It is known that originally "Bild" Lilli was conceived as a pin-up novelty item, but she evolved into a toy for children, and after having been banned in toy shops in Austria she would later be found everywhere as a toy with less sexy, more playful garments. Fab-Lu Ltd., (Luften Ltd. and also known as Farber-Luft, Ltd) located at 133 West 28th Street, New York, NY, would around this time manufacture and also market themselves a doll called Babs, a complete knock-off of Barbie and made from Lilli moulds minus the earrings and shoes. Up to this point, it is believed they just manufactured the dolls, with the heels and earrings, for other distributors. They joined in on the band wagon and jumped on poor Lilli’s back, so to speak. Perhaps not for the first time, that is to say, ardent men jumping on her back, Lilli’s pursed lips are justified.

She had a boyfriend, (or was he a pimp? or worse, a “John”?) a Ken doll copy called Bill, and little sister named, of all things, Randy, which was a complete, if only physically sculpted copy of the Tammy doll by Ideal (as was Sindy of England by Pedigree, the difference being it was under licensed authorization from Ideal Toys). All of these dolls’ wardrobes were identical copies of German Lilli’s, Barbie’s, Ken’s, Ideal’s Tammy and Pedigree’s Sindy doll clothing. However, interspersed with these clothes were other garments which still reflected the “hard woman," “Lolita," and “Queen of Outer Space” aesthetic.

All of the costumes had intriguing, overtly sexy titles and the “pseudo” fashion angle was constantly made present. It is hard at this time to know if the original "Bild" Lilli doll was ever presented at Toyfair in America, although it is believed that it was at some point as it is a fact that the German "Bild" Lilli doll was imported into the United States. Marshall Field’s department store sold a “Bild” Lilli imported from Germany in the usual ovoid tube marked “Lilli Marlene” and it was the famous toy company Brio in Sweden who imported the German Lilli to that country. The catalogue is different from the German ones and quite graphically clever. While the German Bild Lilli and very soon after the Bild Lilli first version “Hong Kong” Lilli was used as a base to create a souvenir doll for the French pavilion of the New York World’s Fair of 1964-65 (She was dressed as Marie Antoinette of all people. From giving “head” to losing head all in one doll’s lifetime - imagine!), it is known that Fab Lu-Ltd. did present at Toyfair and that it was their explicit intention to create a Barbie doll copy to appeal to frugal parents and less-monied clientele.

Thus we can find a lot of mint-in-box Babs outfits, (many of which are not illustrated in the only known booklet and some which are the same outfits but in completely different fabrics then those mentioned in the booklet -and for which they themselves pointed out - they had the right to do without consumer notice) and the booklet, just like the famous Barbie booklets, is an intriguing testament of the less refined, slightly more racy teenage fashion doll of the early sixties. Babs was sold in England through Chad Valley (a famous British dollmaking company). Small changes, such as changing Randy's name to Mary Lou, were the only difference, made for the English market. This particular change was necessary due to the ironic fact that the expression "randy" is British slang for the American english equivalent of "horny" and considering Bab's look and Lilli's sexual inuendo origins, this change was essential to create a more commercial venue for the doll. You couldn’t have a fat faced doll, whose “sister” and “cousins” had clearly the reputation, rather admittedly, of that of hookers, named “Horny” on British toy shelves...could you? That would be too real and certainly too weird, for comfort.

Anyhow, Babs, of yet another type of hard plastic and strung (with elastic) like early 20th - century dolls (and like "Bild" Lilli in all of her versions), had her first collection of clothing along with her boyfriend and sister, comprising in total of 66 “complete ensembles fashion-inspired by World-Famous Couturiers in Paris, Rome, and New York.” What an exaggeration! It was like saying Zsa Zsa Gabor was the Queen of England. Her catalogue remarked:

A NOTE TO MOTHERS: Just as you teach your daughter the importance of good grooming, so now you can help her to acquire a flair for fashion! An appreciation of fine fabrics, color coordinations and correct accessories is a priceless gift!”

The irony of it all!