Any woman of a certain age will recall Straw berry Shortcake and her friends, scent- and color-themed dolls that reigned over the girl-toy world of the early 1980s. But the titular character actually had her start years earlier, in the 1970s. In that granola-crunch world, she began as an illustration on a greeting card. Like many characters of the time designed to appeal to little girls, she was equal parts Raggedy Ann doll, Holly Hobbe, and Gunne Sax … a prairie girl ragamuffin toy. It was the tiny strawberries on her costume that made her appeal to consumers. So much so, she became a toy, then an entire line with villains, play pieces, and an entire world complete with “foreign” dessert-themed dolls such as Chinese girl Almond Tea and her pet Marza-panda.
Strawberry’s time in the sun lasted only so long, like her namesake. By the late 1980s she was history, her original fans having moved on, and younger girls being into different play things. Over the decades she has been redesigned and relaunched for following generations, with varying degrees of success.
But what if she had been designed for today? What reincarnations would she have?
Strawberry Shortcake Dolls (Upscaled Versions)
| Vanilla Waffle
Papaya Bun Pear Crostata Gooseberry Syrup Maple Roll Broccolini Quiche Kale Timbale |
Walnut Butter
Kiwi Bubble Tea Jicama Gratin Mango Mousse Cinnamon Crumbles Pineapple Cream Asparagus Tits |
