New line includes character named after designer’s daughter Étienne

(NC)-Top Canadian fashion designer, Marie Saint Pierre, and MGA Entertainment are back this holiday season with a new, and sophisticated line of couture-fashion-inspired BRATZ dolls made exclusively for the Canadian market. A journey of colours, textures and movement, the collection is romantic and feminine.

“The pieces are inspired by the British-dandy costume and the romantic, feminine figures of the past centuries,” says Saint Pierre, whose first collection of Haute Couture en Coulisse (Behind The Scenes Fashion) launched with ground-breaking success last Fall. “BRATZ are both feminine and strong figures and the clothes that I designed reflect this.”

The new, limited-edition Behind The Scenes Fashion line is available exclusively at Wal-Mart Canada starting November 2007. Featured are Marielle, Ariane and Étienne, who is named after the designer’s own daughter.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

As a matter of fact there are quite a few news reports that have been circulated amongst serious doll collectors warning why some vintage Barbies could be hazardous to your health.  Take for example the old Barbie dolls that were made back in the late 1950s.  This was the beginning of the Barbie craze, and serious collectors will give their eyeteeth to obtain a doll from this time period.  Yet the toy manufacturers used a material known as polyvinyl chloride when they formed the dolls, and this material is not deteriorating at alarming rate.  This PVC is not the same we know and love today. Instead, it is full with materials that leach a highly toxic substance into its environment.  The name of the substance is DEHP, a plasticizer that was used to prevent the dolls from becoming brittle. This material is now banned by the European Union, because it was found to show links to developments of allergies, brain cancer, and skin diseases –such as scleroderma – and also cancers of the biliary duct and blood vessels.

How will you know if you have a Barbie doll that – while it may be the pride and joy of your collection – may present a serious health hazard to you and anyone else who may get in contact with it?  Here is a list of telltale signs:

Your Barbie is an older – or vintage – item.

Due to the deterioration of the plastic components, a sticky film is covering portions of the plastic surfaces.  Conversely, some of this may have oozed out of the doll and entered her clothing, thus contaminating them as well.

Your Barbie has some sticky spots, or slightly discolored spots, and the clothing on her may be stiff in places.

Which course of action to take, is another question altogether. While it is heartbreak for any collector, it is important to remember that nothing is as important as your well-being and the health of your family and loved ones. Those in the business of preserving dolls for large museums are working on ways to preserve them, even in the face of advanced deterioration, but this may not help the hobby collector.  You will probably want to take the doll off your display shelf and store is separately from any other dolls in a cool, dark place. This may temporarily slow down the deterioration.  Resist the urge the clean the doll, as this will put you in close contact with the harmful materials.

Additionally, do not store the dolls in a plastic bag or, as some have been suggestion, wrap her in cellophane. Instead, store her inside a cardboard box and lock it up away from the hands of children and other collectors. Similarly, some doll collectors have attempted to tame the tooth of time with the likes of talcum powder and even “Armor All”.  While the first is great for your skin and the latter really takes good care of your dash board, neither substance has proven itself as being the answer to Barbie doll collectors everywhere – they do not halt the destructive disease that these dolls seem to suffer from.

Contact your local doll museum for suggestions on how to deal with deteriorating dolls, and to see if they have found any methods of preserving their treasures.  For a fee, they may be able to treat the dolls of your collection as well.  No matter what you decide to do, please be sure to keep oozing dolls away from children! They are the most vulnerable to the chemicals in the dolls, and they may contract fatal diseases from exposure.

 

As a matter of fact, customizing Barbie dolls is serious business!   Just take a look at the steps that are quite often involved.

A doll is first stripped of her makeup and then has it changed. Even if you start with a slightly damaged doll head, you will be able to change the makeup on the face.  This requires great accuracy as well as the proper equipment. You may need to purchase the smallest high-quality paintbrush you can find at the local paint supply store, but you may have to further cut it to make it even smaller. Additionally, acrylic paints are probably the only paints you will want to work with. This will permit you to change the color of her lipstick.  It will also allow you to redraw the doll’s eyebrows, which is a very hard feat indeed.  Practice drawing eyebrows on cheap Barbie or other doll’s faces before you head over to the doll that you are customizing.

