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New Books Celebrate Barbie’s 65th Birthday

Introduction

Barbie, the iconic fashion doll, is turning 65 years old this year! To commemorate this milestone, two new books have recently been released that delve into the world of pink and provide some fascinating insights into her history, influence, and collector appeal.

Barbie: Her Inspiration, History, and Legacy

The first book, titled “Barbie: Her Inspiration, History, and Legacy,” offers a comprehensive overview of the life and legacy of our favorite doll. From her humble beginnings as a Mattel toy in 1959 to her diverse range of career aspirations and evolving fashion sense, this book explores the profound impact she has had on popular culture and society. Even the movie from 2023 is mentioned in the book and got its own chapter. My experience with the movie can be read here Barbie – the movie and tickets for a pre-premiere and here Barbie: A Journey From Perfect World to Real Emotions.

Having not read it yet it seems that this book is an updated version of the Barbie Forever – Her inspiration, history and legacy. So if you have the Forever version I’m not sure if this book is really interesting for you but I will check and read and let you know.

Barbie 65th Birthday book
Barbie by Robin Gerber
Barbie Forever Robin Gerber rotated
Barbie Forever by Robin Gerber from 2019

The History Of Barbie Doll Collecting And Other Barbie Intrigue

The second book, “The History Of Barbie Doll Collecting And Other Barbie Intrigue,” dives into the world of Barbie collectibles. From rare vintage dolls to limited editions and designer collaborations, this book provides a fascinating glimpse into the fascinating world of fashion doll collectors. It also delves into the various controversies and controversies surrounding this cult doll, including body image and feminism. For a better overview you can see my latest video where I tell you more about my thoughts about this book.

The Evolution of Barbie

Both books shed light on the evolution of our she-ro, from her early days as a stylish teenage doll to the diverse range of characters she has become today. From princesses to veterinarians, our favorite doll has captivated the imaginations of children and adult collectors alike.

Impact on Society

Beyond her fashion sense and collector appeal, she has also had a significant impact on society. Both books explore her role in promoting diversity and inclusivity, as well as her influence on girls’ self-esteem and aspirations.

Doll Couture: Creating Custom Clothes Featuring the Story of Lola

Recently, a new book was released that, while not directly about the iconic fashion doll with six letters, focuses on the design of vintage fashion doll clothes for 11 1/2 inch dolls. This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in sewing and creating their own doll clothes. It fits thematically with fashion doll enthusiasts and is a fantastic addition to your collection if you love crafting and learning new techniques for doll clothing design. Don’t miss out on this excellent guide to vintage doll fashion! If you want to see a short review, you are welcome to check out this video

The History of Barbie Doll Collecting and other Barbie Intrigue

A third book, maybe not in the most conventional style written was published by Bob Young several months ago. This book is very interesting since you learn a lot about the women who started the whole hobby of Barbie collecting. It’s a very thick book with a lot of photos. I’ve started to read the book but I have not completely finished it yet. It’s a very thick book and my goal is to read at least 3 pages every day.

What I liked about this book is that you got an insight about the many names of the women who started the magazines, the early newsletters and Barbie conventions in the USA. For me as a European it’s very expensive to fly and take part in any convention overseas but the book gives you the chance to get to know the important people. One thing I can say even if I have not finished it yet, it’s very entertaining and I have to read only 250 pages from 350 pages to finish it but really appreciate it.

Barbie book
The History of Barbie Doll Collecting by Bob Young

Conclusion

As our favorite doll celebrates her 65th birthday this year, these two new books offer a fascinating glimpse into the history, influence, and collector appeal of the iconic fashion doll. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or simply curious about the cultural phenomenon that this doll is , these books provide an entertaining and informative read.

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Barbie doll wiki: Skipper, her first and oldest sister

Introducing Skipper: Barbie’s First Sister

In 1964, Barbie welcomed her first sister, Skipper, marking the beginning of a growing family for the iconic doll. Skipper was the first addition to Barbie’s expanding family, which continued to grow until 1999 with the arrival of Krissy.

Just for fun, imagine the age of Barbie’s mother when Barbie was born, and then consider she was 40 years older when Krissy arrived—a true marvel of fertility!

When Skipper debuted in 1964, she was offered in both blonde and brunette hair colors. Unfortunately, a red-haired version wasn’t part of the initial release, which left a gap for those of us who love a bit more variety in hair color.

