Ideal Tressy Doll

The Ideal Tressy Doll was a 18” fashion doll introduced by Ideal Toy Corporation in the year 1970 as "Gorgeous Tressy" and in 1971, as "Posin' Tressy". The trademark name "Tressy" was first used for a doll by the American Character Doll Co. in the early 1960's and Ideal had acquired it later and used both trademarks Tressy and Cricket (the original Tressy's sister) on their own products in the 1970's.

The Ideal Tressy Doll was specially produced for and sold only by Sears & Roebuck Co and is considered by some collectors to be part of the Crissy "family" of dolls. She was advertised next to Crissy in Sears catalogs and like the Crissy Doll, Ideal Tressy’s major appeal was her "growing-hair" feature. Tressy was pictured in Sears catalogs modeling exclusive Sears catalog outfits created for her and the Crissy Doll. However, Crissy Doll fashion packages do not mention the Ideal Tressy Doll as they do Crissy's companion dolls, the Kerry doll and the Brandi Doll.

In 1970 Ideal's "Gorgeous Tressy" came dressed in a yellow and white geometric print dress and panties with black bow tie shoes. This same issue can also can be found in an orange and white dress variation. This issue was released with a straight body in a white or black version. Tressy’s white version had black hair and blue eyes, and the black version had black hair and brown eyes.

Ideal's "Posin' Tressy" was released in 1971 (white-only) with the Posin’ body style, meaning the doll had a swivel waist that had limited movement in both the horizontal and vertical planes so the doll could strike various poses for the child at play. In 1971 Posin' Tressy could be purchased wearing a belted turquoise, satin and white lace long-sleeved mini dress and panties with matching bow tie shoes.

In 1972 Sears also offered the "Posin' Tressy" doll in a special gift set. This was a satin wedding dress set which coordinated with the bridesmaid dress set also available with the Ideal Cricket Doll.