Monday November 9, 2009
Iconic doll
By OLIVIA LEE
Local designers join in Barbie’s 50th birthday bash.
BELIEVE it or not, the beloved shapely Barbie is 50! The doll may be five decades old but she’s still looking mighty hip.
Born on March 9, 1959 as Barbara Millicent Roberts, the iconic doll celebrates her 50th birthday this year with plenty of glitz and glamour, and Mattel is making sure that Barbie, their business phenomenon, gets the celebration she deserves.
Eric Choong’s sketch of the red gown for Barbie. According to a Forbes.com report, “Mattel has sold more than one billion Barbie dolls, nearly 100 million (of those) last year alone.”
The stunning plastic figure has graced many stylish events like the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City on Valentine’s Day, and the lucky 29cm beauty saw over 50 renowned designers like Anna Sui, Vera Wang, Diane von Furstenberg, Alexander Wang and Michael Kors, parading their Barbie inspired haute couture.
The legendary icon also celebrated her 50th year at the newly launched life-size interpretation of Barbie’s Malibu Dream House measuring a whopping 325sqm in Malibu, California.
The house was decorated by famous interior designer Jonathan Adler with everything that spelt Barbie. There was a closet filled with pink shoes and even a garage with a real Barbie Volkswagen Beetle car!
Outside of the United States, her birthday celebration continues around the globe in countries like Australia, Mexico, Japan, Brazil, France and India.
Here in Malaysia, Mattel has selected five local designers – Eric Choong, Khoon Hooi, Lewre, Melinda Looi and Tom Abang Saufi – to help in the celebrations.
Melinda Looi’s evening gown for Barbie. Their elaborate designs will be showcased this Saturday on the glass table top runway at Café Stelle, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, by models featuring a mixture of styles both fresh and reminiscent of Barbie’s signature looks.
Each designer was requested to create three pieces, of which one would be accompanied by an exclusive Barbie doll in a matching design that will be auctioned off. (Only invited guests will get to sneak a peek and make their bids at this event.)
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Badan Amal Kasih Sayang Malaysia, Pusat Penjaaan Kanak-Kanak Cacat Taman Megah, the Kechara Soup Kitchen and The Rumah Nur Salam.
The designers embellished their gowns with brilliant Swarovski crystals in celebration of Barbie’s 50 years of timeless splendour and one masterpiece from each designer will be decked with a matching stiletto.
The designers shared some of their thoughts with StarTwo.
A lacy stunner by Juicy Couture, presented at a show celebrating Barbie’s 50th anniversary during New York Fashion Week. Lewre
“My fondest memory of Barbie is of my daughters making little pretty dresses for Barbie to wear. It was great to see a toy inspiring my children to be creative, especially at that young age.
“The Generation of Dreams Barbie is a commemoration of 50 years of style, evolution and a reflection of the beauty that is within every one of us. For this reason, it is my favourite because I can closely relate the Lewre label to this (particular) Barbie.”
Eric Choong
“To me, Barbie is the only iconic image which has truly withstood the test of time. Keeping that in mind, I have always endeavoured to create designs which are chic and elegant, yet timeless.
“To me, Barbie is the quintessential woman: confident, sexy and sophisticated. I believe my designs reflect all that.”
Melinda Looi
“Many of my good friends who own many Barbie dolls are all from the fashion line. So I guess you could say she’s really quite a fashion icon and (does) affect the thinking of people who love to play dress up like us.
“Being involved in Barbie’s 50-year anniversary has been a wonderful experience so far. A big thank you to Mattel for selecting me to be part of the celebration!”
‘Barbie is such a global fashion icon,’ says Tom Abang Saufi. Tom Abang Saufi
“I remember in the early 1980s, my eldest daughter Izora started having an interest in (Barbie) dolls.
“The first thing I did when I was in London was to drop by Hamley’s to get the latest Barbie accessories for her before heading off to do my own shopping.
“I’m honoured to be part of this milestone of Barbie’s life as it is a global adventure for me.
“Barbie is such a global fashion icon. It’s also one of the times when I can really impress my kids and nieces with my work for fashion.”
Khoon Hooi
“I visualised Barbie as the perfect stunning lady and that thought inspired me as a designer through the years.
‘I visualised Barbie as the perfect stunning lady,’ says Khoon Hooi. “Some of the Barbie elements in my designs include silky elegant gowns adorned with organza twirls and sizzling crystallised Swarovski elements.”
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