A doll will have her hairstyle – and perhaps even hair color – changed. Perhaps the original doll needed some restorative work done on her hair, and the collector will go ahead and carefully wash the hair.  This cannot be done with harsh detergents but instead will require the use of hypoallergenic cleaners and also fabric softener to leave the hair manageable. The still wet hair can then be set with the help of straws that can act as curlers.

A doll will receive a new outfit, usually handmade by the owner. These outfits truly hold fast to the idea that the sky is the limit.  Outfits may be glamorous hand-sewn eveningwear, ball gowns, period costumes, or simply season-specific outfits. Add to this the various accessories that a customizing collector may use to deck out the dolls with, and you will be awed at the creativity some artsy collector’s show.

So why do other collectors flip over these creations?  Easy – they are a one of a kind creation! Here are some other reasons.

Some customizers have solid reputations in collecting circles, and their customized creations are actually considered to be works of art rather than just dolls with some added accessories.  Collectors may want to own an original masterpiece by one of the many reputable and well-known people in the business.

Just like paintings and sculptures, these customized Barbies are considered to be works of art.  While an art collector may not find them irresistible, a Barbie collector in search of the one in a million masterpieces will.  Add to this the possibility that it may serve as a centerpiece for a themed collection, and you will understand why a doll with a period costume may be a coveted collector’s item.

Some collectors actually specialize in customized Barbies.  They may collect themes, period pieces, or go after certain accessories, such as Barbies in sleighs or Barbies with pets.  Whenever something comes along that fits into this category, they will enter into the most bitterly fought bidding wars to gain possession of these rare pieces.

 

Vintage Barbie doll collectors know that owning a doll that is considered NRFB is a coup that only few will be able to realize.  First and foremost, the vintage dolls that will fall under this distinction are few and far between.  This rarity is the reason for the number two cause why it is so hard to collect them: it adds to their price.  Any vintage doll that can be sold as NRFB is automatically worth double its book value!  Last but not least, the vintage collector knows that she or he will never be able to remove the doll from the box.  As a matter of fact, the serious collector will make this particular doll the centerpiece of any collection, and probably keep it under lock and key in a closed off cabinet.  

The same does not hold true for the collectors of current Barbies. Several collectors are still willing to pay out large sums of money to obtain a doll for their collection that is advertised as NRFB, yet oftentimes fellow collectors will not offer as many sounds of utter amazement over these finds. Here are the top reasons why NRFB for current Barbies just do not have the same values as vintage.

Probably the number one reason why NRFB current Barbies will not have the same value as their vintage kin is the reality that everybody who is purchasing them from the shelves of the store will want to keep them in their pristine condition, if they have an eye on collecting.  Remember that in the beginning, Barbie was viewed as a plaything, not a collector’s item, and it is the rarity of the object that makes it so desirable.  The market is currently flooded with current Barbies that are being sold as NRFB. Under the economic laws of supply and demand, it is not surprising that they are neither fetching the prices their vintage counterparts can, nor do they garner the same hushed respect.

Ask yourself if you really want to have a large collection of dolls that is square, boxy, and boring.  After all, you will not be able to take the dolls out of their packages to properly clean them up, display them attractively, or even change their outfits periodically to add more interesting touches to your collection.  Instead, your shelves will look a little bit like a Wal-Mart store’s shelves – with just about the same appeal.  In thirty years this may be different, but for today, these packaged dolls are really not worth displaying.

Consider that today’s packaging may in fact harm the dolls.  Anyone who has ever helped a child to liberate a Barbie doll from its package knows the various wires, rubber bands, and tapes that are used to hold the doll in place and make it look pretty in the package.  Yet over time, these very fasteners will begin to permanently damage the doll.  Rubber bands will leave marks, wires may rust and leave stains, tape will discolor fabrics, and even the highly glossed paper covering of the inside of the boxes will add to the mix. 

