I recently added Monster High Catty Noir to the OzarkFashions doll collection, and this is one doll I have been especially excited to see in person.
Catty Noir immediately stands out from the other Monster High dolls. She has a larger, curvier body, beautiful black coloring, bright pink hair, cat ears and a long sculpted tail. Between her unique body shape and dramatic styling, she also presents an interesting new challenge for creating handmade Monster High doll clothes.
And yes, I already have ideas!
Who Is Catty Noir?
Catty Noir is a werecat and pop star in the Monster High universe. The character was created as part of Mattel's Monster High franchise and originally appeared as a Monster High doll in 2013.
Catty is known for her music, glamorous stage fashions.
The doll featured here is the newer Generation 3 Monster High Catty Noir, model HXH76, introduced by Mattel in 2024.
This version gives Catty a dramatically different body from the original Catty Noir dolls, and that's one of the things I find most interesting about her.
 |
| Time to unbox Catty Noir! |
Is Catty Noir the Largest Monster High Doll?
This was one of the first things I wondered when I took her out of the package.
She's BIG compared with many of the Monster High dolls!
More precisely, Mattel described this Catty Noir as having the fullest figure in the Monster High student line when she was introduced.
She's the tallest Monster High doll ever produced. Dolls such as G3 Abbey Bominable are taller. But Catty has a noticeably fuller body with wider hips and thighs, making her one of the most substantial and distinctive body types in the current Monster High collection.
I'll be doing a separate Monster High body comparison soon so we can put Catty beside some of the other Monster High dolls and see exactly how their proportions compare.
That comparison should also be useful for anyone interested in sewing clothes for her.
First Impressions of G3 Catty Noir
My first impression was simply that she feels like a quality doll.
She has a nice weight and feel in the hand, and her articulation gives her plenty of possibilities for posing. Her arms and legs can be positioned naturally enough that she works as both a play doll and a fashion doll for photography and display.
For me, that's important because I don't just collect dolls — I sew for them.
Catty has a body that is different enough from the other Monster High dolls that she opens up an entirely new range of possibilities for custom Monster High clothing and handmade doll fashions.
I Really Like Catty Noir's Dress
Catty wears a silver cracked-mirror print dress with pink underneath and dramatic pink statement sleeves. A translucent pink belt accents her waist, and her tall bright pink boots continue the over-the-top pop-star look.
I was pleasantly surprised by the dress itself. It feels well made, fits her body nicely.
I'm already looking forward to seeing what kinds of handmade clothes for Catty Noir I can create.
Her proportions should make her a particularly interesting doll to design for.
Catty Noir's Pink Hair and Micro-Braids
Her hair is another feature I really like.
Catty has long, vivid pink hair with micro-braids around the front, while much of the remaining hair is left straight and brushable.
I like this combination because the braids add texture without making the entire hairstyle difficult to work with. Her long hair can still be brushed, styled and repositioned for photographs.
Combined with her black coloring, cat ears and pink makeup, the bright hair makes her incredibly photogenic.
What Accessories Come With G3 Catty Noir?
Catty Noir comes with quite a collection of accessories.
Included with the doll are:
Amulette, Catty's Sphynx cat pet
Translucent pink heart-shaped backpack
Microphone
Sheet music
Broken hand mirror for good luck
iCoffin phone
Water bottle
Sunglasses
Silver earring
Necklace
Translucent pink belt
Tall pink boots
What About Catty Noir's Tail?
Catty has a large curved black cat tail, and I was curious about whether it could be removed.
I gave mine a gentle try and encountered enough resistance that I decided not to force it.
Fortunately, the tail doesn't keep her from being posed.
I took several photographs of Catty sitting down with her tail attached specifically to see how well she could manage a seated pose. She handles it surprisingly well.
Catty Noir Is Extremely Posable
This may be one of my favorite things about her.
Catty is fully articulated, and despite her larger body and long tail, she can be placed in a surprising variety of positions.
Her articulation makes her useful for much more than simply standing on a shelf. She can sit, move her arms into natural positions and be posed for fashion photography.
That makes G3 Catty Noir particularly interesting to me as a fashion doll for sewing and custom doll clothes.
Her body isn't simply a larger version of another Monster High body, either. The proportions are different, which means I'll need to experiment with patterns and fit.
That's part of the fun.
A Different Body Type for Monster High
One thing I appreciate about this Catty Noir doll is how distinctive her sculpt is.
She has fuller hips and thighs with a curvy silhouette, while her upper body and arms are comparatively narrower. The result is a body shape that doesn't simply look like an existing Monster High doll enlarged in every direction.
For doll clothes designers, that matters.
A garment that fits another Monster High doll isn't necessarily going to fit Catty, and clothing made for other curvy fashion dolls may not fit correctly either.
I'll be experimenting with that.
Can she share any clothes with Curvy Barbie?
Can existing Monster High patterns be altered for Catty?
Which dolls are closest to her measurements?
Those are questions I plan to explore here at OzarkFashions.
Is G3 Catty Noir Worth Adding to a Doll Collection?
After getting her out of the box and spending some time posing her, I'm very happy that I bought her.
I love her unusual body sculpt, her bright pink hair, her articulation and especially her dress. She feels substantial and well made, and she works equally well as a Monster High toy, collectible doll and fashion doll.
For me, however, the real fun is just beginning.
Catty Noir gives me a completely different body to sew for.
I'm looking forward to creating some handmade Catty Noir clothes, experimenting with patterns and seeing what styles work especially well on her curvy Monster High body.
Next I'll be putting Catty beside some of the other Monster High dolls for a Monster High doll body comparison. We'll take a closer look at the differences in height, waist, hips, legs and overall proportions — and find out just how different Catty really is.
And then it will be time to start sewing.
No comments:
Post a Comment