Yellowing is a common problem with the vintage Blythes and other vintage toys. However, the Blythes manufactured in 1972 are not the only Blythes that are at risk for yellowing. Why does plastic yellow over time? It’s a good question because it’s an issue that affects anyone who collects toys or anything plastic.

Yellowing (or discolouration) of plastic is the result of exposure to sun/ultraviolet, extreme changes in temperature, as well as just plain old time.

Yellowed vs. not yellowed – blonde 1972 Kenner Blythe dolls. Photo by Jen of Blythe Spa Time.

The thing to remember that plastic is made up of many components that gives it structure, colour, rigidity and its overall make-up. Over time, the components of the plastic can degrade. The process of degrading can result in changes in structure (like the melting that occurs with Kenners) and changes in colour. While plastic degradation is not the same as food decomposition (you are not going to wake up one day and find a pile of plastic pellets in the place where your doll once stood), it is still a process that cannot be stopped. However, the process of plastic degradation can be slowed down. Decreased exposure to sunlight helps, as well as keeping your dolls in a place where the temperatures do not vary (heat will speed up the degradation process). Many homes nowadays come with windows with ultraviolet coating, but I still wouldn’t keep your dolls sitting on your window sill if you hope to prevent the plastic from becoming discoloured earlier.

How can you help protect your dolls from yellowing? Don’t leave them in direct sunlight for long periods of time and don’t leave them in places with high heat!

The issue with time is that over time, oxidation can occur. Exposure of oxygen can cause degradation in some types of plastics. This is unfortunate for the most part because it is, without doubt, one of the issues that we cannot control – save for sending Blythe out into space in a box so light doesn’t cause her any damage. Oxidation takes a long time to occur, which is a great thing because it’ll be many (many!) years before we see oxidation effects on the plastic of our Neo Blythes.

Discolouration of plastic can be uniform or in patches. This is because sun/UV exposure may be only on one side, and it also has to do with the quality of the plastic. If the components are not evenly mixed throughout during the manufacturing process, then the plastic will discolour (or degrade) in patches because not all areas of the plastic are equal in their components. This can be especially true for more vintage toys because of the standards in quality and the science that was used to produce polymers at the time.

One of my favourite Blythe dolls on the internet is a doll named The Mighty Quinn a.k.a. TMQ (owned by irulethegalaxy) fights aliens and loves the colour orange. One of my favourite dolls that I own is Eden Mouse, a younger girl in terms of maturity who loves tea parties, dolls, and the colour pink. Everything she wears is pink and she even has a baby pink clover stand. A newer addition to my doll family, Cameo, has somehow become my resident cat lady. I put her in this kitty tights and a cat dress one day and I honestly cannot find a better outfit for her. I really do think that she needs some kind of cat charm!

The pink loving Eden Mouse & Cameo the littlest cat lady!

Eden Mouse is wearing Buttonarcade (dress) and tights (unknown maker). Cameo is wearing Plastic Fashion (dress) and Endangered Sissy (tights).

Do any of your dolls have a “theme”?

I love spring and daylight savings and all the things that brings sunshine to me earlier and longer. I love sunshine. It makes for better photos outdoors, better photos indoors (when the curtains are open), and overall a better mood to be in. While I adore winter and the chilly air and the snow (which we did not get a lot of in my part of British Columbia – I’m rubbing it in, I know), there’s nothing that beats sunshine and the warmth of the sun’s rays on my face.

Sunshine, however, can be bad for Blythe. Hair colours can fade or change (Miss Sally Rice, anyone?) and it can also fade stock or custom face-ups (boo!). But it makes for a great addition for photos and making colours so much better in photographs. Gotta love it!

Taken with natural light (from a window), Cameo wears
Plastic Fashion (dress) and Endangered Sissy (tights).

Daylight, natural light, is always best for photos. I find that artificial light can alter colours in photos from their true selves. Of course, I can always correct these using Photoshop (something I do use when editing my photos). It’s nice to have to do as much work with an image before using it though, because it just makes my life a lot easier! Three cheers for sunshine and better photos!

That you’re being watched?

Sometimes with a row of dolls, it feels like I’m being constantly watched. Constantly. This feeling sometimes makes me feel like I need to change what direction the dolls look in, or maybe given them some more attention and change the direction they look in.

From left the right, the dolls are wearing: Kult of Kulta (Sophie), Buttonarcade (Eden Mouse), ericaduh (Moxie), Plastic Fashion (Minnow and Tertiary Jane), and charmachine72 (Mollie).

With the tail end of Easter long weekend winding down, it’s made me acutely aware of how many people dress up their dolls for the holidays. This is something that I often mean to do, but frequently do not do. Holidays come and go for me, especially ones that aren’t overly celebrated in my life. Post-holiday celebrations come in the form of discounted chocolates though, and I very much celebrate those moments in my life! Occasionally though, and it’s very rare, I do make a little effort for the holidays.

Do you dress up your dolls for the holidays?