March 9 is...
Barbie Day
[Be sure to scroll through the entire article for a surprise ending!]
Do you know the REAL Barbie?
Bild Lilli Doll en.wikipedia.org |
On August 12, 1955, Lilli was first sold in Germany, usually in smoke shops and a few toy stores. This is the doll that Ruth Handler found while shopping in Europe in 1956. This was exactly what she had been thinking of producing in the U.S.
See any resemblance? |
When we approach the image of Barbie from this standpoint, it makes one wonder what we are truly teaching our little girls. Amidst Barbie's plastic beauty has definitely been her share of criticism. Comparatively speaking, with a figure of 39-21-33 if she were a real woman, it is no wonder this little doll led to a lot of controversy. Many felt Barbie provided little girls with an unrealistic and harmful example thereby fostering a negative body image. The natural connection of doll-playing with imagery of mothering was shattered by the Barbie invasion of the 20th century.
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Barbie has become a global icon of many faces with some body changes throughout her career. She has even acquired different cultural identities. Barbie remains, however, a fashion doll, unlike her predecessors, the baby dolls.Barbie's Creator: Ruth Handler |
The first Barbie Doll was introduced in both blond and brunette in March 1959. en.wikipedia.org |
http://todayinhistory.tumblr.com/ |
Pretty Changes Barbie 1978 www.flickr.com |
A Barbie doll in a wedding dress, like the one Madonna wore on the 1985 Virgin Tour. en.wikipedia.org |
Animal Loving Barbie www.flickr.com |
Barbie's Tropical Splash 1994 www.bidorbuy.co.za |
From 1959 - 1999 GREAT Slideshow! |
Duchess of Diamonds Barbie 2001 |
Even MORE @barbiecollector,com
Despite any criticism Barbie had, sales of Barbie-related merchandise continued to soar. By 1993, sales topped 1 billion dollars annually. Since 1959 more than 800 million dolls in the Barbie family have been sold around the world. Wouldn't you agree Barbie is now a bona fide global icon? I do believe she acquired that status decades ago!
Today, Barbie represents the epitome of the fashion model with faces of many Hollywood celebrities and recording artists, duchesses, princesses and queens. She traverses the globe as a peasant girl to city slicker to circus performer to representing Lady Liberty and so much more. She dons from the simplest of fashions to the glamorous and most elaborate unimaginable designs depicted throughout the decades since she first entered the scene.
Lady Liberty 2000 Designed by Bob Mackie |
Last, but not least, where would Barbie be without Ken? Take a close, long look at the photo below; then, prepare yourself for a shocker!
These are NOT dolls...plastic dolls anyway!
Meet the real-life Ken and Barbie who
'hate the sight of each other'!!
Meet the real-life Ken and Barbie who
'hate the sight of each other'!!
What are your experiences with the iconic Barbie doll?
Related Articles:
The Barbie Evolution: A comparison of the 90s to the 00s Barbie - butt, waist and boobs
Barbie Doll History: Barbie's face underwent major changes from 1959 to the 2000s.
Barbie, Fashion Icon of the 60s: Barbie's evolution physically 1959 to present
What a Doll! -- The Astrological Story of Barbie
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