Vintage Barbie Dolls

... these days. My interest is vintage camera gear and unique electronics ... fairly restrictive area. Not into barbie dolls and the likes! And I...

... Talkin' 'Bout Dub Aqua - Barbie Girl Archive - The Empty... - Sexual Revolution ARTBAT & Vintage Culture - She The Last... Barkley - Crazy Goo Goo Dolls - Broadway Gorillaz - 19-2000... City - For the Innocent Vintage Culture, Maverick Sabre, Tom Breu...

... Talkin' 'Bout Dub Aqua - Barbie Girl Archive - The Empty... - Sexual Revolution ARTBAT & Vintage Culture - She The Last... Barkley - Crazy Goo Goo Dolls - Broadway Gorillaz - 19-2000... dios - Nah neh nah Vintage Culture, Maverick Sabre, Tom Breu...

... pages of Mattel Barbie dolls when browsing for other vintage dolls and the vintage doll clothing and... at least time for Mattel Barbie items, family, clothes, etc. to ... product category listing. I collect dolls, even love Barbie but she has too much... stuff to be categorized in the current vintage...

I collect vintage Barbie dolls and guess what? I go ...

I’m talking about the pre-1990s era patterns, I just love the 1950s and 60s ones, but the dolls of that era had a very different shape! First picture, left to right: petite Barbie, curvy Barbie, Worldbox at210 with Barbie heads, Stacie on the end. Second picture: petite, curvy, dream besties, Stacie. HOW TO: Petite, Skipper and Dream besties: Print vintage Skipper pattern at 100%. Tops: Add 5mm to the top length (as in just make it 5mm longer) and it should fit fine, although I’m not sure if long sleeves will be the right length. Bottoms: pants and fitted skirts won’t fit! Gathered skirts like this are fine, I just made it a bit longer so it went to the knees. Stacie: Use a vintage Skipper pattern. Print tops at 85%, bottoms at 100%. I haven’t tested pants to see how they fit yet. I also made the bodice 5mm longer. The same dress pattern is on the petite, Dream Bestie and Stacy here! It’s McCalls 7716. It’s just printed at different sizes and the length adjusted slightly. The jacket on the petite is also vintage Skipper at 100%. I did make the sleeves slightly longer to hide her elbow joints though! Curvy: use a vintage Barbie pattern at 100% but make the bodice pattern 1.2cm shorter. Yes, that’s a lot, but curvy really is that much higher in the waist than a vintage doll! She also has bigger arms, so a tight fitting sleeve might need adjusting - I make it 5mm bigger each side, and the armhole 5mm lower. Only a gathered skirt will fit, not a fitted one or pants! For a fitted lower half, best to use Raddollclothes patterns instea, save yourself the hassle of adjusting them! Note: I haven’t tried heaps of different patterns yet, this is what I’ve found so far. She’s wearing McCalls 9993. Lastly: Worldbox at210, the “wasp waist” body - included because the fit Barbie heads nicely, and fit the vintage Barbie patterns well too! The bodices mostly fit well as they are, but the arms are bigger so do the same 5mm arm and armholes adjustment as Curvy. Again, only a gathered skirts like this fits! The lower half is a similar size to curvy. The last picture is my two Worldbox girls, one in McCalls 9993 and one in Simplicity 4510. Regular Barbie: okay, I haven’t worked that out yet, they need a fair bit of adjusting as they’re a lot smaller in the bodice - I’ll do another post when I work it out! The vintage patterns are readily available as pdf downloads on Etsy. I hope that’s not too confusing and is helpful for others who like to sew - feel free to ask me any questions ! submitted by /u/Catlady5000 to r/Barbie [link] [comments]

Hi everyone So today I was out and I when to a car boot sale and I found a lot of dolls. I bought some vintage Barbies(they case me if I remember correctly 50p to £1 max). I am so happy with my finds and I got a feeling that one in picture 4 and 5 is from the 80s and her hands move up when the switch on her back is flipped and the last 3 pictures her arms moved to side to side when the lever on her back is moved. I was wondering if anyone can help ID what dolls I got. Any help is greatly appreciated Well see you all in my next post. submitted by /u/FyraBarman to r/VintageBarbies [link] [comments]

