-
Barbie
She
took the world by storm, surprising skeptical toy
critics at New York's Toy Fair in 1959. With her good
looks, charm, and charisma, she won audiences over in
record time. Soon, little girls across America, and
later, the world, were singing her praises. In the
coming years, both adults and children would collect her
in record numbers. Today she remains one of the hottest
selling toys in the world. Her name is Barbie. This is
her story.
She began like any other great invention does - as an
idea in a visionary's head.
Ruth
Handler, co-founder of Mattel Toys, was watching her
daughter Barbara play with paper dolls and imagine them
in grown-up roles when the idea hit her - why not make a
teenage doll that little girls could play and dream
about the future with? Ruth recognized the value of
helping children realize their dreams and goals through
play. After researching the current doll market, Ruth
confirmed that while there were plenty of baby dolls
available, there were no three-dimensional teenage
dolls. She then resolved to create such a doll through
her own company, which she co-founded with her husband
Elliott Handler.
Ruth and Elliott unveiled Barbie® doll, the teenage
fashion model, at New York's annual Toy Fair in 1959.
Initially, toy buyers were skeptical. Never before had
anyone seen a doll so small, yet so sophisticated. As a
teenager, Barbie was completely unlike any of the baby
or toddler dolls popular at the time. Critics posed the
question - Would anyone buy her?
Undaunted by skepticism, Mattel stood firmly behind the
first Barbie doll, launching an innovative television ad
campaign. Barbie quickly caught the attention of little
girls across the country. She soon became a worldwide
sensation, and remains as popular as ever today.
As
a teenage fashion model, Barbie has worn many fabulous
fashions. Beginning with her trademark black and white
striped swimsuit and swirled ponytail, Barbie has
followed style trends as well as blazed her own fashion
trail. Over the years, as fashion and teenage lifestyle
trends have shifted, so has Barbie. In the early 1960s,
she began wearing designer outfits such as Gay
Parisienne™, and "Easter Parade," both modeled after
Parisian couture fashions. Along with these stylish
ensembles came a brand new hairstyle, the famous bubble
cut - still a favorite among many collectors.
As the 1960s progressed, Barbie took on the style and
sophistication of the decade's most famous trendsetter -
Jackie Kennedy, wearing such stunning fashions as Silken
Flame®, and Fashion Luncheon®. Another popular look for
the late 60s was that of the American Girl - a
chin-length Dutch-boy hairstyle available in many
colors. In addition to the new fashion and hairstyle,
American Girl dolls were the first Barbie dolls to have
bendable legs.
As the 1960s gave way to the "British Invasion", Barbie
again became a trendsetter. Not only did she get a
fashion makeover, but her body style, hair, face
sculpting and makeup changed as well. In addition to
wearing the popular mod fashions, Barbie doll's body
underwent dramatic changes including a new Twist 'N
Turn® waist, and a more youthful face with rooted
eyelashes. As hair play became an important aspect of
the Barbie doll experience, Barbie began wearing her
hair long and straight, and in varying colors - perfect
for little girls to brush and style!
In the early 1970s, Barbie became more poseable than
ever before, with bendable wrists, elbows, and ankles.
This allowed Barbie to participate in all kinds of new
activities, including gymnastics, horseback riding, and
ballet. And like the previous decade, Barbie embodied
the fashion and lifestyle trends of the world around
her. During the 1970s, her fashions included the
"prairie" look, the "granny" dress, the "California
Girl" suntan, and the zany glitz of the "disco" era.
In 1977, Barbie again underwent a major
face sculpting change with the introduction of Superstar
Barbie®. This doll featured a wide open-mouthed smile
along with bright painted eyes, and looked much friendlier
that any of the previous dolls. Barbie wore fashions that
mirrored the funky trends found on dance floors across the
country, as well as chic designer looks that came in vogue
in the late 1970s. As always, Barbie had her finger on the
pulse of Americana.
In the 1980s, Barbie collecting became more than a
childhood pastime. With Barbie doll's original fans now in
their twenties and thirties, Barbie collecting began
attracting adult women as well as little girls. For many
of these women, Barbie symbolized the innocence of their
youth; she was a part of them that was timeless, ageless -
and they wanted to reconnect with their favorite fashion
doll! To meet the needs of these sophisticated adult
collectors, Mattel issued Blue Rhapsody® Barbie® in 1986.
This doll was Mattel's first porcelain doll, and marks the
beginning of the collector line. Then in 1988 came Happy
Holidays® Barbie® doll. Although she was not specifically
targeted to the collector market, Barbie fans loved her
and she sold out almost instantly at retail (only 300,000
were made). This event ignited the adult collecting boom
and marked a turning point in Barbie doll history.
In the 1990s, some of the world's most
famous designers began creating fashions for Barbie
including Bob Mackie, Nolan Miller, Vera Wang, and
Christian Dior just to name a few. Their intricately
designed doll fashions generated a great deal of
excitement in the doll collecting community. The Bob
Mackie designs set a new standard with over-the-top
glamour for Barbie featuring stunning gowns of sequins and
beads. A new head mold and face sculpt, known today as the
Mackie sculpt, was created for Barbie with the
introduction of Mackie's Neptune Fantasy™ Barbie®. This
sophisticated new sculpt features a full-lipped closed
mouth smile and more elaborate face makeup. Bob Mackie's
creations remain collector favorites.
Because of its immense
popularity, Barbie doll collecting has spawned numerous
clubs, conventions, magazines, and newsletters, and become
an international phenomenon. With the many collector and
limited edition dolls designed specifically for the adult
collector, it's no wonder Barbie is the most Collectible
Doll in the World. She has an innate ability to not only
capitalize on trends, but to create some of her own.
As
the popularity of vintage dolls continues rising, and the
newer Barbie Collectibles® dolls generate increased
excitement, it's clear that Barbie collecting is here to
stay. Now in her fourth decade, the world's ultimate fashion
model not only continues to retain her audience from years
past, but also ignites the hopes, dreams, and imaginations
of a new generation of little girls. Barbie - with her
humble beginnings as a teenage fashion model - has
transformed herself into best friend, confidante, and
fearless adventurer. With a unique ability to inspire
self-esteem, glamour, and a sense of adventure in all who
love her, Barbie continues to inspire as she moves into the
21st century.
Quality and Excellence...It's our
Commitment and your Assurance
