The pop-apart no-sew fashion model with three separate wigs has lost none of her charm in over 50 years. We visit the world of
Launched in 1963 by American Character, Popi’s unique selling point was that she popped apart so as to be easily re-dressed in a wardrobe of creative cut-out clothes. The outfits were pre-printed on vinyl sheets in patterns resembling top fashions. Once cut out, the shapes could be placed over the pegs that held Popi together and draped to make instant couture. Voilà!
The main sales pitch for Popi was that her ensembles could be created easily with no sewing required. As it said on the box, “Cut and Drape Fashions – no-sew fun for girls”. Marketed as a fashion doll, her image was enhanced by the spare modern illustrations on the packaging. To be frank, there was remarkably little similarity between these lovely drawings and the doll in the box or her fashions. But this should not detract from the doll herself, who remains a little charmer.
Popi is ready for her close-up, Mr DeMille. On the left is a minty doll with original face paint modeling the short bob wig in blonde. The Popi quartet above wear the outfits from Fashion Kit No. 2, Casual. Contemporary fabric designs were printed on vinyl sheets to give the effect of modern 1960s daywear when cut out and assembled on the dolls. Popi only ever had one pair of shoes, poor thing, so we’ve taken the liberty of accessorizing her with a selection of vintage pumps and mules. The whole range of wig styles and colors is shown here.
The Popi series consisted of five kits. No. 1, the Starter Kit, was the doll with a three-piece torso which came apart at the bust and the waist. Popi arrived with a pre-printed day dress, three wigs, a stand, and a pair of white mules. This was one doll who was never going to have a bad hair day: her wigs were molded in the latest groovy styles in black, brunette, and a perfectly orange-blonde plastic. The trendy illustration on the box, loosely based on the doll and outfit, aspired to 1960s high fashion. The wigs were molded plastic in a mix-and-match variety of three styles and colors.
Well those shades borrowed from Barbie’s cabin don’t quite fit, but Popi is all set to have a good time on board ship in her Playtime outfits. Whether it’s sunbathing, deck quoits or just an afternoon promenade with the captain, this Modern Miss has just the right togs for any occasion.
There were four fashion kits (Nos. 2-5) to complete the series: Casual, Lingerie, Playtime, and Formal. Each kit contained several outfits and these represented a complete 1960s wardrobe – to take Popi to garden parties, cruise ships, glamorous galas, a little tennis, and finally, to bed. The idea was that you’d get three dolls in one and lots of play value in creating a rather marvelous trousseau.
Ready to retire to her boudoir, Popi relaxes in two of her lingerie outfits. Reproduced here printed on silk and cotton, the originals were produced on translucent vinyl for a shimmery slightly see-through effect.
Kit No. 5 (Formal) consists of two glamorous evening gowns and an interchangeable wrap. The small image (left) of an undressed Popi shows her three pop-apart sections. The doll’s underwear was either painted white over flesh tone, or as in this case, made of white molded plastic.
You can still find these dolls, very often with the dress patterns intact – it seems that many young owners of the dolls couldn’t quite be bothered to cut them out. The packaging is thin card which is often in poor shape and it’s rare to find a doll complete in the box with all accessories, and an uncut dress. The parting on the long pageboy wig is a point of weakness in the mold and is often split.
Anyone for tennis? Popi checks out the competition, a 9” interloper called Collette, made by Cragston Industries. Arguably even more rare than Popi, she doesn’t quite have the statuesque 11” presence of our doll.
There was, however, some competition in the world of ‘cut and drape’. Cragston Industries introduced Collette, marked as Made in USA, although the doll was a Hong Kong import. She was described as a “doll mannequin with six real fitted outfits”. She had rooted hair and her clothes were printed on cotton fabric. Collette’s box served as both display and catwalk, a complete fashion salon. The doll had a younger, less high fashion look and wore flat black shoes. She is about 9” tall, wears a non-removable leotard, and with arms in an odd outstretched stance. She pulls apart into a remarkable seven sections. To drive the couture point home the box proudly proclaims “A French idea, of course…”
Basic Popi wearing her day dress from Starter Kit No.1
Popi was not a huge commercial success. Along with the ill-fated Snip ‘n’ Tuck fashion designer mannequin of 1966, and the disastrous Bonanza action figures of the same year, she was one of the dolls that led to the demise of the venerable American Character doll company. But the quirky nature of Popi and her winsome looks and versatility have led to a cult status amongst modern doll-collectors; nowadays she is widely sought-after.
The dolls in this feature were kindly lent by Terence Oldham from his fine collection of vintage and contemporary dolls. Terence is a member of BADDD, the Bay Area Doll Divas & Divos, San Francisco’s vibrant doll collectors’ club, for more details contact rupert-doodles@webtv.net.
This feature was first published in Haute Doll magazine, March/April 2010