Hi everyone So I got this pink hair brush with my 1994 I love Make Up Sindy I bought from a collectables shop and when I looked it using google lens it match exactly to Vintage Barbie doll hair brush that came Barbies from 80s to 90s. I was wondering if anyone could help figure what Barbie this hair brush could be possible off and I know it’s probably came with several different Barbies but I know if its possible came with I have in collection so I can put it with them. My guess it’s possible from a Barbie from the same year the Sindy I got it with or possibly even an older one but I have a feeling it’s from the 90s not 80s. Any help is greatly appreciated. Well see you all in my next post and sorry if this abit all over the place I typed this in a rush not long before I when to bed. submitted by /u/FyraBarman to r/VintageBarbies [link] [comments]

Introduced by Ruth Handler for Mattel March 9th 1959 debuted at the New York toy fair as the 1st mass produced U.S fashion doll. Barbie is still extremely popular and collectible today. These are all vintage before 1979. I have a #3 and a #4 Barbie. There is also a 1962 Uneeda Suzette mixed in. Many companies tried to have their own version of Barbie. Barbie was inspired by the German Bild Lilli doll and Ruth's daughters paper dolls. submitted by /u/Vivian326619 to r/Antiquedollcollecting [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/BellasBirds to r/Barbie [link] [comments]

When I saw (on Reddit, thanks to the OP who originally posted it!) that the Miss Astronaut 1965 Barbie reproduction was on sale on Amazon for $23, I snapped up another one to model one of my vintage fashions: 1963’s Dinner at 8. (I know, I know, she is missing her cork wedges. I have them but they are very fragile and one is broken, so I’ve styled her in simple white mules.) I actually have more vintage fashions than vintage dolls to model them, so I often grab inexpensive vintage repros for display. I just mix them in with my actual vintage ponytails and bubble cuts. My only problem is that I wish I had ordered two. She’s already back up to $46. Whomp! PS: I washed the gel out of my Miss Astronaut’s hair and she lost her curled-under flip. Does anyone have advice on curling it again? I spent a lot of time trying small rollers and the straw method, but the hair was too short to hold them. I’ve never used a curling iron on my dolls because I’m scared of burning their hair. Any thoughts? submitted by /u/FriendlyCommercial91 to r/Barbie [link] [comments]

