never realized in vinyl, unfortunately.
It’s possible that Mattel was influenced by the success of Jim Henson’s The Muppet Show for this collection, Surprisingly enough Henson doesn’t appear to have taken action against Mattel for the close likeness of Princess Pig to the Muppet’s star, Miss Piggy, created three years earlier. In 1976, Miss Piggy started out in the chorus of the show. Thanks to her charisma and a correspondence course in karate, Piggy made her presence known and soon became the lead chanteuse and femme fatale on the show.
For comparison purposes, a likeness of the divine Miss Piggy, crafted from the finest porcelain (as opposed to porkelain) by Brass Key. A plush Kermit has been thrown in for good measure.
For this story, we have teamed up the Gorgeous Creatures with some of the newest animal-themed fashion dolls, the Out! Collector figures by Patrick Grange, Tossa Tossa, Meow Meow, and Otou Tossa.
Princess Pig herself – in full fuchsia glory, right down to the precarious high heels, try balancing your trotters in those. Shown here dressed up and ready to go down the pub with Tossa Tossa, a bear fashion doll from Out! Collector Figures.
Ms. Heavenly Hippo all set to get her groove on, 70s style, at the disco with Meow Meow, the kitty friend from Patrick Grange. The yellow plastic slingbacks are devilishly difficult to fasten, no wonder Mattel ditched this style of shoe.
Ms. Giddee Yup said she was watching her figure, but that cake stand tells another story. Ready for a canter to the shops. Otou Tossa, the bear cub guy, stands by to help carry her nose bags. Dressage, anyone?
Cow Belle poses with her guardian angel, Tossa Tossa My Blue Bear. Just one little glass of wine and they’ll be fortified for a night on the town, although goodness knows what the dress code is where they’re heading.
Fine Art Department
Hippolympia, with huge apologies to Édouard Manet. Ms. Heavenly Hippo wisely decided to keep those fiendishly tricky shoes on her feet for this image. I wonder who the flowers are from?
Sorry M. Manet, we’ve subverted your work yet again. This time Princess Pig appears absolument déshabillée for Pigging Out Sur l’Herbe.
Another classic from an old master, Cow Belle in Moona Lisa. You don’t need to stand in line at the Louvre to see this version.
Let’s get more up-to-date with this work starring Ms. Giddee Yup, in a classic screen print by Mr Andy Warhoof.
Not such fine art…
Shady ladies.
Excuse me, sir. Do you know the way to the nearest bus stop? My friends and I have got lost in the park …
Did this used to be a fire station?
Either that, or an emergency dairy.
With many thanks to Mike Buess for the loan of the entire set of Gorgeous Creatures dolls, from his collection, to photograph for this story. Check out Mike’s own muse, the equally gorgeous Fabiola of Hollywood.