BARBIE DRESSES
From Barbie's beginnings in 1959, little girls clothed their Barbie dolls in a range of ensembles. No less than 22
outfits were offered in that introductory year, from a collarless Chanel-style jacket with matching sheath skirt to a satin-and-tulle bridal gown. Indeed, fashion was such an
important aspect of the doll's marketing that noted clothing designer Charlotte
Johnson was hired away from her teaching post at Chouinard
Art School in Los Angeles to complete this critical task.
Most of the
outfits offered in 1959 were still available in 1960, making the three that
were discontinued (Easter Parade, Gay Parisienne, and
Roman Holiday) extremely collectible. Of the six new
outfits added in 1960, Friday Night Date was one of the best sellers, thanks to
its charming blue corduroy jumper with felt appliqués, pair of soda glasses
with cotton standing in for actual fizz, and a black serving tray bearing the
Barbie logo. The straws that accompany each fizzing soda glass, two tiny pieces
of solid white plastic, are particularly valued among enthusiasts for their
rarity.
After that
initial year, Barbie’s style changed annually and came to represent a living
catalog of the most popular fashion trends of the second half of the 20th
century. Her clothes came and went, and in the early years were often out of
production before orders could be shipped to some regions of the U.S., which
made ensembles such as Plantation Belle and Busy Gal (complete with striped
blouse, black rimmed glasses, and fashion portfolio) difficult to obtain.
Barbie’s
first run of outfits designated each piece with a name and a series number.
From 1959 to 1963, the 900 series (901, 902, 903, etc.) accompanied each
descriptive title. Beginning in 1964, Mattel switched to a 1600 series. Though
newer, the 1600 outfit series is actually just as difficult for collectors to
track down as the original—fewer quantities of each outfit were produced. Among
the rarest of the 1600 series are Satin ’N Rose, White Magic, and Skaters
Waltz, a wintry ensemble of nylon tights, pink felt ruffle skirt, and fuzzy
white mittens.
