Barbiefy
Barbiefy: to channel the self-confidence and endless possibilities of childhood dreams like “when I grow up I’ll be…”
I grew up with Barbie. When we were kids, my little sister and I played Barbies for days on end, creating elaborate homes for our dolls that could cover the entire living room carpet. My favourite dolls were my Talking Stacey, Barbie’s mod British friend (she could say things like “I think miniskirts are smashing,” and “Let’s have Barbie over for tea,” but I could make her say much more interesting things); Twist ‘n Turn P.J., who was so cool she had bangs and sunglasses on her head; and Casey, the best friend of Barbie’s younger cousin, Francie. Casey and Francie weren’t quite as tall nor as “developed” as Barbie and Stacey, and their feet were arched less acutely so they wore flatter-heeled shoes. Our parents were very generous every Christmas and we had a wonderful collection of dolls and an array of fashions. We even had a Barbie Theatre!
Casey - doesn’t she looked like Agent 99?!
Who was your favourite Barbie?
Click below if you’d like to watch a vintage Talking Barbie and Talking Stacey commercial
(this link works on a computer, not on mobile phones)
Here's a vintage Talking Barbie and Talking Stacey commercial
Watching an old Barbie commercial brings back a flood of emotions and fond memories. But in retrospect, isn’t the male announcer’s voice a little bit creepy?
BARBIE CAREERS
We began playing Barbies years before the dolls were marketed with specific skills and job titles. But our dolls had the most magnificent careers. One of them was usually a pediatrician, and the other a veterinarian or high-powered businesswoman. Sometimes Barbie worked with Ken, but if she didn’t, then we might not know what Ken’s job was. What the Kens did do was spend a lot of time sitting around, waiting for Barbie to change – again. It was never really about him.
I loved our Barbie time, and I loved all that time playing with my little sister. And like Barbie, we both grew up to have fashion sense, fabulous careers, and happy marriages. (NOTE: Our Barbies usually married the Kens when we played.) (And CORRECTION: I used to have fashion sense. My little sister still does!)
Is there a Barbie that celebrates
what you do?
BARBIE ON THE BIG SCREEN
Barbie recently made her big-screen debut, delighting audiences who had - and many who hadn’t - played with her as children. Barbie broke a slew of box office records, notably the biggest opening ever for a female director – Greta Gerwig. Just like the doll so many of us grew up with, the Barbie movie smashed the glass ceiling while being wildly fun and enjoyable.
Career-wise, the Barbie movie aimed even higher than we ever did as kids, and presented us with the wonderful President Barbie!
SOME FAVOURITE BARBIES
It’s been a lot of years since we played with our Barbies. But they’re still around me. My office is filled with my favourites from childhood, as well as an array of wonderful dolls I’ve collected over the years.
There’s the Bill Blass Barbie, modelling a stunning yellow gown with a train and an oversized-black and white bow. She was my very first collector doll and meant the world to me. Growing up I had wanted to become a fashion designer and here was Barbie, dressed by one of the world’s best!
Winter in Montreal Barbie, part of the City Seasons Collection, was a present from my mom, who loved picking out Barbies and her outfits almost as much as I loved receiving them. She gave her to me on the first Christmas after I’d moved away from my beloved Montreal. Dark page boy (like me!), dressed in a bright red wool suit, trimmed with leopard skin and matching cloche hat. Black stockings and boots. In any other city she might be perceived as a woman of ill repute, but in Montreal – Barbie is dressed to the nines to go out for lunch or shopping on rue Sherbrooke!
Police Officer Barbie is dressed in her beat cop uniform, but she comes armed with a gold lamé gown – to wear when she’s honored at the Police Awards Ball - of course! When I first saw her, I had to have one! She’s the only Barbie I keep in my collection ironically.
Glinda the Good Witch Barbie is from the Hollywood Legends Collection. Dressed exactly as Billie Burke was in The Wizard of Oz – my most favourite movie! What more to say than Barbie and The Wizard of Oz – two of my favourite things.
Then there’s the Gold Anniversary Star Trek Barbie & Ken; Ken sporting Captain Kirk’s signature gold uniform, and Barbie in a red micro mini looking a whole lot like Yeoman Rand. Watching Star Trek reruns with my late dad is a cherished memory of our too-short time together, and the Star Trek Barbies combine the happiest pop culture elements of my childhood.
And just as my love for Barbie has carried on throughout my life, so too has my love for all things Star Trek. And so flanking Star Trek Barbie & Ken on the left is the Enterprise’s iconic First Officer, Mr. Spock, with magnificent Lieutenant Uhura on the right side. Original Series Uhura and Spock are part of the Barbie Collector Black Label. Not Ken & Barbie, Spock looks just like Leonard Nimoy, giving the unmistakable Vulcan hand salute, and Uhura is the gorgeous Nichelle Nichols, tricorder at the ready.
And finally, there’s Publicity Tour Barbie! Part of the Hollywood Movie Star Collection, Publicity Tour Barbie “charms paparazzi” with her “sensational style” and “perfect smile.” After ending up pursuing a career I hadn’t known existed when I was a kid playing with our Barbies, they actually made a collector Barbie acknowledging what I ended up doing for a living! (I worked for many years as a film and television publicist.)
Barbie was a huge part of my childhood, and she remains an integral part of my office décor.
She left a mark on us indeed, but it wasn’t that we had to be tall and beautiful and perfect. Barbie presented a playground for us to imagine and invent endless possibilities about how wonderful our lives might be when we grew up. And I’m not sure our lives might be quite so wonderful if she hadn’t been a part of them.
Thank you Barbie. I still love you.