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My “mint” (haha) Skipper also suffers from green tarnish from her original headband. I’m sorting my #skipperdoll collection tonight deciding which dolls most need a spa visit with @angiepangiepaints ?????? #vintageSkippers #barbiecollector #vintagebarbie #barbieskipper #skipperbarbie #vintageskipper #instabarbie #barbiegram #barbie #barbieaddict #barbiesisters #barbiegrammers

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More changes in the 1970s

Until 1971 her look was not changed very much. The first change of her face I think came when she was available as Living Skipper. Her hair style also changed a bit. In her history her body was also changed several times. One of the most controverse Skipper dolls was the Growing Up Skipper (available, I did a little bit of research https://youtu.be/9LuI0W8SmzY) in 1975.

She has a mechanism inside her body and when you twist her arm in the right direction her body grows and she gets breasts. From a technical point of view very interesting since this mechanism works in my Growing Up Skipper until today, so it must be a very simple but effective mechanism with a spring I think (just from the sounds I hear when I move her arms). Her body also changes a bit. She becomes taller.

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Growing Up Skipper 1975 #growingupskipper #barbieslittlesister #70s #1975 #fromagirltoayounglady #oldtoys #vintage_barbies #barbiefan #dollcollector #vintagebarbies #dollsofinstagram #paintinghobby #skipper #mattel #paintingbynumbers #mykonos

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The Evolution of Skipper: From Super Teen to Pizza Hut

In the late 1970s, Skipper underwent a significant transformation and was reintroduced as “Super Teen Skipper” to align with the era’s fascination with everything “super.” During this period, Skipper received a new face and body design, reflecting the trend of the time. The variations were so pronounced that it’s rare to find two Skipper dolls with identical sizes in my collection. The frequency of changes in Skipper’s face and body increased as the doll remained on the market, with each iteration bringing something new.

The 1980s saw the debut of Hot Stuff Skipper, featuring yet another face and body redesign. In 1988, Skipper received a notable update with her “Kulleraugen” face—a term used in Germany to describe her large, expressive eyes. This new face design resembled the Japanese comic (manga) style, even before many of us were familiar with manga. Although early Japanese TV series took time to reach us, Skipper’s comic-like eyes perfectly mirrored the popular style we saw on television.

However, Skipper’s appearance continued to evolve. By the mid-1990s, the “Pizza Hut” Skipper introduced a new head mold and body, marking yet another shift in her look. I remember acquiring her back then under the name “Phone Fun” Skipper. This version of Skipper was short-lived but remains a unique and memorable part of her evolutionary journey.

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baton twirling Skipper 1992 ???????#batontwirlingskipper #cheerleadingskipper #cheerleadingbarbie #barbieskipper #skipperbarbie #90sskipper #barbie #vintagebarbie #vintagebarbies #80sbarbie #90sbarbie #80skid #90skid #barbiefan #barbielover #barbiecollector #barbie80s #barbie90s #vintagetoys #mattel #matteldoll #barbiepassion #barbielove #barbieworld #barbiefantasy #barbiecollecrion #ilovebarbie #barbie1992

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My childhood dream came true today. I had a tiny picture of the two phone fun girl when I was 11. I kept that tiny bit of paper for many years as a wishlist later as a good luck charm. But after many years the paper just gave up but I never forgot them. Today I received Skipper who was a great deal and she is in amazing condition. Getting Courtney will be a bigger challenge but I am hopeful. Now skipper is going to a glass cabinet in Kamilla’s future room ?? #phonefunskipper #dollymail #childhooddream

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The Transition to Teen Skipper: A New Chapter

Following the release of “Phone Fun” Skipper, a significant change occurred. Skipper grew up to match Barbie’s size and was reintroduced as “Teen Skipper.” This new iteration featured an entirely redesigned head mold and body, marking a notable shift in her appearance. With this transformation, Skipper moved away from her previous look as a 13-year-old, adopting the appearance of a 16-year-old.

One of the standout examples of this new Teen Skipper is the “Slumber Party Skipper,” which showcases her updated design beautifully. The transition to Teen Skipper represented a significant evolution in her character, aligning her more closely with the style and maturity of Barbie.

However, as the new millennium approached, Teen Skipper’s presence diminished, and she virtually disappeared from the market for nearly a decade. Despite this hiatus, her legacy remains an important part of Barbie’s history.

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old photo of my #teenskipper #skipperdoll #dollstagram

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Here’s a link to Slumber Party Skipper https://www.flickr.com/photos/151597660@N03/33570714055

A Comeback for Teen Skipper: Resurgence and New Looks

After a nearly decade-long hiatus following the turn of the millennium, Teen Skipper made a notable comeback. In 2010, she reappeared in a Target-exclusive gift set, where she was featured as a bridesmaid. This marked the beginning of her renewed presence in the market.

The resurgence continued in 2012 with a vibrant new look—Teen Skipper sported colorful hair, reflecting the evolving trends and styles of the time. This reintroduction was well-received, showcasing a fresh take on the beloved character.

