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Generally Barbie

50 years in the Rose Garden

Sunday, 19 April 2009 15:55 | Written by Adalia |

The worlds most popular doll is celebrating the 50th anniversary this year. Barbie has been celebrated with fashion shows, new doll releases, doll exhibitions and numerous newspaper and magazine -stories. They even opened up a Barbie-house in Shanghai - in human size!

Barbie's story begun in the 50's, when the owner of the toy company Mattel Ruth Handler noticed that her daughter Barbara preferred playing grown up paper dolls than her baby dolls. During her trip to Switzerland Ruth found a grown up doll named Lilli (a doll made on the basis of a cartoon magazine character Bild Lilli) and was inspired. She bought the legal rights to the doll and stated developing a new doll. Barbie Millicent Roberts was born and she was introduced at the New York Toy Fair in 1959.

Family girl and a Carreer girl

Barbie was an instant hit and little girls took her into their hearts and plays right away. In a few years Barbie got a boyfriend, Ken. When time went by, the doll family grew by sisters and brothers, cousins and friends. The wide world of Barbie also includes ethnic dolls and all sorts of pets.

The first Barbie was a teen aged fashion model. Since then, Barbie has tried her hand in over 100 different occupations; Astronault, olympic athlete, nanny, doctor, horse rider, business woman, presidential candidate and the president, rock star, ballet dancer, teacher... Naturally Ken has stood right beside her doing similar jobs.

Even though Barbie has been presented in several wedding dresses, she never married Ken. And even though she split up with Ken in 2004 after Beach Boy Blane entered the picture, she has returned back to her original love.

Fashion icon

From the very beginning, Barbie was an inspriation and a favorite of famous fashion designers. She has been wearing top fashion designs from designers like Oscar de la Renta, Versace, Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan just to name a few.

She is also surrounded by a complete world of goods: houses, cars, planes, boats, furniture... and of course boat loads clothes. Barbie has also starred in several movies and these movies were also shown as dolls - naturally.

Barbie hasn't always enjoyed the approval of parents or feminists because of her unnatural figure. However, a fashion doll is a fashion doll and she is not supposed to be natural. At the end of the day, she's just a doll. Barbie has been accused of being a wrong type of a role model and being a bad influence, but there's always those who defend her. Barbie is telling little girls that girls can do anything and can be anything the same as boys can.

Still current

Barbie has had a lot of rivals during the years; Sindy, Daisy, Petra and the latest; Bratz. She has also been blatantly copied since the 60's. A genuine Barbie is easily identified by a stamp in the back or the neck which states the manufacturer: Mattel and the patent year.

The competition has been fearce, but Barbie has maintained her position and popularity with children and adults. Especially the anniversary year has given her new wings and brought her back into the spotlight.

Barbie has always been fashionable and modern. She has been an image of her time and mirrored the society. Barbie can be called a living legend with a good reason!

Sources: Elle-magazine (Fin) and Ilta-Sanomat of March 2009

Written by Heidi Veräjäntausta

The writer is a Barbie Fan Forever and has been a collector since 2002.

Last Updated (Sunday, 29 November 2009 00:29)

Barbie in the feministic discussion

Wednesday, 18 March 2009 07:26 | Written by Sebby |

Articles - Generally Barbie

Ever since Barbie was first produced, she has raised eyebrows with her looks and her attitude. To put it shortly, she is way too skinny, too long legged, too big breasted and utterly too happy. Her being blonde and blue eyed hasn't been a very popular thing either. (Although the first Barbie was produced as a blonde and brunette with almost black eyes, is not common knowledge.) Her being heterosexual has raised questions lately, not to mention her swapping boyfriends after braking up with Ken.

Instead of repeating every accusation made against Barbie, I would like to point out a few things that are generally over-looked when criticising her.

Selling a played with Barbie

Wednesday, 18 March 2009 06:56 | Written by Sebby |

Articles - Generally Barbie

The collectors often buy playline Barbies that are good for restoring. Many times over I have found awesome dolls that to the average person seem like pure junk. Most second hand market, flea market or garage sale sellers don’t take time to fix the doll up at all. I don’t mean that you should start rerooting them or anything, just a few simple steps. Just the first one will do fine:

1. Wash them! For the love of God, wash your doll before selling it! Ask yourself, would you find it tempting to buy a doll with sticker glue and crayon in the eyes, in filthy clothes and hair that sticks to your hands when you touch it? Don’t worry. Barbie dolls (Mattel originals) can handle water and common soap. The hair (if any is left) hold the curl if you don’t use boiling hot water. The value of your doll sky rockets from one Euro/Dollar to five if it’s clean.

2. Clean up paint and permanent marker stains. This can be done with nail polish remover. Be careful not to remove the face paint in the process. All body parts can take nail polish remover, but be advised not to use pure acetone on the hard plastic parts. Non-acetone nail polish remover with little or no oils and creams is safest. (You won't be able to remove ball point pen or permanent marker of the legs.)

3. Comb the hair if possible. If you feel unsure, you can skip this part. A lot of collectors know how to do it without pulling out half of the scalp with it.

4. Dress her up in the best clothes you’re ready to part with. If you don’t have any clothes, that’s fine, but position the doll in the table in respective manner. The more you respect the doll, the more your buyer will.

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