Life in Plastic is Fantastic

6a00e5508e95a9883301156fff76be970b-500wi.jpg

>>Representing everything that I could never be; Californian, blonde, deeply tanned, blue-eyed with the ability to look amazing in pale blue and bright yellow at the same time – my very own 1971 repro Malibu Barbie!  Courtesy of the Barbie @ Dover Street Market launch today.  I'm coveting the pleated yellow accordian ensemble more than the flaxen hair though…

IMG_3256

I'm even more intrigued by the darker side of Barbie as I snapped this picture from the Ultimate Collection Barbie book which costs a whopping $500… splayed out long Medusa-like blue/black hair all over a naked "landed-in-an-alternate-universe" Barbie…

IMG_2875

29 comments

  2. susie ! you were at green park station today half tennish…? in a green coat…!

  4. Once I saw a barbie exhibition with barbies changed like in the collectors book.
    This was amazing and scary, but I loved it as a child!

  5. Haha, my eye was drawn to the yellow ensemble before the Barbie, and that 2nd pic’s way cool 😉
    xx
    PS. Must bring out my ‘Pink & Pretty’ Barbie…I always wanted to borrow her pale pink fur stole, haha!

  7. Even Malibu Barbie’s clothes look tan!
    When my son was 3, he loved Malibu Barbie. Yep, he started early.

  8. Oooooh I’m jealous. I love Malibu Barbie! I’m a FL girl myself so Malibu Barbie is as close as it gets :] The Ultimate Collection Barbie is amazing as well- definitely one to have!

  9. woah that tan is shocking! and wow at the medusa like barbie. thats amazing. never seen barbie like that before!

  11. Have you seen Gareth Pugh’s Ken doll? I also saw a collection of avant garde outfits for Barbie including the Gareth Pugh human hair (Barbie hair hah!) jacket. I don’t think that was produced officially through Mattel though as I’m having trouble finding it again. I thought it was both hilarious and awesome.
    Here’s a link to the Gareth Pugh Ken doll. http://www.manbehindthedoll.com/gareth_pugh.htm

  18. that’s amazing that you got your hands on a malibu barbie! i think playing with my barbies was what got me into fashion…
    though, i have to say, their ‘asian’ barbies always fell pretty flat for me. they’re not very good at branching out of the blonde california bombshell mold.

  19. Hi Susie,
    You probably already know this but I just though I should tell you that You’re in the May issue of Vogue, twice!
    Your blog is listed under ‘Best Blogs’ on p.69 and you are part of a photo montage on p.172

  21. This really is a fantastic blog. Thanks so much for the Barbie article. I can’t wait to check it out and write about it on my Salon Business Blog!

  22. Sweet – I JUST bought the Stila Malibu Barbie Set, featuring Makeup inspired by that awesome doll you now possess! Loves it!

  23. How fantastic!! She was so much cooler before the whole shocking pink ’90s. I’m still hoping for the Ken doll designed by Gareth Pugh, it looked so unbelievably cool.

  25. Once I managed to tear my eyes away from the horrific plastic tan I noticed the picture of the full-size head (that you could practice your make-up/hairdressing “skills”). That brings back some memories…I think mine ended up half bald with felt-tip pen perma-eyeshadow…ah, childhood…

  29. GOOD GOD. People that tan irl terrify me! Haha, it’s always funny to see what people think the stereotypical Californian looks like, esp’ Barbie’s version!
    Dark Barbie > Malibu Barbie.

Comments are closed.