Who can keep up with all the drama surrounding the new doll releases? Just imagine the meticulous attention to detail required to keep up with all the plastic madness and track every single Integrity Toys doll release. And then there's Stratos Bacalis, a super passionate doll collector from beautiful Greece. He's not just any collector though - he is the creator and mastermind behind the renowned Fashion Doll Chronicles Website. Through his dedication and expertise, Stratos has created a hub for doll enthusiasts worldwide, offering a wealth of information, reviews, and insights into the captivating world of fashion dolls.
I was thrilled beyond words when I had the opportunity to interview Stratos.
-Hello Stratos, can you please introduce yourself?
Hello everyone, I am Stratos Bacalis, I live in Thessaloniki, Greece and I work as a project manager for an architectural firm. I am also a fashion doll collector and write about them too!
-Can you describe your passion for dolls in a hashtag? :-)
-On a scale of 1-10, how excited are you about your life as a doll collector right now? and what are you most excited about (doll-related) at the moment?
I’d say 8/10. Although we keep seeing beautiful dolls, the rising cost of life makes it harder to get them.
-You have a fascinating background of studying fashion design and civil engineering. How do these two areas come together in what you do for living? When did you start collecting dolls and how you become a doll blogger?
I was always interested in dolls, since I was a child. I envied my girl cousins that could have their own dolls and play dress up with them. I managed to collect lots of fashion paper dolls from their girl magazines, and it was then that I started making my own paper dolls and design clothes for them. In high school I discovered Greek fashion magazines and my interest in fashion grew exponentially. When the time came for university exams, I asked my parents to let me study fashion design along my engineering studies and that was it. My work needs both being creative and practical so my studies help enormously.
I started doll collecting back in 2000-2001, but not consciously. I saw a Franklin Mint ad in a US magazine about the Olivia Newton-John as Sandy vinyl portrait doll and, being an Olivia fan since Grease had come out, I had to have her. I had to order her via phone! The rest is history.
-Looking back at years of collecting, what best advice you’d give your novice doll collector self?
Be patient and don’t try to get everything at once.
-What’s one thing people don’t know about your doll hobby?
Probably how many dolls I have - even I don’t really know!
-What makes you smile and what scares you the most when it comes to your personal doll collection?
What makes me smile is the wonderful people I have met in the doll collector community.
What scares me most is the idea of my collection being destroyed.
-Given your passion for engineering, were you a maker or a player as a child?
Maker - made paper dolls and their clothes, made houses and streets to play with my matchbox cars, designed and made miniature paper formula one cars to race my brother, enjoyed making all the paper constructions that the Mickey Mouse magazines in Greece had back then, with houses and cars for all their characters, even the Magic Kingdom castle and the Nottingham castle from Disney’s Robin Hood.
-What advice would you give to someone who’s just started collecting fashion dolls and wants them all?
Again the same advice as before: be patient! Cultivate relationships and friendships within the doll community and it all will follow through.
-How do you store your dolls? Are they on display? What are your recommendations on keeping dolls intact?
I’m an un-boxer so yes, all my dolls are on display in IKEA Billy bookcases with glass doors. Keep your dolls away from sunlight!
-Your website is a real treasure of information for doll collectors. How did you come with an idea of creating the Fashion Doll Chronicles website?
I had started a blog about design, in 2006, and when it started attracting readers, combined with the fact that my doll collecting had begun to be more varied, it led to me starting FDC.
-The Fashion Doll Chronicles is my go-to website when I need to check the information on edition size or simply an attempt to remember what accessories were originally coming with a doll. What do you think it is the most used for by users?
Many people actually use it like that, but there are more thorough and dedicated archive doll sites about that. But equally many people actually enjoy reading my opinion about dolls - the website related newsletter has almost 100 subscribers so far and it was only established last year! If I’m late posting an article about a new release, people start asking when it will be up on the site. I cannot thank my readers enough.
-I assume it is a tremendous commitment to keep the information up to date. Does it take loads of effort given so many doll releases? And how do you manage this?
It does take effort, mostly into referencing my opinion points and information I include in the articles. My fashion studies, my huge fashion book and magazine archive and the internet help a lot.
-I really like how you weave your opinion and comments when you publish information on new dolls. I truly enjoy reading your suggestions on what could have been done better! Have you seen your suggestions actually been heard by doll designers?
I’m not the only one making suggestions online regarding new releases so I cannot take credit for anything being adopted by doll designers.
-If you made a doll documentary, what would it be about?
I’d love to make two: one about the establishment of Integrity Toys and their Jason Wu collaboration and one about the relationship between dolls and fashion from antiquity to modern times.
-What’s next on your dolls wishlist?
Oh so many! If we’re talking grails, I’d love to get AFL and True Royalty Vanessas
-What’s the best doll-related gift you’ve ever received?
High End Envy Erin Salston as a gift from an ex colleague and then collaborator and Jennifer Lopez Barbie from my bf. And also all the wonderful gifts I got at doll conventions by my table mates! Always cherished.
-If you could get absolutely any doll you want, what would that be?
A complete True Royalty Vanessa Perrin.
-What doll from your collection would you rate as a perfect 10?
Many! Three examples: Metal Maven Vanessa Perrin, Claire’s New Look Tonner Outlander doll, and Elizabeth I Barbie doll from the Women of Royalty series.
-Do you think dolls are a good investment? Or is it rather an excuse?
I’m not into doll collecting for investment. Plus the taste of people in collecting is fickle and what is now highly sought after can be disregarded in a few years time.
-Unbox or not unbox? (& Why?)
Unbox! Dolls need to be styled and posed and show off!
-Vintage dolls or new dolls? (& Why?)
New mostly. I prefer my fashion dolls to look more like real models than cartoony characters.
-Any links, social media profiles you would like to share with readers, so they can find out more about you?
My website www.fashiondollchronicles.com and my instagram @sandman_gr
-Thank you Stratos for your contributions to the fascinating and ever-evolving world of fashion dolls! Your passion is truly inspiring. Keep up the fantastic work, and continue to enlighten us with your unique perspective on the enchanting realm of fashion dolls!
Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity!
All photographs are property of Stratos Bacalis and have been published with his kind permission.
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