Mattel added the Curvy body to the Barbie® Fashionistas line in 2016, and since then one of the most common questions we get is the same: can a curvy doll wear the clothes made for the original body? The honest answer is mostly no, and the reason is a single measurement. This post explains what is different about the curvy body, why a Regular skirt will not close on her, and which of our clothes and sewing patterns are made for her. Dolls are not included with our products; the names are used only to show fit.
What is different about the curvy body
The original body is a slim hourglass: narrow hips and a visible gap between the thighs. The curvy body is a pear shape: noticeably fuller hips and thighs, a softer waist and tummy, and no gap between the thighs. She is also a touch shorter, about 11 to 11.5 inches against 11.5 inches for the original. These are the measurements we sew to, taken on the actual dolls:
| Body type | Height | Bust | Waist | Hips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | 11.5 in (29 cm) | 5.0 in (12.7 cm) | 3.6 in (9.1 cm) | 5.2 in (13.2 cm) |
| Curvy | 11-11.5 in (28-29 cm) | 5.25 in (13.3 cm) | 4.1 in (10.4 cm) | 6.0 in (15.3 cm) |
| Difference | up to 1 cm shorter | +0.6 cm | +1.3 cm | +2.1 cm |
Look at the bust first: the two bodies are almost the same there, 6 mm apart. The waist is 1.3 cm larger on the curvy doll. The hips are 2.1 cm larger. On a body this small, 2 cm on the hips is about one sixth of the whole measurement. That one number is what decides whether a garment fits.
Why a Regular skirt will not close on her
A skirt, a pair of trousers or a fitted dress has to pass over the hips and then sit at the waist. A Regular skirt is sewn for a 13.2 cm hip. Put it on a 15.3 cm hip and it needs to grow by 2 cm. A woven fabric with no stretch cannot do that at all: the back opening stays 2 cm apart, or the seams tear if you force it. A soft knit may go on, but it is stretched to its limit, so it rides up, the print distorts, and the closure at the back is under constant strain.
This is why the Size Guide says to compare the hips first. A top is more forgiving: the bust difference is small, so a loose knit top may sit on both bodies. Anything that is fitted below the waist is where Regular clothes fail on a curvy doll.
The reverse is also true. A Curvy skirt on an original body is loose at the waist and slides down over the narrow hips. Size up for the hips and you lose the waist, which is why we sew the two sizes from different pieces instead of one size with more ease.
How to tell if your doll is curvy
- Stand her up with the legs together and look from the front. A gap between the thighs is the original body; no gap and visibly fuller hips is the curvy body.
- Measure the hips at the widest point with a strip of paper, mark the overlap and lay the strip against a ruler. Around 13 cm is Regular, around 15 cm is Curvy.
- If she is a Fashionistas Curvy doll or a curvy Made to Move™ doll, she wears our Curvy size. The Size Guide has a table of which Barbie® body is which size, with photos of all four body types.
Clothes made for the curvy body
Every dress, top and set in our shop is sewn in a Curvy version from its own pattern pieces, not scaled up from the Regular one. Choose Curvy in the Doll type option on the product page. The clothes are made from soft, stretchy fabric with no velcro, snaps or buttons, so they slip on over the hips and do not mark the doll.
Underwear is the one thing we currently make only for curvy dolls: the underwear set of three in grey, beige and pink, and the two tops and underwear set with a puffed-sleeve floral top. Both are sewn from stretch knit so they sit flat under a dress.
Sewing patterns with curvy pieces
Each of our patterns is drafted on graph paper, sewn up on the actual doll body and corrected before it is digitised. For the curvy body that means a separate set of pieces, because enlarging a Regular pattern would make the shoulders and bust too big long before the hips were right. The product page of every pattern lists the body types it was fitted on. At the moment these have curvy pieces or a fit that includes her:
- The cocktail and evening dress pattern has separate pieces for Regular and Curvy, in a midi and a maxi length, so you get four dresses in one file.
- The evening gowns pattern comes in two versions, Regular and Curvy, for a cocktail dress, a long gown and a gown with a train.
- The long sleeve dress pattern is a straight, easy-fitting dress with one set of pieces that fits Regular, Curvy and Tall dolls.
- The no-sew pattern for a top, a skirt and three dresses is cut and tied, no sewing, and comes in Regular and Curvy.
- The oversized sweater is roomy enough to fit Regular, Curvy, Tall and Petite dolls and 12 inch male dolls from one pattern.
Two patterns are Regular only: the fitted dress with darts, which was not tested on the curvy body, and the leggings and top pattern. If you want to try them on a curvy doll, make a quick test fit in scrap fabric first.
Questions we get
Does a Curvy Made to Move™ doll wear the same size as a Fashionistas Curvy doll?
Yes. Both have the curvy body and wear our Curvy size. The original Made to Move™ body wears Regular.
Will Tall or Petite clothes fit a curvy doll?
No. Tall is longer in the torso with narrower hips, and Petite is smaller all over. Each of the four body types has its own size.
My doll is between the two sizes. Which do I choose?
Check the hips. Our clothes are stretchy, so a few millimetres are fine, and if she is between two sizes the larger one is usually the better choice. If you are unsure, send us her measurements or a photo and we will recommend a size.
Do you make underwear for the Regular body?
Not at the moment. Our underwear sets are sewn for the curvy body only.
Everything in the Curvy size is in Doll Clothes: filter by Doll type, or open any product and choose Curvy.