Remember that since there is a lot more demand for Barbies today than there was yesteryear Mattel is producing a lot more dolls.  For this reason, what may have been a rare doll in the 1960s is just one of a million in the year 2006. In addition to the foregoing, the pricing on modern dolls – especially those that are geared for the collectors’ market – are fairly steep.  In the 1960s the prices were reasonable since the dolls were not considered to be collectible items. Thus, in order to make up the difference between what you can sell a doll that is being mass-produced and mass-marketed today for, even if it is kept NRFB, you may have to wait half a century, and even then the odds – statistically speaking – that you can count on a low supply and a high demand are fairly slim.

 

Robert Best carefully designed the Nurse Barbie doll. It was created to celebrate the working woman. She comes dressed in a full uniform that includes a white belted dress, matching cap, and a blue cape. Her stark white nurse’s shoes finish off the outfit.

Citrus Obsession Barbie Doll is ravishing in a pink, charmeuse mermaid gown with chiffon wedges sewn into the flared skirt and decorated with pink bands. A dark pink wrap and golden earring match beautifully with her outfit. This Barbie’s platinum locks contain a delightful scent of pink grapefruit.

Monique Lhuillier Barbie doll comes wearing a stylish gown with a white silk lace bodice above tulle A-line pleated skirt. Her waist is artfully pronounced with a sash complete with rhinestone floral brooch accents. She comes with the added accessories of diamond stud earrings and a wedding ring.  

Way Out West Barbie doll, which is based on the pin-up girls of the past, is a reminder of a fashion that’s more than 70 years old. Her look consists of denim shorts, a red shirt and neckerchief, a western vest, and cowboy boots. Her blond hair is adorned with a cowboy hat.

All That Jazz Barbie doll was selected from the Barbie archives to represent the 60s. This doll originally debuted in 1968 as #1848 in the 1800 series. She comes wearing a replica of the 1968 fashion. A metallic woven dress with pleated skirt and stripes of orange, pink, chartreuse, and metallic gold tone. Her accessories include gold bead buttons on her coat, panty hose, shoes and a bow for her dark hair.

Violette Barbie Doll comes dressed to attend a fashionable gala. Her gown is a printed silk organza work over a satin under dress and tulle petticoat edged with lilac. Her chic look is completed with violets worn in her dark, upswept hair.

White Chocolate Obsession Barbie doll is dressed in an elegant gown of off-white charmeuse and chiffon. Her corresponding stole panty hose and tiny white shoes make for stylish accessories. Another small but elegant touch is the dangling gold earnings she wears. The scent of white chocolate can be found in her luxurious golden locks.

The Judith Leiber Barbie doll is full of style and stature. Her strapless cocktail dress is a breathtaking ensemble of lace. Her accessories include Barbie “B” logo, leaf motif earrings, and a cuff bracelet of gold encrusted with crystals.

Trace of Lace Barbie doll is an elegant delight in her black lace and chiffon gown that is set off with layers of chic ruffles. Her outfit is embroidered with black beads and satin ribbons. Her accessories including a gold and rhinestone brooch and gold, rhinestone and pearl bracelet only add to her elegance. Sheer black panty hose, black satin purse, and black pumps compliment her style. This Platinum Label of A Trace of Lace Barbie doll is intended solely for the Japanese collector and is limited to only five hundred pieces.

Barbie as the Faerie Queen is the second in the Legends of Ireland series. She is the picture of grace in her peridot-colored, gown of chiffon complete with an organic sparkling pattern taffeta under dress. Barbie as Faerie Queen comes with a crown and holds a scepter in her hand. The finishing touch for this doll is her shimmering faerie wings. This Platinum Label version of the Faerie Queen Barbie doll is one of only five hundred dolls. She was only made available at Toys ‘R Us.

