I grew up on Barbies; I played with Barbies long after it was no longer cool to do so (and was made fun of accordingly). Once I aged out of playing with dolls, I upgraded to collecting them. It pains me now to think, if I had just kept my first Happy Holidays barbie in her box, I could put a dent in my debt just through the sale of one doll in MINT condition. Dolls are second to only stamps, as far as collector’s items are concerned.
This week Brandweek ran an article entitled “Mattel Introduces Barbie-Inspired Clothing Line.” I admit, that for a moment, I was very excited. Before clicking on the article, I thought Mattel would be bringing Barbie fashions to the clothing racks for women to wear. Isn’t fantasy part of being a Barbie collector? I’ve long dreamed of being as stylish as Trend Forecaster Barbier (1999, left) or as chic as Kate Spade Barbie (2004, right).
(credited to BarbieCollector.com)
Instead, Mattel was announcing an exclusive partnership with Patricia Field (the orange-haired costume designer from Sex & the City) that will yield a line of accessories, handbags and apparel that will be sold at Macy’s retailers on the East Coast (why the geographic discrimination? Anyone remember Malibu Barbie?) and Hot Topic stores, as well as at Field’s flagship NYC store. Iconic Barbie images will be included in the 4 basic prints carried across the line’s first offerings.
I’m just going to pull my Kate Spade Barbie out of her box for a moment of revelry, in lieu of spending several hundred dollars on a handbag I don’t need.
For your viewing pleasure,the video for “Barbie Girl” from Aqua’s 1997 album Aquarium. Laden with sexual innuendo, this Barbie Girl isn’t for children.