As of 2019, Teen Skipper appears to be available on a more permanent basis, making her a familiar face once again in the world of Barbie. If you search for her online, you’ll find that she’s presented with an age range of 15 to 17 years, blending elements of her classic design with contemporary updates.

More About Skipper: Barbie’s Beloved Sister

Skipper Millicent Roberts, introduced in 1964, was designed as a 12 or 13-year-old teenage girl. Her creation was driven by requests from Barbie owners who desired an additional doll to complement Barbie, Midge, and Ken. Skipper provided a new dimension to the Barbie universe, serving as a bridge to younger girls who might not yet be teenagers.

In the early 1960s, it was quite common for teenagers to own Barbie dolls, which may seem unusual by today’s standards. Nowadays, Barbie often becomes less appealing as children transition from kindergarten to school, but Skipper’s introduction catered to a younger audience, making her a popular choice.

Over the decades, Skipper made many friends, each adding to her story. In the 1960s, she was accompanied by Skooter and Ricky. Later on, friends like Courtney, Kevin, and Nikki joined her, expanding her circle and keeping her character vibrant and relatable.

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Why Victorian Holiday Barbie is sexy

Have you ever thought about how Christmas celebrated in the Victorian era? Well it must have been very different from how we celebrate today. Can you imagine a Christmas without Christmas Card written or no holiday from work? I can’t imagine it. Can you imagine only handmade toys were given to children? The most part of the society was poor only a few were wealthy. With the industrialization coming up the society changed. 

uSanta Claus was not red like we know him today.  Queen Victoria was one of the first persons in Great Britain with a Christmas tree. This tradition was unknown in GB before Prince Albert came to GB. But I think most of you have never thought about it. Anyway history has always been romanticised in the look back. This is what this Barbie shows you. She’s nice, beautiful and very festive. Do we really want to know how it would be to live in Victorian times? I think most of you don’t want it.

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Victorian Holiday Barbie

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Victorian Holiday Kelly
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Victorian Holiday Barbie & Kelly
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Victorian Holiday Barbie  & Kelly

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A look into my workshop

Behind the scenes I try to figure out how Vintage Barbie clothes (Vintage era from 1959 – 1966) were made. I’m especially interested the patterns for the fabric. How can I turn a piece of fabric into a piece of clothing. I want to design own clothes in the Vintage style later but at first I have to understand how the patterns are made and the result I get when I follow sewing instructions.

It’s not as easy as you might imagine. I have to deal with many different problems. Especially the body forms of early Barbie dolls seem to be one of my main problems. At first I thought they were all the same size but they aren’t. Although they seem to be the same size they aren’t and that’s a big problem when you don’t know it. Then you can’t adjust the pattern to the body. For example that’s my result when I tried to sew a blouse.Barbie Blouse

 

Vintage Barbie blouse

As you can see here the blouse seems to be to tight for the Midge/Bubblecut body I used here. Obviously the breasts are larger than it seems. I haven’t really measured until now but fellow collectors told me that the first Ponytail Barbie bodies are smaller/ the measures are different. That’s very interesting and a good thing to know. By the way it’s no problem that the blouse is to tight. I thought that I might get problems like these. I made it just for reasons of learning.

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Twist n Turn Barbie

Finally I found my very first TNT Barbie.  I don’t know the exact hair color but it doesn’t matter so much to me. It’s just good to have one. I have been looking for one for several months or years… I have forgotten it. Anyway, here she is…

Tnt2

Tnt

She’s the one from 1966 with the marking that you may have seen something like Pat. Pend. then (C) 1966.  She has real eye lashes but I have to replace them later since they are not perfect anymore. She’s the first one with bendable legs with joints and a hip joint.  She was produced in Japan ( typically for early TnT Barbie dolls). Later versions were produced in Taiwan and Korea. I did a short video to show her with all her beauty. Here’s the link to my Twist n Turn Barbie video.

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Uh! A new boy for my chicks and he is called Allan!

Believe it or not  14 days ago I got my very first Vintage Allan! I wanted him to accompany my Vintage Midge that I got last year.

Allan was the boyfriend of Midge in the early 1960s and they dated and almost 30 years later after a re-issue of Midge and Allan in the early 1990s they finally married and almost twenty years later they got offspring.

I found her to be a bit lonely and in October I found him. He needed a break before his long journey. I dressed him in 1990s Ken clothes. Not the best choice but better than being naked. I think I’ll go shopping for him in the next weeks. He gives my underrepresented  male fraction a bit more weight.

Until then I’m going to show you pics how he is looking now.

Allan

The very first Allan

He has straight legs

A little bit action!

Welcome at your new home