Badgley Mischka Bride Barbie doll is a dynamic auburn haired beauty. Her lavish gown is a sight to behold. Her gown features gleaming beading, rhinestones and intricate stitching working together to decorate the bodice. The gown, which is made of satin-faced silk organza, envelops a taffeta underskirt. Her crystal chandelier earrings, velvet evening bag, solitaire rhinestone ring, and white-heeled shoes as accessories only add to her beauty. A white headband compliments her dark hair elegant hairstyle.

 

Yet Barbie has not been completely successful in eradicating her competition, and subsequently there are some up and coming Barbie rivals on the market today. Will these rivals take over the bedrooms of young girls who will turn into young women and forget all about collecting their precious Barbies?  Are Barbie’s days numbered?  Only time will tell; for the time being, she will need to look out for her rivals.

Take for example the almost ubiquitous Bratz dolls. The brainchildren of MGA Entertainment, these dolls lack the dainty elegance of Barbie and her charming smile.  Instead, they have an attitude that would make a rapper proud, clothes that expose where moms would like their daughters to cover up, and faces that hint at long nights living it up.  Coupled with accessories that would make even Barbie envious, the Bratz dolls have it all.  In addition to the foregoing, Bratz paraphernalia can now be found everywhere – from lamps to hamster cages and aquariums. Some wagging tongues claim that they represent the America Barbie has forgotten about – the multiracial, multicultural, changing with the times country that is Barbie’s homestead as well.  Yet others find that Bratz lack that which made Barbie the staple of an entire culture: class.

Of course, Barbie’s rivals are not limited simply to Bratz.  As a matter of fact, competition comes from her own stable, where Mattel’s Polly Pocket dolls are scoring huge points with younger girls everywhere.  Smaller than Barbie, easier to haul around, packed in attractive carrying cases, and with more accessories than you can shake a stick at, Polly Pocket dolls are almost smaller versions of Barbie-like play, fun, and fashionable activities. Who would have thought that a dagger would emanate from Barbie’s own home base and undercut her popularity to fashion starved kids everywhere?  Polly Pocket dolls may lack the vast amount of accessories that used to be a Barbie domain, yet their size makes them so versatile that many other doll accessories and furniture will allow them to fit right in.  Barbie was never that adaptable!

Another corner from which Barbie is facing some stiff competition is Disney.  In addition to all the characters that Disney has introduced over time into the bedrooms of little girls, the highly coveted Princesses line is just another nail in Barbie’s coffin. The princesses are so similar to Barbie, that at times it might almost appear too hard to tell them apart.  Complete with accessories, these dolls not only have class and endless clothing supplies – much like Barbie – but unlike Barbie they satisfy little girls’ needs for fantasy play that involves unicorns, princesses, dragons, and castles. Doctor Barbie might be a wonderful stride for women’s movements anywhere, but there are very few little girls out there who will pick her above and beyond a fairy princess doll that rides into the sunset on a unicorn.

It is hard to fathom that someone or something will at some point topple Barbie from the pedestal she has had a stronghold on for so long.  As a matter of fact, it is downright eerie to think that thousands of doll collection will at some point remain homeless because the next generation might have lost interest in them.  Of course, it is highly unlikely that this will ever happen.  After all, while Bratz dolls may have an attitude that may briefly endear them to young girls who are beginning to chip away at the apron strings; it is highly doubtful that these dolls will continue to capture their imaginations and affection for any time after independence has been achieved.

 

Top Twenty Trivia Tidbits about America’s Favorite Doll, Barbie:

1. Mattel estimates that three Barbie dolls are sold every second.

2. Mattel averages there are over 1000,000 Barbie doll collectors.

3. A mint boxed Barbie collectable can now sell for up to $3000.00 or more.  That is a nice investment for a 1959 purchase price of $3.00.

4. The average collector purchases up to twenty or even forty Barbie dolls per year.

5. Barbie’s birthday is March 9, 1959.  Mattel Toy Company held her debut in New York City at the American International Toy fair.  Barbie was one of the first adult-looking three-dimensional dolls, taking the place of the once popular paper doll.

