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There is something exciting about finding a doll you have never owned before—especially when she has been waiting inside her original box since 1989.
I found this vintage Lanard Toys Jet Setters doll at an antique store. Although I have collected, dressed and sewn for many different fashion dolls over the years, I had never owned a Jet Setters doll. Her unusual size, lovely face and long brunette hair immediately caught my attention.
My first thought was not whether I should leave her in the box. It was whether she could share clothes with my prized Tonner Tyler Wentworth dolls and the other 16-to-18-inch fashion dolls in my collection.
After approximately 37 years in her box, it was finally time to find out.
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| Unboxing a NRFB Jetsetter |
Who Made the Vintage Jet Setters Dolls?
Jet Setters was a short-lived fashion-doll collection produced by Lanard Toys in 1989. Collector references identify dolls named Nina, Nikita, Kenya and Lellani, although surviving examples and reliable information about the complete collection are limited.
The dolls are generally described as being approximately 17 to 18 inches tall. Some sellers measure them at about 17 inches, while other collector listings identify them as 18-inch dolls. That puts a Jet Setters doll between the familiar 16-inch Tonner fashion dolls and many traditional 18-inch play dolls.
This particular doll wears a metallic pink strapless dress with a layered pink-and-silver tutu-style skirt. She also came with pink star-patterned stockings, pink shoes and a mask. Her ears were already pierced, and she wears her original bright-pink earrings.
Collectors sometimes describe this version as the Jet Setters Ballerina doll. The mask, sparkling skirt and star-covered stockings also give her the appearance of a party, performance or Mardi Gras fashion doll. Because surviving boxes and listings use inconsistent descriptions, I think “pink ballerina-style Jet Setters doll” is the safest way to describe her outfit.
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| 1989 Jetsetter Pink Tutu and Mardi Gras Mask |
Why Does the Doll Say 1987 When the Box Says 1989?
One interesting detail is that the doll’s molded marking says 1987, while her packaging is dated 1989.
This does not necessarily mean that the doll sat in storage for two years before she was boxed. Molded dates on vintage dolls often refer to the year a head or body design was copyrighted, registered or first created. Manufacturers frequently reused the same body mold in collections released several years later.
The Jet Setters collection is identified as a 1989 Lanard line, so the most likely explanation is that Lanard used a body design created or copyrighted in 1987 when producing the Jet Setters dolls in 1989.
For that reason, I consider this a 1989 doll with a 1987 body marking.
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| Vintage Jetsetter is officially unboxed! |
How Much Did a Jet Setters Doll Cost in 1989?
I have not found a surviving Lanard catalog or newspaper advertisement that confirms the original retail price of this exact doll. Based on her construction, packaging and Lanard’s position as an affordable mass-market toy company, a reasonable estimate would be approximately $10 to $15 in 1989.
Depending on the retailer and whether she was discounted, the price could possibly have fallen slightly below or above that range. In today’s buying power, that would be roughly comparable to spending around $25 to $40 on a doll.
This price should be treated as an informed estimate rather than a documented manufacturer’s suggested retail price. If I eventually locate an original advertisement or catalog page, I will update this article.
Jet Setters dolls were likely carried by the types of discount stores, variety stores, regional department stores and independent toy stores that sold affordable Lanard products during the late 1980s. Stores such as Kmart, Woolworth and similar regional chains would have been logical outlets, but I have not found documentation proving which specific chain originally carried this doll.
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| Comparing doll sizes - Jetsetter with Tyler Wentworth |
How Does She Compare with Tonner Tyler Wentworth?
The Tonner Tyler Wentworth doll stands approximately 16 inches tall. This Jet Setters doll measures closer to 17 or 18 inches, making her about one to two inches taller.
Height alone, however, does not determine whether dolls can share clothes. Shoulder width, bust, waist, hips, torso length and leg length are equally important.
Tyler Wentworth has the substantial, highly detailed body of an adult collector fashion doll. The Jet Setters doll has a lighter, slimmer body made from harder plastic, with vinyl used for parts such as her head and arms. Her body does not have the same weight, finish or quality of material found on newer Tonner collector dolls.
That difference was not unexpected. Lanard designed Jet Setters as an affordable playline fashion doll, while Tonner created Tyler Wentworth for the adult collector market.
Can Jet Setters Wear Tonner Tyler Clothes?
This was the question I most wanted answered—and she did not disappoint.
Although every fitted garment will not work perfectly, her height and fashion-doll proportions allow her to model a surprising number of outfits made for dolls in the 16-to-18-inch range. Looser dresses, skirts, capes, coats and garments with some stretch or adjustable closures offer the best chance of fitting.
Very closely fitted Tyler Wentworth clothing may be loose or tight in certain areas because the two dolls have different body shapes. Sleeve and trouser lengths can also vary. Shoes are the least likely items to transfer successfully because foot shape and size differ considerably among doll brands.
This is similar to what I have found with dolls such as Gene Marshall, Ellowyne Wilde, Cami and other larger fashion dolls. They are not identical in size, but carefully selected clothing can often be shared. Especially my one-size-fits all dresses with expandable waist and velcro neckline.
For someone who sews doll clothes, this opens many possibilities. Adjustable closures, flexible waistlines and designs with a little extra room can make one outfit useful for several dolls instead of only one body type.
How Did She Look After 37 Years in the Box?
For an unopened doll that had been stored since 1989, I think she emerged in remarkably good condition.
Her long brunette hair is one of her prettiest features. It still has plenty of length and fullness, although it naturally needs a little gentle arranging after being held in the same position for decades.
Her face paint remains bright, her earrings are intact, and her original pink outfit still has plenty of sparkle. The materials do not feel like those used for today’s high-end collector dolls, but she has a distinctive vintage beauty that makes her interesting in her own right.
Most importantly, she is still attractive enough to become a working model for my doll-clothing collection.
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| Vintage doll sharing same dresses |
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| Same size dresses - different dolls |
Should a Vintage Doll Be Removed From Her Box?
Collectors have different feelings about unboxing vintage dolls. Keeping a doll unopened can sometimes help preserve her resale value, particularly when the box is scarce and in excellent condition.
For me, this doll was purchased to enjoy, photograph and dress. Her greatest value is not simply that she remained tied inside a box for 37 years. Her value is that she can now become part of my collection and model clothing alongside my other fashion dolls.
I saved the packaging and all of her original pieces. That allows me to document her history while still enjoying the doll herself.
After waiting since 1989, this Jet Setters doll has finally stepped out of her box—and she already looks ready for her next fashion show.
Have you ever owned a Lanard Jet Setters doll? If you recognize this particular pink outfit or remember seeing these dolls in stores during the late 1980s, I would love to hear what you remember in the comments.
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