I may edit this with more info later (and if I do, I'll note it in the subject line) but for now, if you're heading out today, be on the lookout for a new doll.
For those into tribute and anniversary Barbies, the 45th anniversary Black Barbie (previewed at the NBDCC last summer and designed by Kitty Black Perkins) was on the shelves at a few Targets across the country yesterday. Her official release date is January 26th.
The photo I saw had the Target price checker showing just under $35.50 so somewhere in that vicinity. She will launch on the Mattel Creations site on the January 26th. Specific time unknown.
I had the pleasure of sitting with Ms. Perkins (never could get up the nerve to call her Kitty more than a few times, even though she asked us to) at the NBDCC in Palm Desert this past summer. She was incredibly sweet and so excited about this doll's debut.
Since she was our tablemate, she shared more about the design process of the doll, how she worked on the design with Bill Greening since she's officially retired and her feelings on the Black Barbie special on Netflix. She felt the series took unfair shots at Mattel (and especially Bill) regarding the anniversary Black Barbie dolls (both the old and new ones) because, as she said, without Bill G. keeping the history of Barbie alive and introducing "old" concepts to new collectors, she would never have been able to work on this doll at all.
This is a photo of the actual doll from a member of Facebook. She is one I've been looking forward to since last summer and one I will stay up to buy if she has a late night (for me) release time.