6. Barbie’s real name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.  Her designer was Mrs. Ruth Handler, wife of Elliot Handler, a co-founder of Mattel toys.  Mrs. Handler’s inspiration to design the doll came from her daughter, Barbara.  Barbie is named after Barabara.

7. According to the Random House novels of the 1960s, her parents’ names are George and Margaret Roberts of Willows, Wisconsin. Barbie has been said to attend Willows High School in Willows, Wisconsin and Manhattan International High School in New York City.

8. In 1961 Barbie met Ken, and they began their relationship. 

9. Barbie and Ken never married but their relationship lasted forty-three years.   Barbie and Ken are one of the most famous, well known couples today.

10. Barbie has had thirty-eight recorded pets.  Amongst some of them are cats, dogs, horses, a panda, a lion cub, and even a zebra.

11. Barbie has held several jobs.  She started out as a fashion model.  From there her life has been very busy.  Barbie has been a doctor, dentist, nurse, firefighter, rock star and many more.  This includes her many different types Olympic competition categories.  In recent years Barbie has even entered politics. 

12. In 1974, when Barbie turned sixteen, a section of Times Square in New York City was renamed “Barbie Boulevard” for a week.

13. Barbie is frequently criticized for being physically out of proportion. It is often said, “For a woman to have Barbie’s body, she would have to be 7 feet, 2 inches in height; weigh 115-130 pounds; have 30 to 36 inch hips; an 18 to 23 inch waist; and a 38 to 48 inch bust. If she were a real person, Barbie would have to crawl around on all fours just to support her unnatural proportions.”

14. Mattel asserts that Barbie’s exaggerated proportions are necessary to allow clothes to fit properly on such a small scale

15. As a response to consumer and teenage advocate complaints Mattel makes adjustments to Barbie and widens her waist in the late 1990s.

16. Barbie had her 25th anniversary in 1984.  New York Mayor, Ed Koch, declared it “Barbie and Ken Day.”

17. Tiffany’s and Co. made a sterling silver Barbie doll for her 25th anniversary.

18. In 1998, Elizabeth Taylor endorsed the first approved doll in her likeness.

19. Barbie has a very Limited Edition of 20,000 dolls, which are given to Toy Fair Gala attendees. Barbie “Generation Girl” series was a controversy, as the series has one doll with a nose ring and one doll (Barbie) with an ankle tattoo.

20.  In 2004, after forty-three years of infamous romance, Barbie and Ken separate. It was reported that the couples  “business manager,” Russell Arons, vice president of marketing at Mattel, said that Barbie and Ken “feel it’s time to spend some quality time - apart.”

Which direction will she be going now?  She has definitely kept up with modern technology.  Barbie’s presence is on the Internet and children are already enjoying her interactive games and features.  Is this separation a marketing plan for Mattel that is going to inspire a new Barbie?  Or is it simply for her fans to follow her love life like any other star?

 

Here are the top four fixes collectors make on vintage Barbies:

Vintage Barbies used to wear metal earrings as part of their accessories.  Yet over time, these earrings caused a condition known in doll collecting circles as “Green Ear.”  Mention this condition to any doll collector, and you will receive sage nodding, and quite possibly a homemade remedy recipe that has helped her or him to remove the dreaded condition. It appears that green ear is the number one fix vintage doll collectors make on their Barbies. Some doll owners recommend the use of Tarn-X, but a larger number of collectors swear by a product known as Remove-Zit, which may be applied very carefully with a toothpick to the affected area.  The material will harden and may be removed thereafter.  Each time you remove the hardened product, you are also removing a bit of the green ear stain.  Depending on how serious the discoloration, this may take quite a while.