Notes on the following content This will be really long. While the video itself has a lot of factual information in it, I couldn't tell if some of the information was just AI nonsense BUT HEAR ME OUT, please. So I went digging / sleuthing for any evidence I could find related to this topic and u/DogMom1970s helped (major thank you to one of my favorite lawyers in this sub) With all this said, it will be interesting to see what you all think related to this. If you have further info, please share! I'm using a different format for this post so I can also include images. My comments related to the video summary are bolded to recognize the difference between the content and some of my initial thoughts. Apologies if there are any formatting issues - Reddit wasn't really designed for blog-like content imo. I looked into the Twitter accounts, and they are either gone or the posts are gone which makes me highly suspicious. So the following video was found on a recent Twitter post. https://preview.redd.it/53eikar2o3ig1.png?width=705&format=png&auto=webp&s=6d63a97ec2693c1d69775e5bb02efafa5ff53515 Margot Robbie EXPOSES How Blake Lively Tried to ERASE Her From Hollywood? Barbie as a Cultural Power Play Barbie was far more than a successful film - it was a cultural reset, a carefully constructed feminist moment, and a billion dollar brand triumph. At the center of that success was Margot Robbie, who did not merely star in the film but produced it, shaped its creative direction, and guarded its identity from the very beginning. Additionally, the role of Barbie was never open for competition. From the earliest internal discussions, Margot Robbie was the only name attached to the project, both as lead actress and as a producer through her company LuckyChap Entertainment. Early Development and Locked Casting When Greta Gerwig was brought on to direct the live action Barbie film in early 2020, the video claims the casting decision was already finalized. Internal Warner Bros. documents reportedly described Barbie as requiring optimism, complexity, and control, qualities that aligned directly with Margot Robbie’s vision and production leadership. There were no auditions, no alternate lists, and no contingency plans. Margot Robbie was attached as both lead and producer from the outset. The video emphasizes that Blake Lively was never formally considered for the role. Instead, it alleges that her team pursued a parallel strategy by attempting to associate her publicly with the Barbie aesthetic through press narratives, styling choices, and brand alignment. https://preview.redd.it/gpboijr2o3ig1.png?width=1600&format=png&auto=webp&s=be12fa76d78304d7e31472b70dff241faf8f0f88 The Branding Campaign and Social Media Push Beginning in late 2021, Blake Lively’s public image shifted sharply toward Barbie coded visuals. She appeared repeatedly in pink fashion, leaned into pastel aesthetics, and was increasingly referenced in blogs and social media as a “modern Barbie.” According to the video, this was not accidental. Stylists and industry insiders allegedly described deliberate requests for Barbie adjacent looks and visual references tied to Greta Gerwig’s previous work. The video highlights a viral tweet from January 2022 suggesting Blake Lively as an alternative Barbie, which gained traction and engagement from accounts connected to Mattel brand deals. Shortly afterward, Margot Robbie’s team was reportedly alerted to a secondary Barbie pitch circulating internally at Mattel. The Alleged Alternative Barbie Pitch According to the video, Blake Lively’s team submitted a pitch deck proposing a Barbie multiverse concept (multiverse, really? Ryan, I see you). In this version, Blake would portray a “legacy Barbie” centered on nostalgia, motherhood, and elegance. The pitch reportedly contained no script or budget and was positioned as a safer, more family friendly alternative to Greta Gerwig’s vision. https://preview.redd.it/d9h0q6r2o3ig1.png?width=1600&format=png&auto=webp&s=086e16499f828f66571e48201b605a3f5bc79d54 This surfaced at a convenient time, right as the film was looking to secure the other Barbie types for the film. While Blake's proposal was ultimately rejected, it triggered heightened concerns behind the scenes. Production tightened security, reinforced non disclosure agreements, and became more vigilant about leaks and brand confusion. https://preview.redd.it/i56fklr2o3ig1.png?width=1600&format=png&auto=webp&s=05cf4355c22fd42a9292f5d784902c8961560618 In a now removed comment from Greta related to this topic, she said: https://preview.redd.it/tiqpmlr2o3ig1.png?width=1600&format=png&auto=webp&s=025757dea925c289329858fefec8ed6001e6e586 Visual Parallels and Leaks As filming progressed, the video claims that confidential Barbie concept art leaked online, including early sketches of the now iconic pink cowgirl outfit. These images were quickly deleted but resurfaced through fashion accounts that had previously tagged Blake Lively in Barbie related posts (coincidence? absolutely not, if true). https://preview.redd.it/ufj01lr2o3ig1.png?width=1600&format=png&auto=webp&s=2cb95914a422cc49fe9dc305a005ee4462da6324 Soon after official Barbie stills featuring Margot Robbie were released, Blake Lively posted images with strikingly similar styling and color palettes one day after the leak, though never explicitly referencing Barbie, just vibes (I have looked for this post, and cannot find it. It would have been summer 2022 if anyone has any better sleuthing skills). The video frames these moments as calculated attempts to mirror the film’s imagery and influence public perception before official marketing materials were released. Allegedly, an anonymous Mattel Executive told Deadline (isn't this source Ryan Reynolds mouthpiece?) off the record.. https://preview.redd.it/ttlbnpr2o3ig1.png?width=1600&format=png&auto=webp&s=a687b2f74c6ded96b630d3229a9b1ab7707b3a84 Corporate Response and Industry Pushback By mid 2022, Warner Bros. reportedly issued internal guidance instructing partners not to engage with unofficial Barbie themed narratives. The video interprets this as a clear attempt to shut down parallel branding efforts. https://preview.redd.it/r1seklr2o3ig1.png?width=1449&format=png&auto=webp&s=a44a7e0f5e9efbb1b6ffdf4566d06ef059579009 But Blake wasn't asking for permission and continued releasing Barbie adjacent sponsored