Barbie has been in the news for many things lately, most significantly being that she is about to turn 50. Not surprisingly, she has held up remarkably well. She is plastic. At least indirectly, this is, in fact how “plastic” surgery got it’s name. Sociologists will look back and have no problem seeing the correlation between Barbie’s unnatural proportions and the lengths to which the current day woman will go to alter herself.
Now, Barbie, is stealing some style from real women. Here’s her latest incarnation: Totally Stylin’ Tattoos Barbie. Stylin’ B comes with 40 tiny tattoo stickers for her own brief use. A faux tattoo gun with washable tattoos is included that kids can use to adorn themselves. Some people are offended that Barbie is having so public of a midlife crisis and that the glorification of tatting oneself toes a fine line of decency when it comes to children.
But, if legions of the offended are indeed out there, I think they should be much more concerned about this:
Yes, my friends, Barbie is now a Victoria’s Secret Angel! Mattel had enough sense not to really name her that! I’m just saying.
Here’s the last piece of Barbie trivia to be shared today, and trust me, it’s a good one: Barbie’s Secret: Creator was Kinky Swinger
So here’s my question for you on this Aloha Friday:
Love her? Hate her? Did you play with Barbie when you were little? Do your children? If so, want to share a favorite story about you and Barb?
Here’s mine: A best friend from elementary school put Ken on top of Barbie in the Barbie Dream House bed and I cried. We also used to trade Barbies. One time I lied and told her this ugly hand-me-down Midge doll I had was a valuable collector’s item. I got a brand new Malibu Barbie out of the deal.
Head on over to An Island Life for more Aloha Friday questions.
Note: To see the commercial and another post on Totally Stylin’ Tattoo Barbie, head over to Lola’s Diner
If you enjoyed this post, be sure to subscribe to my RSS feed!
{ 25 comments }
Barbie and I are the same age! *L* I played with her growing up and so did my two daughters!
I loved Barbie growing up. I had tons of them, lots of clothes and shoes, a car. It does not really bother me what they have done with the new Barbie because if you don’t like it, ignore it, don’t buy it for anyone, move on.
I also loved Barbie growing up. I particularly liked Barbie & the Rockers-I thought they were pretty cool. I actually collect some Barbies from time to time now. Ones for your Birth Month, etc… But seeing that pic you posted of the Victoria's Secret Angel makes it seem like Barbie is seen quite differently than 20 years ago.
I loved Barbie. Couldn’t get enough of her. Really.
Barbie was the first slut parents approved of hanging with their little princesses.
She had a boyfriend, lots of fabulous clothes, a house and a bed, a car and they weren’t married!
I LOVED Barbie as a kid. And my daughter is getting into her kinda, but she is only (almost) 3 so I am sure she will be more interested later.
I just wish she had normal feet, that always bothered me…
We always said we were “playing Barbies”, but I’m not sure if we had real Barbies or imitation ones. Mine had a ponytail that retracted into her head, something we did so often her head fell off.
I used to play with Barbie growing up–I used to love dressing her up in different clothes
LOL ~ I LOVED my Barbie & Ken and Midge dolls! Still playing with them in 6th grade. I was in a golf cart accident and had clamps in my head, blah, blah, blah and this boy I liked came over to visit and brought me a Barbie doll outfit all wrapped up for a gift – is that sweet or what??!! My daughter also played with them, but my nieces were WAY into them – they had every car, every anything that went with the Barbies!!
LOL ~ I LOVED my Barbie & Ken and Midge dolls! Still playing with them in 6th grade. I was in a golf cart accident and had clamps in my head, blah, blah, blah and this boy I liked came over to visit and brought me a Barbie doll outfit all wrapped up for a gift – is that sweet or what??!! My daughter also played with them, but my nieces were WAY into them – they had every car, every anything that went with the Barbies!!
I played with Barbie all the time as a child and so did my daughter. I just never really worried about it all. It was just a toy to me. Tattoo Barbie just sounds silly but it doesn’t really bother me.
My sister had a lot of Barbie dolls but I was not interested in her.
I remember making a girl cry when I used a Dinobot(transformers) and had it gnaw on Ken’s arm. It was all kinds of awesome.
Too funny. Wasn't that Mariposa Barbie though?
I used to love playing w/ Barbie & one year I even got the Barbie cruise ship. My parents still have it for the grandkids! lol Now my 6 yr old loves to play w/ Barbie & we have all the movies. Oddly enough the movies aren't that bad. In fact Hubby & our 11 yr old son will even watch them w/ us sometimes!
my sisters do like the barbie doll when they were a child, they so cute fr me.. but barbie in victoria’s secret…well i have to buy it for my girl…lol
I had several Barbies and the town house growing up. I used to play with them along with my best friend all the time. I have little boys now, so no Barbies in our house.
Thank you for the linky love.
I had a fake Barbie first, then a real Barbie and Ken. And I got Ken’s green car. I loved that car. My sister and always used to go to an area flea market and buy tons of homemade Barbie outfits. I gave all my Barbie stuff to my daughter who is now a teenager.
i LOVE your blog!! i’ve seen the commercial for the tattoo barbie. and i just thank god every day that my daughters don’t like barbie anymore.
ok…so…
yes, i played with barbies. constantly. and i never thought about looking like her. ever. maybe i should have. then i wouldn’t be so short and squat. oh well.
I think it’s funny that people are so upset about the tattoo Barbie. I mean when has Barbie ever been conservative? When she was driving around with Ken in her fancy convertible sports car?
That ’swinger barbie creator’ article really says it all.
I did play with Barbie. I was a tomboy, so I cut thier hair short and they were always dirty. lol
*sigh* says the publicist as she and Barbie are the same age as one of your other posters mentioned. She did indeed play with Barbies. She has no children.
I do not let my kids play with Barbies and they would just try and eat them and plastic is not good for their digestive system. Apples are better….
I played with Transformers, lol though my cousins made me play with the barbies.
I loved Barbie. I never had a dream house myself.But I remember the Christmas that my younger sister got one like it was yesterday.Although I was 13 at the time I remember sneaking in her room to play with it for like two months straight.
My mum tried so hard to keep Barbie away from me because she thought it would give me a negative body image. But people bought me them anyway and I loved them. I loved styling her hair most of all.
And as much as I hate everything she represents, I can’t honestly say it’s had a negative effect on me in later years.
Comments on this entry are closed.