If you have a vintage Barbie whose hair is no longer stylish but perhaps suffered from decades of less than gentle treatment or undesirable storage, you may find yourself having to do her hair.  This is probably the number two fix performed by collectors who take pride in displaying their treasures. Yet be careful when styling your doll’s hair!  You do not know what previous owners may have done to it and you will need to avoid doing anything that might result in hair loss. For this reason, most collectors will advise that it is best to shampoo Barbie’s hair first to get rid of any hair product build up.  At the same time, you will also want to detangle the hair, so that it will not get ripped out when you style it.  Use a very mild baby shampoo on your Barbie’s head, and a hypoallergenic fabric softener – on that contains no dyes or perfumes – in lieu of conditioner. Work on your doll’s hair when it is still wet, and use wood or plastic toothpicks or straws to act as curlers.

Features are third on the list for most vintage Barbie collectors.  Are the lips not as red as they used to be?  Has a part of the brow been scratched off?  Perhaps the irises are goners. Whatever the case may be, seasoned collectors have been known to repaint their dolls’ faces occasionally.  Even novices may want to try this, but you will have to proceed slowly, with great care, and perhaps err on the side of caution – failure to do so will probably leave you looking like a Barbie that would be more at home in a circus than a fashion show. First and foremost, find a tiny high quality paintbrush.  This is not the time to skimp and save, but instead to splurge and buy quality. If the brush is still too big, you may need to go ahead and cut some of it to adapt it to your needs. Secondly, invest in some Liquitex acrylic paints.  While other paints may work as well, this appears to be the brand that collectors favor. Follow the lines as closely as possible. Inch your way around, and let the doll’s head dry frequently to gage the results.

Clothing care is usually last on the list of fixes for the serious collector.  You may wish to wash your Barbie’s clothes, but do so slowly, by hand, and using a heavily diluted baby shampoo.  Be sure to rinse until all the shampoo is washed out.  Some collectors go so far as to use distilled water for the final rinse, but this is up to you. Ironing should be avoided, since it can be too damaging on the fabrics. Instead, press the garment between paper towels with your hands.

 

The Ken doll was introduced after Barbie; he is a younger man.  This may have been the start of him following in her shadow all these years.  Ken has not had it easy.  When people talk about him, he has been referred to as a dork, or a “dweeb”.  This is including dedicated Barbie collectors! However, most Barbie collectors have a soft place in their heart for Ken somewhere.  Without Ken, what would Barbie do with all of those fantastic wedding dresses that the fine designers at Mattel have created for Barbie over the years?

Ken was introduced to children in 1961. This was Mattel’s introduction:

“Here he is…the Boyfriend for Barbie the Teen-Age Fashion Model. All Barbie fans will want Ken and his smartly-tailored wardrobe of finest quality materials for perfect fit and finish…with miniature accessories…plus a special arm tag identity for the only genuine Ken Doll.”

That first year, Ken was available with outfits including pajamas, a tuxedo, a terry robe and a very natty looking letterman sweater outfit called “Campus Hero.” Throughout the years, Ken has been dressed for nearly every occasion. His hobbies have included skiing, disco, scuba diving, hunting, camping, baseball and roller-skating. His careers have been varied as much as Barbie‘s.  Ken has been, well just like Barbie, nearly everything nearly.  He has occupied such careers as an astronaut, actor, pilot, doctor, cowboy and more.

In the 1960s, Ken was the boy next door, and his persona and outfits reflected that. First, he came with flocked hair and red swim trunks. In 1962, he received more practical molded hair (since the flocked hair easily rubbed off or came off totally in water and suddenly he was all the same color) and a red and white striped robe. By 1965, he had bendable legs for the first time, and by the end of the 1960s, Ken was talking.

In the 1970s, Ken began a journey of style transformation, like the rest of America.    First, he became a suntanned sun worshipper (remember Malibu Ken?) and then by the middle of the 70s, became quite the hip guy; “Now Look Ken,” produced in 1975, had hair down below his shoulders.   By the end of the 70s, Ken was a bit scarce in toy stores, and he was back to sun tanning (Hawaiian Ken) and shaving (Sport & Shave Ken). Ken came roaring back in the 1980s, and celebrated the disco era with wild abandon. The look of some of the mid-1980s Kens can lead even a lover of the fashions of that decade into gales of laughter–after all, “Jewel Secrets Ken” from 1986 wore a light blue silver lame jumpsuit with a striped shirt and an iridescent bow tie and cummerbund! “Super Star Ken” from 1988 got treated to an all-silver suit with, um, a baby pink bow tie and cummerbund.

