|  |  |  |  | It is estimated that Otto Simon produced at least 50 different boxed Fleur dolls, each with its own theme and design. The dolls were originally packaged in dark green boxes, but in the late 1980s the design changed to light green. At this time, many Fleur dolls originally sold in dark green boxes were re-packaged into light green boxes, with the same article numbers. For example, Grand Gala, Jogging, Jazzballet, and Brides Happiness were all re-issued in this way, as were probably quite a few others. In the 1970s Fleurs had hard heads, and their hair was either blonde, red, or brown, with a few variations. The hair was usually thin and somewhat mousy in appearance, usually no longer than below the shoulders. In the 1980s Fleurs were sold with a choice of 4 different hair colours - blonde, red, dark brown, and black. However, there were some variations to this, for example some Country Walk Fleurs were sold with nearly white platinum blonde hair. Their makeup varied slightly in their eyeshadow and lip colour, with more variations noted in the early 1980s, when it was not uncommon to see Fleurs with orange lipstick and very bold blush on their cheeks. Throughout the 70s and 80s all Fleurs had rooted straight black eyelashes. The only known exception to this seems to be the Gauntlet Fleur sold in the 1970s, who was produced in a painted eyelashes variation. |  | Platinum blonde Country Walk Fleur in a light green box |  |  |  | The New Look Fleur, who probably appeared around 1988, was sold with only blonde hair, bright blue eye makeup, painted eyelashes, and pink lipstick. Only the New Look Disco Fleur had long hair, the Look Around Fleur and her successors had their hair cut into short blonde bobs. Fleur bodies underwent three major makeovers, with some smaller variations added throughout production. The 1970s Fleurs had thin rigid plastic arms with very small hands, very pointy small breasts, tiny waists, very round hips and very long legs. The mechanism in their knees was of excellent quality, still perfectly working today on many dolls. The 1980s Fleurs had rubber arms with more detailed hands, the arms were easily bendable which allowed for more realistic posing, but would not stay bent. Only when "ballerina" bodies were produced, their elbows were wired inside to allow them to stay bent. Their bodies had more realistic proportions, especially waist-to-hip, and their legs were also shorter. The "ballerinas" also had bendable ankles. The New Look Fleurs underwent a major body change - their arms were made from rigid plastic permanently bent at the elbows, their waists twisted at an angle and were much slimmer, and overall the bodies were made from light-coloured vinyl. Those newer Fleurs were marked on the back of their heads with the Fleur logo and © '86, BTTM. Elder Fleurs have either no markings at all, or just the Fleur logo on the back of their head. Probably the unmarked Fleurs are the oldest ones. The workmanship on Fleur dolls was of a quite varying standard. Some dolls were given an overabundance of hair, while others had so little hair it could only be put into a ponytail. Fleur's eyelashes were glued inside the slits above her eyes, however the glue dissolved at first contact with water, causing many Fleurs to loose their lashes rapidly. Their bending knees could not withstand active play and soon lost their "clicks". It is remarkable however, that the "ballerina" ankles and elbows remained very reliably bendable long after. |  | Blonde Jazzballet Fleur in a dark green box |
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