content, including posts with captions that emphasized autonomy and imagination. https://preview.redd.it/qzzakmr2o3ig1.png?width=1067&format=png&auto=webp&s=97a16b033647ebe46ccf7db71f5ae28c715aa8fb Entertainment media began openly questioning Blake Lively’s Barbie inspired presence, while Margot Robbie responded diplomatically in interviews by emphasizing storytelling over titles or ownership. In a closed-door press junket, Margot was reportedly asked: https://preview.redd.it/c4cqvlr2o3ig1.png?width=1600&format=png&auto=webp&s=9cc880f19450cfc0759baa48b8d891e3e4b1cc18 The Premiere, Absence, and Aftermath At the global Barbie premiere in July 2023, Margot Robbie appeared in a look inspired by a vintage Barbie doll, reinforcing her role as the definitive face of the franchise. Blake Lively was notably absent and made no public statements supporting the film. According to the video, this absence marked the quiet end of the unofficial Barbie branding push. Following the film’s billion dollar success, the video claims that Blake Lively’s name remained attached to lifestyle brand proposals tied to Barbie adjacent themes, including motherhood and wellness. These proposals were allegedly frozen or voided once Warner Bros. became aware of them. https://preview.redd.it/jmod2mr2o3ig1.png?width=1600&format=png&auto=webp&s=0ffe93e9a27b1cd9b929983c7b9959c2c2f299d5 Legal Sensitivities and Brand Shutdowns By early 2024, Mattel’s legal teams reportedly began scrutinizing Barbie adjacent branding more aggressively. Planned product launches associated with Blake Lively were allegedly canceled due to concerns that they were too close to Barbie’s intellectual property and emotional identity. https://preview.redd.it/2w2remr2o3ig1.png?width=1600&format=png&auto=webp&s=ae81af738b658f19cdffe48c1f1f3cb6246746dc A leaked exchange quoted in the video summarized the issue bluntly: it was not the font or visuals that caused concern, but the feeling. According to the narrative, that feeling was already owned by the film and its creators. https://preview.redd.it/zww28nr2o3ig1.png?width=1600&format=png&auto=webp&s=08fef7242db110fb1cb9120151dbaf6a8c6ccdeb Final Narrative and Cultural Verdict The video concludes that Margot Robbie never publicly confronted Blake Lively and never acknowledged the attempted takeover. Instead, she maintained control through consistency, restraint, and creative ownership. Casting documents later leaked reportedly confirmed that Margot Robbie was the only actor ever attached to the lead Barbie role, with no alternatives listed. The final takeaway presented by the video is that Barbie was never stolen or defended through conflict. It was protected through authorship and sincerity. Blake Lively, according to this framing, attempted to access the cultural moment through proximity and branding, while Margot Robbie earned it through creation. The video ends by suggesting that silence, rather than confrontation, was the most decisive response, and that the absence of acknowledgment became the most powerful rejection of all. ---------------------------------------------- https://preview.redd.it/q6plll6do3ig1.png?width=1694&format=png&auto=webp&s=32752366820c62aa80e30910f979986a7e15ac86 Okay, I'm at max photos for this post, but without being able to confirm a lot of this information, I can't really distinguish between reality and possible fiction. I'm going to include as many sources below that I could find related to this content so you can be the judge. I would love for industry insiders to weigh in as well. Before I do that, what I will say is that this absolutely aligns with what Blake and Ryan Reynolds are focused on: Stealing moments, piggybacking off of viral or major moments in pop culture Doing whatever they want, without permission I could absolutely imagine Blake trying to hawk herself as a 'real barbie' - she is so out of touch with reality All they care about is press / money / branding - which this is all of the above HOWEVER, with the amount of damn headlines related to all of this, it would not shock me if this was all true... Sources Aligned With This Content Blake Lively’s Alleged Beef With Margot Robbie Blake Lively poses in the perfect pink 'loud luxury' look references Barbiecore Blake Lively Channels Barbie in the Ultimate Head-to-Toe Pink Outfit: 'Loud Luxury' Blake Lively channels Barbie in head-to-toe pink: She's calling it "loud luxury" Blake Lively Embraces Barbiecore While Reuniting With The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Cast - This sisterhood runs deep 💝👯‍♀️ I think i watched the wrong Barbie movie - Reddit Post from 3 years ago Another Youtube Video - Margot Robbie EXPOSES Blake Lively’s EXPLOSIVE Attempt To Take Over Barbie?! What’s Really Going On? Instagram post of Blake Lively's Barbie Premiere Look (December 2023) PageSix Blake Lively looks like a living Barbie as she reunites with America Ferrera and ‘Traveling Pants’ cast Entertainment Tonight Insta - Hi 𝓑𝓪𝓻𝓫𝓲𝓮 Blake Lively! 💖 Blake Lively Embraces ‘Barbie’ Style in Malone Soulers’ Pink Satin Heels The Barbie-Pink Lipstick Behind Blake Lively’s “Loud Luxury” Look- A bold Barbiecore moment. Blake Lively rocks Barbie-pink minidress for incredible reunion with Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants friends Blake Lively, America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel and Amber Tamblyn are the original squad! Blake Lively Found a Not-Pink Way to Do a Barbie Look While Out With Taylor Swift - Glamour Magazine Old Reddit post.. huh?? how could anyone confuse gosling for reynolds? For his role as Ken in Barbie (2023), Ryan Gosling was inspired by his experiences as Deadpool. This is a reference for me always confusing Ryan Gosling and Ryan Reynolds. Barbiecore Queen! Blake Lively Takes Center Stage in Oscar de la Renta Feather Dress at Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Event References BarbieCore 2x (before it was cool! lol) How Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are raising their 4 kids: the Hollywood couple keep their daughters (and new baby) out of the spotlight – but they still know Taylor Swift as ‘Aunt Taylor’ Okay, that's enough for today. Let me know your thoughts, and I'll post more images in the comments related to this time period (Summer 2022 - December 2023). submitted by /u/Totallytexas to r/ItEndsWithLawsuits [link] [comments]

