1971 Dramatic New Living Fluff, a friend of Skipper

1971 Dramatic Living Fluff #1143

​Updated July 2024

​One of Skipper's friends from the early 70's is Dramatic New Living Fluff #1143. I'm so excited to add her to my collection. Fluff dolls are very hard to find and she's in minty condition!

Dramatic New Living Fluff was introduced in 1971 and was the first friend of Skipper's since Skooter and Ricky "retired" in 1967. Skipper followed big sis Barbie everywhere so she told her to make new friends, ha! Dramatic New Living Skipper and Living Fluff are only available as blondes. Fluff styles her hair in two pigtails held in place with orange hair bows, and she has bangs with cute pin curls on the sides.  She dons a colorful yellow, orange and green striped one-piece jumper with a bright orange vinyl skirt that has two yellow buttons and attached shorts. She has pretty brown eyes with rooted eyelashes.

Fluff had a new face mold, which she shares with 1972 Pose 'n Play Tiff. Fluff came with a yellow skateboard showing off her athletic skills and prowess! Her body is identical to Dramatic New Living Skipper and has the same body markings. 

​Here's a great video describing Fluff and Tiff: (click here) from Kewpie83.

A little bit on Pose 'n Play Tiff, dubbed Skipper's tomboy friend. She came out in 1972 and, like Fluff, was only produced for a year. Tiff is very rare and goes for big bucks on eBay. She's on my wish list! Tiff and Fluff both came with skateboards. The only difference between the two is that Fluff has rooted eyelashes and Tiff does not, plus the different hairstyles. Tiff has long, straight red hair. She's super-cute! Note on skateboards... I tried skateboarding on a plastic yellow skateboard in 1976, fell on to my butt on the sidewalk, and never tried again. Bruised ego mostly, haha. Skipper's next friend wasn't until 1976, Growing Up Ginger. 

In 1971, a Sears exclusive "Living Fluff Sunshine Special" gift set #1249 debuted. It came with a Living Fluff doll (with what appears to be lighter blonde hair) with the same markings as the original Living Fluff. She wore her original playsuit but also came with a cool five-piece fashion ensemble with Skipper labels. The wardrobe included red velvet pants with yellow and blue rickrack, a knee-length ruffled skirt with a matching red head scarf, a gold velvet vest with red trim, coordinating opaque gold tights and a white peasant blouse with yellow, red and blue rickrack. The set also includes flat gold shoes and her infamous skateboard. This set is VERY hard to find. 

According to Hillary James, author of The Complete and Unauthorized Guide to Vintage Barbie Dolls (2nd edition,) a Dramatic New Living Fluff doll never removed from the box (NRFB) is worth around $275 - $350, mint with no box can garner $75 - $125, and. the average doll, in the range of $50 to $75.

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1972 Pose 'n Play Tiff, Skipper's friend

1971 Dramatic New Living Fluff #1143