Doll Magazine Article, Trendy New Sindy
Trendy New Sindy
In 1971 the ‘trendy girl’ Sindy doll was born. This was a new and exciting development for Pedigree, as Sindy was re-modelled by in-house sculptor David Fear and given a brand new image that suited the changing face of fashion and culture in the early 1970s. Financially there were lots of changes for Pedigree too, who were bought out by the Dunbee Combex Marx group at that time, which probably accounts for the sudden boom in new product available for Sindy, who had 30 new outfits, not to mention scene setters, between 1972 and 73!
Sindy’s proportions were changed, giving her a smaller head mould that made her look more like a ‘fashion model’ rather than the doll-like look of her predecessors; interestingly, the face mould and colouring is not unlike that of Jean Shrimpton, a famous ‘supermodel’ of the 1960s! The most revolutionary change was her new pop-off head, no longer jointed at the base, but at the top of the neck; this enabled it to be fully poseable, rotatable, and could be tilted at any angle. Her body remained very similar to the previous issue, with the chunky bending legs and arms with starfish hands and a twisty waist – Sindy could now adopt almost any realistic ‘model’ pose!
These dolls were very pretty, with a high colour face and beautiful ‘real’ silky eyelashes to complement her still centre parted, shiny shoulder length hair which was styled in a flip and worn with a hair band. Her hair colours remained as Brunette, Platinum and Titian, but with the addition of new shades – Auburn, Copper, Brownette and Silver Ash. The most profound change in Sindy’s look at this time was that she acquired a tan! Overseas holidays had become popular with the fashionable set, and a suntan was a sign of affluence, health, and being in with the ‘in crowd’ – so Sindy had to follow, sporting her sun kissed glow throughout most of the 1970s.
This particular Sindy doll turned out to be the most popular to date, acquiring the prestigious title of ‘Toy of the Year’ in 1970, and becoming the most popular Sindy doll with today’s collectors, to whom she will always be known affectionately as the ‘trendy girl’. It is thought that she was never officially named this by Pedigree, but was produced as a basic doll, and was first released wearing a selection of 6 new outfits. One of these was her namesake outfit entitled ‘Trendy Girl’ which consisted of a yellow and red stripy top, red flares and a headband, complimented with a pair of red ankle boots. She was also available wearing Fun Furs, Miss Sindy, Midi Look, Fashion Girl and Day Girl.
Sindy also acquired a much trendier image, as many of the groovy 1971 ‘centrepart’ fashions were continued for the trendy girl, with lots of additional new styles. There was much less emphasis on role-play (sports, occupations, family) and more on fashion trends and lifestyle, embracing the new buzz words like Mini, Midi, Maxi, Mod, Hot, Trendy and Disco. The Mod and Bohemian fashions of the 1960s revolutionised the way that young people dressed by the onset of the 1970s, fuelled by magazines like 19, Honey and Nova, and facilitated by the scores of trendy ‘boutiques’ springing up provincially in the wake of London based Mary Quant, Biba, Foale & Tuffin, and the Fulham Road Clothes Shop in the early 60s. Teenagers could now afford to shop for clothes of their own, and ladies of a ‘certain age’ will remember Bus Stop, Chelsea Girl and C&A as being pivotal to early 70s teenage fashion. Sindy’s wardrobe eventually followed suit, with lots of fashionable new styles being introduced. Pedigree aptly named these ‘Boutique Fashions’, announcing;
‘Sindy is so super. She’s always beautifully dressed in the very latest fashions. Bright, gay action outfits for every occasion’
Hems got shorter as teenagers gained independence during the late 60s, and this was evident in the plethora of mini-skirted fashions of the trendy girl era, such as Day Girl, Fashion Girl, College Girl, Red Hot and Tangerine Dress to name but a few. Sindy’s popular College Girl outfit reflected the increasing social acceptance and ‘cool’ factor of Higher Education for girls, regardless of class, as did her many leisure-oriented fashions mirror the popularity of travel, shopping and partying as accepted teenage pursuits! Outfits such as Summer Party, Shiny Shopper, Weekend, Disco Party, Look Warm and Hot Pants were all designed for Sindy’s new and exciting life!
However, being a down to earth girl at heart, Sindy still retained her traditional values. Fashions like Miss Beautiful, Belle of the Ball, Bridesmaid and Skating Girl reflected the less racy side of her nature, but it was in 1973 that Sindy really ‘grew up’ and acquired her first Pedigree bridal fashion – but alas no groom! (Paul was discontinued in 1970)
Around this time Pedigree began to add varied products to their Sindy doll range and the ‘Trendy Girl’ was slowly discontinued to make way for new technologies such as a doll with ‘dancing action’ (Top Pop Star), a new ‘walking’ Sindy, the new slimmer click leg bending technology and the famous ‘Active’ ballerina – ‘the most poseable doll in the world’. By 1975 there were no more ‘trendy girl’ Sindy dolls on the toy shelves, but her four year reign ensured that there were plenty of these Sindy dolls around for collectors to acquire today.
Helen Carter