By the 1990s, Ken’s journey came full circle, and he found his way back to manly outfits (denim and a checked flannel shirt for “Camp Fun Ken” in 1993), and promising careers. Ken also got back into sports in the 1990’s.   Winter Sports Ken came with his own skis and snowboard (1994).   In  2001 Ken starred as the Nutcracker/Prince in “The Nutcracker” ballet.   To celebrate Ken’s 40th birthday, Mattel has created a commemorative, tuxedo-clad Ken that comes with a mini-Ken: a tiny replica of the very first doll, wearing a red bathing suit, cork sandals and yellow towel (just as 40th Anniversary Barbie came with a mini replica of the #1 Barbie doll from 1959).

Now collectors and Ken doll fans will wait to see what is in store for Ken next.  We do not have to worry about him too much.  He has a set of friends just like Barbie.  Barbie and Ken’s publicist never said they were going to stay apart permanently, only that they needed “some time.”

 

Many children are collectors.  Barbie offers children not only Barbie herself, but also an entire community of friends.  Of course then there is her line of fashion clothes.  For each new Barbie that enters the market there is a new line of clothes.  The children love to dress Barbie, (despite the fact this has been an ongoing frustration for little girls over the decades), and enter her, or rather their imaginary life. Little girls await the next Fashion Model Barbie to come out on the shelves and they scoop them away for their collections.  Collectors are in the stores just as fast. 

The fashion doll collectors have collected the vintage Barbie dolls starting in the early 1970s, soon after the classic “vintage” look dolls with their detailed high-quality fashions were no longer being produced. Mattel only produced the classic “vintage” dolls from 1959 to approximately 1966.  Mattel began to produce a newer, play oriented Barbie with a flashy look in the 1970s and 1980s. The look then was disco.  Barbie had big hair and a big smile (the along with shiny, glittery costumes.   Despite the fact that some collectors thought the quality was not as high, they were still purchasing as fast as the kids.  Collectors had to keep their Barbie’s in the big pink box to retain the value and appreciate their investment. 

Collectors were happy when Mattel produced a line aimed at collectors in the 1980s.  The first doll was a porcelain version of Barbie–the Porcelain Rhapsody in Blue Barbie in 1986. Then, in 1988, Mattel released the 1998 Happy Holiday Barbie doll–the doll that really put Barbie dolls aimed at adult collectors on the map. This doll was not produced in great numbers, but it became an immediate (and hard to get) hit. Today, this doll sells for over $500.    Mattel began to produce Happy Holiday dolls for collectors each year, as well as other collector Barbie dolls.

In 1994, Mattel produced a watershed doll, the 35th Anniversary Barbie doll, a reproduction of the original 1959 doll. Collectors clamored for this doll.  This was a Barbie doll collectors dream.   This promoted collection frenzy and collectors began to hoard their collector Barbie dolls. People couldn’t find collector Barbie dolls anywhere, except on the secondary market. Consequently, this made the market move.  Mattel increased production levels. When the dolls became too easy to find, hoarders gave up, and prices on the secondary market dropped to well below retail.   Mattel has understood the power behind marketing and despite their ups and downs; Barbie is probably the most marketed doll in history.

Barbie doll collectors have a big presence on the Internet. The Barbie doll collectors have forums and communities to help in their research and collecting. This networking has definitely helped create new collectors and encourage the existing collectors of Barbie dolls. The Internet also provides a place for sales and trade that would not have existed before. 

The Internet also provides additional marketing on Mattel’s behalf.  Barbie stars in movies, she has video games, her own book series, and she is even on the Internet.   This would be especially true on the Barbie website.  Children are able to interact with Barbie, play games and be a part of her world.  Barbie’s is a pop culture icon and she is as popular as ever.