By Mihaela C Schwartz
The doll that has single-headedly dominated the market for many decades was born in March 1959. Ruth Handler, wife of one of the Mattel Company's co-founders, is credited with the original idea of creating this doll during a family trip through Europe. It is believed that she was inspired by the German Bild Lilli and by her daughter giving adult roles to her dolls while playing. Millions of items have been sold ever since its inception and the manufacturers have come up with different Barbie models. In reality, there is a base, which has been undergoing constant changes, but remained basically the same.
According to Mattel, Barbie embodied the Western of beauty of that time: slender legs, tiny waistline, long arms and neck. This anatomically improbable beauty ensured her success, but also attracted lots of controversies. Fair and dark haired models have emerged on the market over the years, but eventually the blond girl imposed herself. Despite the constantly proclaimed novelty, the doll remained the same. The changes are minor, but significant. There are aesthetic changes which refer to the hair length and color and especially to the costumes and there are technical changes, mainly allowing Barbie to become more flexible.
Completely rigid initially, Barbie has acquired subsequently, some flexibility. In 1964, she can bend her knees and she can open and close her eyes. Since 1965, all the dolls of the family have articulated legs. In 1967 her bust swings and the following year, Barbie starts talking. In the early 1970s, a new improved technique is used to link her hands and fingers. In 1977, the Olympic dolls make gestures and in 1979, Barbie sends kisses and makes a movement of the arm if you press on her back.
It is however true that the doll's morphology has slightly changed. In the two first years, her face softened, her eyebrows became less strong. In 1963, Barbie has also changed her hair style by means of interchangeable wigs. In 1967, she took a more smiling face, a straight look and long hair. In 1971, within the Malibuseries, Barbie and Ken appeared tanned. In 1973, she has the features of a Super Star. In the late 1970s, a giant Barbie of 45 cm was launched on the market, but the 29 cm doll continued to be the company's best seller. In those years, Barbie looks more and more like a photo-model, reflecting the extraordinary success of the fashion industry and the influence of women magazines such as Seventeen, launched in the 1960s.
During the 80s, Barbie attacked the international tastes coming out as an Irish, Canadian, German, Peruvian, Swedish, Indian, Eskimo, Spanish, Scottish, Italian and Parisian symbol. During the 90s, Barbie is ready to go to a reception and dance waltz, but she can also ride a Harley Davidson or help the X-Files detectives.
In 1992, Mattel created a Barbie model that had precisely the size of a child - My Size Barbie - and it is presented to customers as the first doll with which girls can exchange clothes. How ever, its price does not make it available for every budget and nor are the other two special models issued the same year: The Empress Bride dressed in a tulle crinoline and Neptune's Fantasy - a miniature pink diva. They both speak, which is a sign that the morphological changes start to be competed by technical ones.
Nowadays, Barbie is a whole universe and her fans are mostly interested in the life she leads, in her feelings and all the challenges her manufacturers put her through. Motivated by the fierce competition brought on the market by the now equally famous Bratz dolls, Barbie has lately become more active socially in order to keep up with her fans' demands.
The doll that has single-headedly dominated the market for many decades was born in March 1959. Ruth Handler, wife of one of the Mattel Company's co-founders, is credited with the original idea of creating this doll during a family trip through Europe. It is believed that she was inspired by the German Bild Lilli and by her daughter giving adult roles to her dolls while playing. Millions of items have been sold ever since its inception and the manufacturers have come up with different Barbie models. In reality, there is a base, which has been undergoing constant changes, but remained basically the same.
According to Mattel, Barbie embodied the Western of beauty of that time: slender legs, tiny waistline, long arms and neck. This anatomically improbable beauty ensured her success, but also attracted lots of controversies. Fair and dark haired models have emerged on the market over the years, but eventually the blond girl imposed herself. Despite the constantly proclaimed novelty, the doll remained the same. The changes are minor, but significant. There are aesthetic changes which refer to the hair length and color and especially to the costumes and there are technical changes, mainly allowing Barbie to become more flexible.
Completely rigid initially, Barbie has acquired subsequently, some flexibility. In 1964, she can bend her knees and she can open and close her eyes. Since 1965, all the dolls of the family have articulated legs. In 1967 her bust swings and the following year, Barbie starts talking. In the early 1970s, a new improved technique is used to link her hands and fingers. In 1977, the Olympic dolls make gestures and in 1979, Barbie sends kisses and makes a movement of the arm if you press on her back.
It is however true that the doll's morphology has slightly changed. In the two first years, her face softened, her eyebrows became less strong. In 1963, Barbie has also changed her hair style by means of interchangeable wigs. In 1967, she took a more smiling face, a straight look and long hair. In 1971, within the Malibuseries, Barbie and Ken appeared tanned. In 1973, she has the features of a Super Star. In the late 1970s, a giant Barbie of 45 cm was launched on the market, but the 29 cm doll continued to be the company's best seller. In those years, Barbie looks more and more like a photo-model, reflecting the extraordinary success of the fashion industry and the influence of women magazines such as Seventeen, launched in the 1960s.
During the 80s, Barbie attacked the international tastes coming out as an Irish, Canadian, German, Peruvian, Swedish, Indian, Eskimo, Spanish, Scottish, Italian and Parisian symbol. During the 90s, Barbie is ready to go to a reception and dance waltz, but she can also ride a Harley Davidson or help the X-Files detectives.
In 1992, Mattel created a Barbie model that had precisely the size of a child - My Size Barbie - and it is presented to customers as the first doll with which girls can exchange clothes. How ever, its price does not make it available for every budget and nor are the other two special models issued the same year: The Empress Bride dressed in a tulle crinoline and Neptune's Fantasy - a miniature pink diva. They both speak, which is a sign that the morphological changes start to be competed by technical ones.
Nowadays, Barbie is a whole universe and her fans are mostly interested in the life she leads, in her feelings and all the challenges her manufacturers put her through. Motivated by the fierce competition brought on the market by the now equally famous Bratz dolls, Barbie has lately become more active socially in order to keep up with her fans' demands.
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