Have you ever noticed the moody side of Penny Brite, everyone’s favorite playmate? We visit her darker disposition…
Penny Brite is so relentlessly cheerful – don’t you just wish she would show her darker side? We’ve had it with that sunny Pollyanna demeanor, so we proudly present little Miss Sunshine’s slightly moodier alter ego, Miss Penny Dark, and some of her mischievous friends and family. Even if their company isn’t exactly wholesome, we hope that they might inspire you to spook out some of your own dolls too!
So many Penny Brite dolls were manufactured during their heyday, and such was their popularity, that you can still pick them up inexpensively on eBay. This makes these dolls great subjects for trying out your own OOAK (one of a kind) customizing projects, without worrying about damaging precious or valuable items from your collection.
And don’t forget the ever-useful dye-bath. Instead of trying to freshen up Penny’s tired old vintage outfits, go sombre instead and dip ‘em in black dye. Give Penny a wonderfully woeful Wednesday Addams moment. But do remember to use plenty of salt as a fixative for the dye, following the instructions carefully, and don’t leave dyed clothing on your dolls for any length of time in case the color transfers to the dolls’ vinyl.
We’ve given Penny some new looks on these pages. Why not have a go at re-rooting and re-wigging a few Pennys – are they altogether ooky? Judge the results for yourself.
DARK DOUBLE ACT
Penny’s little French cousins, Fanny Foncé et Penelope Sombre get in on the act. These twins look cute, but they’re always up to mischief. They’re both wearing vintage Portuguese Furga-style knock-off frocks, from the 1960s. Their hair is by Fashion Royalty – Aunt Kyori Sato won’t be best pleased when she sees what they’ve done with her wigs!
DARK DEEDS
Move over Elsa Lanchester, there’s a new ghoul in town. Penny Dark does Bridesmaid of Frankenstein in a bespoke wig teamed up with Mini Mood’s Fancy Mood outfit by Tonner. In this get-up, she’d be quite at home with The Munsters on 1313 Mockingbird Lane.
DARK DESIRES
Looking quite the little lady, but don’t be deceived by the glamorous outfit and the demure demeanor. Pullip Holly put up quite a fight to hang on to her outfit, but this young miss is not above fighting dirty. She’s just plotting her next move in the doll cupboard.
DARK DAYS
At least she’s kept to her own closet for this shot, the slightly sinister black Velvet Princess (outfit #1718) never looked like this before. A nearly bald Penny was re-rooted in lavish red curls. Miss Penny Scarlet, with her scary companion, is Pre-Raphaelite gone wrong.
DARK NIGHTS
In Tonner’s Merry Mood outfit, Penny looks unnervingly cheerful, I hope that’s not a little kitty she’s just spotted across the room. She really doesn’t have a very good record with pets of any sort.
DARK DREAMS
Whatever she’s up to, it looks like no good – and that item in Penny’s basket looks perfectly unsuitable for Granny. This is a Hong Kong Penny look-alike, with her original brownette hair. She’s relieved an In the Hood Kickits doll of her outfit and she’s really workin’ those big boots. Watch out Wolfie!
DARK INTENTIONS
Kickits Little Mischievy’s clothing seems like a true reflection of Penny Dark’s intentions. She’s wigged out in a prim number from vintage Sindy, and is clearly on the lookout for slugs, and snails, and puppy dog tails to fill those specimen bottles …and just as a reminder after all this creepiness – the inset picture shows Penny Brite as we know and love her. For information on how to re-root dolls and for hair supplies, visit www.restoredoll.com
This is an edited version of a feature that appeared in the July/August 2009 issue of Haute Doll magazine.
Here’s a reminder of how Penny Brite was advertised on TV in her heyday – click to see the link.