When my nieces were little - late 90's/early aughts - Polly Pockets were popular.
They weren't the girls' favorites. They like Barbie. They liked American Girl. They like the Groovy Girls (my personal favorites).
But they did like Polly Pockets.
And what kid wouldn't?
Most kids love things in miniature, and there was tiny little Polly Pocket and her tiny little outfits and her tiny little shoes and her tiny little pocketbooks and her tiny little living spaces and her tiny little stuff.
While Polly Pocket was cheesy and cheapo, I would have absolutely been bonkers for them if they'd been around in the 50's when I was big into dolls.
Sure, from a step on a piece barefoot perspective - not as painful as stepping on a Lego piece, but still plenty painful - to a search for that crucial tiny little missing piece point of view - purple left-shoe has disappeared! - Polly Pockets had a lot going against them. But so much more going for them.
I completely get that girls who grew up with Polly Pockets have wonderful memories of them.
I wonder how that translated into those grownup 80's and 90's girls renting an Airbnb that's "a real-life scale version of the Polly Pocket Slumber Party Fun" pad that, a couple of weeks ago could be had for $89 per guest per night for any fan willing to travel to Littleton, Massachusetts.
When the Airbnb (a collab with Mattel) was first advertised, we learned that:
Guests will be able to try on Polly Pocket-themed accessories, clothes and raid her fridge for a late-night snack. (Source: Worcester Telegram)
The clamshell design house looks like it folds up like the original toy did, but it obviously doesn't fold up with overnight slumber partiers in it. So it looks like your stay will be al fresco. But that should have worked, as the weather in Littleton, Massachusetts in September - the only days the house will be available - is generally pretty temperate.
The house features, plein air:
...five beds, one bedroom, and a private half-bath. According to Airbnb, you’ll be able to camp out under the stars, play dress-up, craft your own bracelets at the Friendship bracelet station, enjoy a 90’s inspired kitchen. (Source: Billboard)
Airbnb had a much more to say about the Polly Pocket House when they put out their presser announcing it
Given that Polly Pocket was invented in England, I'm a bit surprised to learn that her hometown is Littletown, Massachusetts. But what's a little make believe when "the fun is endless."]The pad is packed with nostalgic surprises to take guests right back to their childhoods while getting the 411 on the pocket-sized life.
“I can’t wait for you to visit and help celebrate my birthday in my most epic compact ever,” said Polly. “Let’s have some serious slumber party fun in my hometown of Littleton, where we make the ordinary extraordinary. There’s adventure to be had from my closet full of nostalgic fashion fun to the surprises I’ve left hidden around the compact. The fun is endless!” (Source: Airbnb)
Get ready at Polly’s vanity, stuffed with nostalgic hair and nail accessories of her favorite colors. Did someone call for press on nails?
Check out the retro fridge and craft the snack-filled picnic every ‘90s kid wanted.
Try on the doll life for size in Polly’s closet, where her most iconic throwback looks hang waiting to be worn in joyful hues and glossy silhouettes in the beloved signature gummy texture.
Kick back in the living room with some popcorn, a movie and plenty of pillows.
Doze off on Polly’s pullout couch or cozy up in her life-sized Action Park Tent just 10 feet away from the compact after filling up on slumber party fun
Make custom, Polly-approved charm bracelets to match with your BFF.
And if you weren't able to nab one of the overnight opportunties, the house will be available for daytime adventures through early October.
There's really nothing comparable for those my age. Our dolls didn't come with houses, or even much by way of accessories. Baby dolls had bottles and rattles. I think I may have had a layette for my Tiny Tears.
I loved my Vogue Ginny and Ginnette dolls, and they had lots of cute outfits. But I believe us doll moms were responsible for housing our doll babies.
Sure, we may have had dollhouses, but they weren't big enough to fit our dolls in.
But you know who would have fit in those metal doll houses? Polly Pockets.
Sure, our dollhouses weren't as colorful and exciting as Polly's plastic fantastic clamshell compact house. But, size-wise, she would have fit right in.
Anyway, Polly Pockets was never my jam, and I'm way too old and crotchety for this sort of adventure, but a visit to the Polly Pocket house does sound kinda fun in a very weird way.
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