Don't forget!

Don't forget to follow us over at the Fashion Doll Review blog now. We've added a couple of great contributors over there, including Shuga-Shug and Kathie (aka BarbieKenScout on her eBay store, Kathie's Fashion Dolls), who add to the conversation about 11-12" fashion dolls.

I'm about to start a short series on the Steffie sculpt, too. Thanks!

The No. 10 "Scandal"

Barbie Fashionista Glam, originally uploaded by alington.

I think I first read about the scandal on a doll blog this morning (and of course, I can't remember which), and it was all over Twitter. If you read about Barbie on the web, I'm sure you've heard of the latest Barbie "scandal" involving the gorgeous Basic Barbie No. 10, who is considered "too busty" for younger girls.

When I saw the original interviews (and the "extensive" one minute 25 second story), I noticed several things:

1. The reporter of the story is comparing collector dolls designed for adults (Barbie Basics) to playline dolls. It occurs to me that the general public perhaps really doesn't know there is a difference. Would a mother really buy her daughter a $20 doll dressed only in a black dress and shoes? 
2. The first woman who is interviewed is wearing a deep v-necked shirt, which is quite flattering for her figure. While she isn't quite as perky as the Barbie, it's still fairly low cut. I wonder if she realizes that her wardrobe choices possibly minimizes the importance her complaint about the doll.
3. Then, when the woman holds up the "right kind" of doll, she displays an older style Doll of the World Barbie, who is dressed in traditional costume. This is one type of collector doll which included world heritage costumes. Barbie Basics are fashion models, and they are fashion dolls. They shouldn't be wearing ruffles, turtlenecks and full-length gowns, because, even this woman's own wardrobe reflects, this is not what current fashion dictates.
4. The second woman discusses the idea of introducing age-appropriate Barbies to her girls, and is fascinated by "middle-aged adult women" who pay "up to $100" for a doll. This sort of points out an extreme lack of awareness in the public of doll collectors. Check out Mattel's press release of the most expensive Barbie by Canturi, which was valued at over $545,000 for more on this subject.
5. Finally, the doll in question is a black doll. Both women interviewed in the story are white. In the women's homes, I only saw white dolls. This doesn't mean that they don't have any non-white dolls, of course. But I wonder if the underlying source of this "wardrobe complaint" wasn't really rooted in something more subversive. One of the things I really like about the Barbie Basics line is the dolls' diversity. I was impressed with the variety of sculpts and skin tones that Mattel usually doesn't tackle very well. It seems to me that racism is very deeply rooted in our society, and if Mattel will fight this tooth and nail to keep this gorgeous doll on the shelf, I think that's one more tiny step towards progress.

Finally, I have to speak out as a mother of four children. Seriously now, when I take my children to Target, here is my experience:

• Yes, they ask for toys. But I do not buy them every toy in the store, nor do I buy them everything they want. 
• Yes, they often want age-inappropriate toys. But I did not buy them toys with small pieces before they were three, and I still do not allow M-rated video games in the house.
• And no, the toys do not jump off the shelves into my cart without my knowledge. (Well, if I am alone, that might happen, especially at Target, since it can go under the "household" category in Quicken. But it's more like a case of my right hand not knowing what my left hand is doing.)

So if you don't like it, you'll be relieved to know that you don't have to buy it! It's as simple as that. Get over it. It's a doll. I'm just amazed at what passes as news. Isn't there anything more interesting to report? Though heck, it does make for an interesting blog post. ;)

Barbie in the News

WNYC - News - Barbie Takes on Katie and Diane

She must have made it, if she's on WYNC (one of New York's public radio stations). You can read the official press release here. Or read about the original voting process here. See how the Take Our Daughter To Work Foundation was involved.

Photo is the property of Mattel.

From an article on Gizmodo:

The Vote Is In: Barbie® Unveils Her 125th and 126th Careers 

For the first time ever, Barbie® asked the world to help her select her next career. Over the past few months Barbie® did research around the world and also conducted an online voting campaign, calling upon the world to vote for her doll's next career – Barbie® has asked her Twitter followers and fans on Facebook to help her with this important career decision.

But that's not all! Consumers loudly campaigned for another Barbie® career. The winner of the popular vote is Computer Engineer. Computer Engineer Barbie®, debuting in Winter 2010, inspires a new generation of girls to explore this important high-tech industry, which continues to grow and need future female leaders.

"All the girls who imagine their futures through Barbie will learn that engineers - like girls - are free to explore infinite possibilities, limited only by their imagination," says Nora Lin, President, Society of Women Engineers. "As a computer engineer, Barbie will show girls that women can turn their ideas into realities that have a direct and positive impact on people's everyday lives in this exciting and rewarding career."

To create an authentic look, Barbie® designers worked closely with the Society of Women Engineers and the National Academy of Engineering to develop the wardrobe and accessories for Computer Engineer Barbie®. Wearing a binary code patterned tee and equipped with all the latest gadgets including a smart phone, Bluetooth headset, and laptop travel bag, Computer Engineer Barbie® is geek chic.

Always a trailblazer, Barbie® continues her impressive career path in 2010 and throughout the new decade as she takes on these two new aspirational careers. Both News Anchor Barbie® and Computer Engineer Barbie® are currently available for pre-order exclusively at www.MattelShop.com.

I checked, and I couldn't yet find the computer engineer available yet. Hopefully she will be soon. (She's awesome!)

Sugar Daddy Ken - what's in a name?

I'm glad I wasn't the only one with hesitations on the upcoming release Sugar Daddy Ken. According to this article from News.com.au (let's leave it to the Australians!):

And before anyone thinks the "Sugar Daddy" title refers to an older man with a younger lover, Mattel says that there's a much more innocent explanation.

"The little dog's name is actually Sugar," said the Mattel spokeswoman. "That's where the name comes from. He's Sugar's daddy, as a reference to the dog."

Yeah, right. Still, he's hot!

Image courtesy of Mattel.

Article on Barbie and rivals Moxie and Liv dolls in the Wall Street Journal

Check out this article in the Wall Street Journal by Ann Zimmerman, on the lengths Mattel is going to maintain its Barbie brand for the upcoming holiday season in light of Barbie's new competitors, Moxie and Liv. There is a video, showing some real-life girls playing with the dolls, and an interactive graphic, which highlights the differences between these playline dolls.

As an aside, I'm actually struck by the overall tone of the article. Here is are a few lines to reference tone:

Inside the high-security Mattel design center near its headquarters here in El Segundo, guards check visitors' laptops and briefcases on entrance and exit. Humans who bear an uncanny resemblance to Barbie -- high heels, pony tails, sparkly jewelry -- gathered there late last month in the Pink Room. [...]

"We needed to reconnect Barbie as a fashion icon," says Ms. Cota, who wears a necklace with Barbie's silhouette covered in diamonds.

Maybe it isn't about Barbie or tone at all. Maybe it's just that the author doesn't mention what any of the male toy employees happen to be wearing. Which, if I were to sexualize one party or the other, would be of much more interest to me, quite frankly.

Perhaps the readers of the Wall Street Journal really do care what the employees of Mattel are wearing, so it's relevant to the article. Tell me, dear reader. Do you care what I'm wearing? If I were at home, blogging in the nude, would you want to know? (Liberal media, my ass.)