Birthday Barbie

Happy Birthday Barbie!

Today the iconic doll turns 50 years old. She looks pretty good for being half a century old.

I have to admit that I feel like Barbie's been celebrating her birthday for months now. Between all of the fashion shows, doll recreations, new designer outfits, and parties thrown in her honour I'd say it was a helluva bash.

Here's hoping for another 50 years!

Photo: left, original Barbie is 1959; right, modern day version of Barbie.

Writer: Kate Murphy

Chanel Barbie

Even Barbie can't get enough of Chanel!

We've previously mentioned that it is the 50th anniversary of Barbie. She's already had an entire fashion show dedicated to her for her birthday, and now Karl Lagerfeld has designed numerous Chanel outfits for the doll icon that range from swimsuits to jeans (does Barbie even wear jeans? I guess if they're Chanel she does.) to a wedding dress to the classic tailored black and white Chanel skirt suit.

Barbie will be joined in the photos by real life model Baptiste Giabiconi. Barbie and Ken will be on display at France's Colette boutique form March 9-28. On March 12 you can attend a "high security exhibition" of the first Barbie and Ken dolls ever created. You can also purchase the silkscreen pictures of Barbie and Ken. Karl Lagerfeld makes a special appearance alongside Barbie as a white teddy bear wearing Lagerfeld's usual uniform of black sunglasses, black suit, and tie.

Even though they're just Barbie clothes, we still probably couldn't afford these Chanel pieces. UGH! Barbie does have the perfect life.

Writer: Kate Murphy

Runway Barbie

A special fashion show took place at New York Fashion Week that included designs from fifty designers. On March 9th the iconic little girl’s toy turns 50. We have to admit, Barbie looks pretty good for her age.

In celebrations of the milestone birthday, Mattel asked fifty designers to design outfits for Barbie ranging from retro to modern to futuristic. Come of the designers included Diane von Furstenberg, Bob Mackie, Vera Wang, Calvin Klein, and Rachel Roy.

The fashion shows started with sounds from the appropriate “Doll Parts” by Hole, which was the perfect soundtrack to this particular show. The first real life doll was a throwback to the original doll, wearing a zigzag black and white swimsuit with pink peep toe pumps. The look was re-mastered by Rachel Roy. The modern day Barbie was also dressed in a legendary DvF wrap dress. Futuristic Barbie wore a shimmery gold gown with feather headdress, created by Bob Mackie. Next to Cher, Barbie is undoubtedly Mackie’s most flamboyant dresser.

"Barbie is the quintessential American icon. She represents a woman's first experience with style, transcending generations and cultures; she holds a special place in the fashion world and is an inspiration to many designers," Tommy Hilfilger said in a statement.

Barbie has worn every outfit imaginable by every designer in the world. She’s been a muse from everyone from Andy Warhol to Marc Jacobs. She is also the ultimate and unattainable ideal of beauty, youth, and perfection. Barbie is arguably the single most important American fashion icon in history.

To take a look at the fashion show click here, here, and here.

Writer: Kate Murphy