Celebrating Barbie® at 50

By E. Nina Rothe
OK, so the tagline is that she doesn't look a day over 25. Truth is, she never will Ladies, so trying to emulate her will eventually and logically lead to disaster. But there definitely are things about Barbie that can inspire the average woman. YES, I did hear the collective scream, Ladies! WE at PopCultureDivas are NOT average women, and that was a poor choice of words, but you get my meaning, don't you? Compared to Barbie, well, no one stands a chance...

I recently came across a poignantly charming article by fellow FB friend Susan Shapiro - an accomplished writer and teacher. In it, she credits her beloved childhood Barbie for keeping her

emotionally sane. Her piece brought me back to my days spent as an only child playing with my Barbies, their clothes and the gorgeous pet horse and red convertible that completed their idyllic lifestyle. In a way, I grew up thinking that was me and have now found another voice to confirm that my strong bond with those dolls might have contributed in helping me become the self-assured woman I am today. Well, maybe not today of all days, I feel my waist spreading, my hair fluffing up and my skin getting drier ... But on most days, I'm pretty OK with who I am. 

Of course, I never wanted my feet stuck in a permanent tip-toed position, I didn't really look for a man who is anatomically inappropriate "down there" as poor Ken is and my clothes do not all have velcro closures and fancy feathers and crystals. But I did find my own live horse to ride many years later, drove my own fab - albeit black - convertible while I lived for two years in LA, kept up on my diet and exercise so that my fashionable sale clothes would always fit and became my own woman, regardless of the cards life might have dealt me. I didn't find a Ken, perhaps dated more of the G.I. Joe types, but it's been fun. And I do have a more-than-obvious penchant for pink accessories...

These days, I am back in Barbie heaven and with a vengeance! I recognize that it might all be a publicity blitz by Mattel and all its franchises, but I am truly enjoying the Barbie-pink pumps by Christian Louboutin, the over-the-top clothes courtesy of DVF, Catherine Malandrino and Badgley Mischka, the lucite costume jewelry by Tarina Tarantino - which my friend Tom Mendes sells in his Plaza Too stores around the NYC area (tooooo dangerous, I tell you!) - and even Barbie's own blog, where "she" shares her thoughts and lesser-known factoids about what it's like to possess her impossible proportions and have a forty-eight year-long on-again/off-again relationship with Ken. The hottest show at NY Fashion Week this season, with a line of stand-bys that went around Bryant Park - that is four city blocks by the way?! - was the Barbie presentation. Of course. Even the divine Miss Dolly Parton has a deep and touching new song titled "Backwoods Barbie" which is available for listening and viewing on her website.

In all these years, no one has come up with a better role model for little girls. I mean, The Little Mermaid is a bit unrealistic, living under the ocean half the time she must have killer split ends, and all those Wonder Woman, Catwoman and Co. require something horrible and traumatic to happen to us before we can even join their ranks. Na-ha! I'll stick with my unrealistically footed girl of the impossible body measurements any day! She has come this far with me and, come to think of it, I haven't bought a new Barbie in ages. This can be quickly and easily corrected, or I can just get my fix at Bloomingdales, where some of the vintage dolls from Mattel's own collection are on display this month, at selected stores around the country. 

It would be wonderful to read your thoughts about this childhood icon. What did she represent to you and how do you feel about your daughters playing with a Barbie today? And which Barbie was your all-time favorite?

Images courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and Mattel