A Pink Carpet Celebration

As Barbie celebrates her 50th anniversary, an outrageously pink affair, I'm reminiscing about my own Barbie collection. I adored Barbies as a child. I loved dressing them in sparkling gowns and twirly skirts. My Barbies had boxes brimming with tulle tutus, stylish suits, and pretty-in-pink dresses. I remember all the tiny snaps and bits of velcro and sweet ruffle detail.

My Barbies? They were fashionable, voguish women.

But as much as my Barbies had style, they also had substance.

At least in my bedroom, Ken always rode passenger in Barbie's pink convertible. She owned her own home, a two-story affair with lovely lattice detail, the fruits of a successful career as a veterinarian. Presumably, Barbie paid for all her own classy couture and grand living.

When my Barbie ran for President, nobody wondered if the world was ready for a female in the White House. My Executive Barbie was never paid less than her male counterparts. I never wondered how my Doctor Barbie conquered work-life balance; she just did.

My Barbies? They were successful, pioneering women.

If truth be told, I nearly always immediately lost Barbie's itty bitty heels, relegating her to a barefoot life. But my Barbies weren't barefoot-in-the-kitchen types. Quite to the contrary, they simply went barefoot to the office, barefoot to the ball, and barefoot to the moon. Without complaint.

And, certainly, as much as they were fashionable, my Barbies were educated. Not only did they have careers that required advanced degrees, they often sat together in a row, listening intently while I played teacher. My Barbies were fabulous students.

My Barbies? They were smart, versatile women.

Barbie will be celebrating her 50th Anniversary with an outrageously pink birthday soiree thrown at a real Barbie Malibu Dream House, styled and decorated by famed “Happy Chic” interior designer Jonathan Adler.

She'll be walking the runway at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City, where 50 world-renowned fashion designers will celebrate the past, present and future of Barbie-inspired fashion.

The fabulous festivities will continue with a Special Barbie Boutique & Exhibit at Colette in Paris and the grand opening of Barbie's first flagship store in Shanghai. Dylan's Candy Bar, Stila, and Bloomingdales will all join in the festivities.

Barbie's All Doll'd Up blog is the place to celebrate fifty years of fun, fashion and friends. Read about everything from the most talked about runway moments, hottest parties, chicest trends and more. Check out exclusive video content, photo galleries and all the latest must-have goodies! Become a Barbie fan on Facebook for even more of the hottest buzz surrounding Barbie's 50th - and follow Barbie's tweets.

You know, after all of Barbie's trailblazing and triumphs, at least in my bedroom, she no doubt deserves such a grand jubilee.

Comments

[Kate]

I loved Barbies as a kid! Fun memories...

[Jen]

You should submit this to the Barbie website. It was so eloquent that it almost made me tear up. My Barbies might have only lived in a Barbie motorhome and they might have worked at Barbie McDonalds, but they were always classy and always fashionable.

[Erin C.]

Hahaha. What fun to think of modern career-minded Barbie compared to the original pre-women's lib (OPWL) Barbies. My OPWL Barbie and Midge didn't have Ken to hang with, but my brother's GI Joe sometimes paid a visit. Barbie and Midge lived together in a Barbie Dream House and traded clothes, but their wardrobe was good and plentiful. That's all they did. I don't think they fought over GI Joe. :)

[jesika]

i to remember loosing then going places without shoes