Something about vintage Barbies heals a part of my soul. The excitement of receiving a piece of my past is comparable to time travel to me 😂such an amazing healing experience. I've strated collecting over the past 2 years and here's a peek at my out of box vintage barbie collection. My favorite dolls and the reason I started collecting are my Steffie face molds. But I really love every era before Y2K ish. Thank u for your time. 🫶🏼 submitted by /u/urexecelence to r/VintageBarbies [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/Hopeful-Draft7914 to r/Barbie [link] [comments]

Hi everyone So today I was out and I was looking in some charity shops and I found 6 vintage dolls 3 of them are Sindy and the other 3 are Barbies. I was wondering if anyone could help me ID who I got as I been struggling to ID them. I am currently still out as I am typing this and I am using some free WiFi I managed to connect to. So sorry if the pictures are not very clear. I am really happy with my finds especially the one in the greenish crystal dress (in the first picture)as I got a feeling she is a happy holidays special edition doll just going by her dress and the one in the pink dress I have a feeling she is possibly Bedtime Barbie (in the last pictur)but I am not sure though. So any help is appreciated. submitted by /u/FyraBarman to r/VintageBarbies [link] [comments]

Styled By Patti Wilson Barbie Doll - via Mattel Creations Limit 2 Per Customer SKU#: MAC-JBH80 Styled by Patti Wilson Barbie® Doll Doll Designer: Carlyle Nuera Packaging Designer: Laydiana Chiv Label: Gold Face Sculpt: Selma Body Type: Articulated Original Includes Certificate of Authenticity Renowned fashion stylist Patti Wilson has worked with the world's most influential designers, photographers, and celebrities, and has created iconic editorials for top publications. Now she brings her sartorial savvy to our latest "Styled By" doll. Embodying Wilson's boundary-pushing approach, Barbie doll is a true fashion force in her trendsetting leather-like romper, faux-fur jacket, and unique Cadillac-inspired belt with "Barbie" on the back license plate. Two style icons, one powerful look. Cr: @a_plastic_tan_2 on IG📷 submitted by /u/Dottylz to r/Barbie [link] [comments]

