Barbie doll - history of creation and photo of dolls

Barbie ... Everyone's favorite doll. When did she appear this little person, who are her parents? Professor Lord, a great connoisseur of dolls, claims that before Barbie there was a Lilly doll and it was intended ... for adult men. It was sold at tobacco kiosks as a comic gift for men. Why is it so? It all started with a German newspaper. The fact is that in the rather low-grade newspaper Bild Zeitung various comics were printed in the post-war period. So Lilly was one of the characters in these comics - a blonde of a purely Aryan race with regular German features. For the first time, Lilly appeared in the newspaper on July 24, 1952 (she will soon have an anniversary - 60 years). This character was so popular that toy designer Max Weissbrodt decided to transform her into a real doll, but not for children, but for adults.

A few years later, Lilly began a second life, but under a different name - Barbie. Ruth Handler, seeing a charming doll - a woman, thought about trying to make an American blonde out of a German doll. She bought some dolls and Lilly went to America. Here Ruth Handler and designer Jack Ryan successfully Americanized the German doll and named it Barbie, after Ruth's daughter. But now Barbie, a female doll, was already intended as a toy for children. This was in 1959.

It was then that Barbie first appeared at a toy fair in New York. But, however, Barbie no one wanted to buy, even for three dollars. Newspapers and critics shouted indignantly about her excessive sexuality and insisted that fathers and mothers would not buy such a toy for their children. But soon enough it was these fathers and mothers who decided that they could play with this doll too. It was a triumph for Ruth Handler! Five years later, the number of dolls was in the millions. And orders continued to increase so that it was difficult to meet demand. Barbie she found admirers not only in the USA, but also in Europe and even in many Muslim countries, where she was smuggled, since strict morals did not allow playing with such sexy dolls. Ruth Handler's business flourished. And then many realized that Barbie also needed a wardrobe, furniture, dishes, a car, and ... much, much more.

So Barbie helped to earn extra money not only one Ruth Handler, but also many others. There were luxurious outfits, cottages, cars, bicycles and even a wedding dress - everything for Barbie. The entire collection is priced at $ 1,000, and the wedding dress is priced at $ 35. Well, who can resist not to buy such a doll for his beloved daughter, and maybe for himself. And then Barbie had a friend named Ken, and then a friend, and sisters, and a whole string of relatives. Why are there relatives and friends, she has dogs, cats, and horses, all pets live in Barbie's mansion.

Throughout its existence, it has changed many houses and cars, not to mention luxurious outfits. The popularity of the doll grew day by day, especially since it appeared in an era when the social position of a woman was being revised, when external brilliance and possession were put in the first place. Disputes about its merits and demerits, about the negative consequences that can occur in the psyche of children playing with Barbie, have been and continue to this day. But the girls appreciated Barbie in their own way. These dolls that can do their hair, whose arms and legs are so mobile that Barbie can even ride a bicycle. And in 1964, the new Barbie model could already open and close her eyes. Of course, since birth, Barbie has changed many times and got better and more interesting. However, there were also quite unpleasant moments that could form the wrong way of thinking in children. In 1993, a new model of Barbie was released, which spoke several phrases, such as, for example: "Math is too difficult" or "Will I have a lot of clothes?" etc. This Barbie taught not the best life aspirations for girls. Therefore, buyers were outraged, followed by a negative reaction. The same thing happened when the pregnant Barbie model was released. Here you yourself think, what could have been the reaction from the parents, future buyers of Barbie? Most likely, the desire to diversify Barbie models, to make these dolls for all tastes, led to some negative models.

Mattel has produced Barbies and different nationalities since 1959, and speaking different languages, and different in their professional merits: Barbie stewardess, Barbie - singer, Barbie - nurse, Barbie - astronaut, etc. Particularly popular were and continue to enjoy Barbies, whose appearance reminds us of recognized Hollywood stars: Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor and others. Computer games about Barbie have appeared, and in Russia we have a children's magazine "Playing with Barbie!", And cartoons about Barbie have been shot. Fiat has produced a special model of the Fiat 500 for the 50th anniversary of the Barbie doll. The interior of the car is pink and some parts are decorated with rhinestones.

Barbie and world-famous fashion houses did not leave without attention. In 1985, an international exhibition of collections of Barbie outfits from famous couturiers was held: Pierre Cardin, Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Jean-Paul Gaultier and others. Fashion designers and jewelers work for it. The cost of one "haute couture" outfit is estimated at up to $ 850. And the most interesting thing is that many fashion designers consider making a dress for Barbie no less prestigious than for a Hollywood star. So the adults also love this doll and seriously play with it. For some, this doll is the embodiment of beauty and encourages creativity, and for some, Barbie is the personification of consumption, thirst for a luxurious life, etc.

It turns out that for its entire existence, the Barbie doll has been sold more than all toys, it already has more than a billion sales ..., that is. one Barbie is being sold every second.

In the twentieth century, the Barbie doll, a work of the era, has become a symbol of twentieth century America.

Yes, indeed, in America, the passion for Barbie is so strong that with each appearance of a new model, there were either public protests if the doll did not like it, or delight of admiration.

But that's not all - the Americans placed the doll in a capsule and solemnly buried it in the ground with a mandate to descendants - to extract it in 200 years. Worshiping a Barbie is a bit like a maniacal one. Barbie got into the Guinness Book of Records, became one of the exhibits of the Museum of Wax Figures. Barbie worship has provoked a disease called "Barbie syndrome" - this disease, which is characterized by a constant fear in women and girls that they are not like Barbies, that we should lose weight or have plastic surgery. Thus, a young woman named Cindy Jackson entered the Guinness Book of Records along with Barbie, who, in order to be like her idol in everything, underwent more than 20 plastic surgeries. So - a seemingly harmless doll brought so many unforeseen consequences.

Here is such an interesting story about a little plastic Barbie doll. There is hardly another doll or toy that can repeat her phenomenal ascent.

In 1959, this story began and continues to this day, or maybe its attractive power is eternal?

Some time ago, I was selling clothes for Barbies in an online store, mostly blue mink fur coats, but I will talk about this in the next publication.

I also recommend reading the publication about fashionable toys from famous brands. Fashion dolls very original soft toys.