I see there are mixed opinions, but I absolutely adore this mix of franchises. Frankie has always gave off Barbie vibes for me too. submitted by /u/bbyxmadi to r/MonsterHigh [link] [comments]

I’ve had a lot of luck at vintage stocks (personally). I never really see anyone talking about vintage stock on here. Just about a month ago I found both versions of the BE-BRATZ dolls for around $20 each. I’ve also found a lot of Barbie, monster high, and bratz. Super happy, spent more than I’d like… but after seeing what they sell for online, I couldn’t leave them behind. I would say I scored a pretty good deal LOL 😅 submitted by /u/DIZZYBW to r/Bratz [link] [comments]

I didn't even know this existed when I was a kid. I am sooo excited to have this complete, in-box 1986 Arco playset to add to my growing collection of vintage playsets. I found it on ebay. submitted by /u/PuzzleheadedBrief311 to r/Barbie [link] [comments]

Barbie Signature Barbie Fashion Model Collection Doll # 3 $100.00 Barbie® Fashion Model Collection Petticoat Perfection™ Doll Designer: Robert Best Label: Gold Face Sculpt: Vintage Silkstone Body Type: Posable Silkstone Includes Certificate of Authenticity submitted by /u/EcstaticMolasses6647 to r/Barbie [link] [comments]

Why can I never find any of them in Black? I’m a Black collector, I want dolls that resemble my people. Like yes the dolls are cute but I don’t need that many little white women in my home. The odd time I do see Black vintage dolls on marketplace they’re exponentially more expensive than the white ones. It’s kinda driving me nuts. I also miss when Mattel would release their dolls with the same names and styles just in a different skin tone. When I was a kid I never questioned why the Barbie from The Nutcracker doll was brown on the shelf and not in the movie. I do love the diversity they have with the dolls now but I miss having the choice. submitted by /u/WholeReporter9836 to r/Barbie [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/galaxystars1 to r/Barbie [link] [comments]

Barbie is a Fashion Doll? Oh so she probably has a lot of Cool Fashion packs in different styles right? Like…. Boho Chic Street Wear Mori Kei Decora Gyaru Rockabilly Kimono Kawaii Military Lolita Steampunk Steampunk Lolita Grunge Camp Hanbok Biker Style Dark and Light Academia Cottage Core Tomboy Fashion Style E girl Goth Fashion Lagenlook Psychedelic Delicate Romatic Vintage Mattell……..What…what are those? Some Mattell Guy in the back : We have Modern Mini dresses and definitely one kimono from the 90's and like two biker dolls branded to Harley Davidson specifically....so uh if you don't like Harleys I guess your outta luck, also they are so old their fake leather falls apart at the seems if you touch them. We def have Vintage! And have you see the new tennis outfit? I'm just saying where exactly doe the fashion come in? I can't even find a good tiered skirts. everything decent I have came from Etsy or eBay and was not made by Mattell. submitted by /u/Iceempress66 to r/Barbie [link] [comments]

Elegance and sophistication are always in style, and this member-exclusive stunner is no exception. Celebrating the 65th anniversary of Barbie, our second Barbie Fashion Model Collection doll of 2024 is luminous wearing a black satin gown, ruffled with bright pink velvet. A matching pink taffeta petticoat, sheer black tights, and ankle strap stiletto heels enhance the silhouette. Glamorous accessories include dazzling gemstone jewelry and opera gloves. Barbie® Fashion Model Collection Doll #2 Designer: Robert Best Label: Gold Face Sculpt: Vintage Silkstone Body Type: Posable Silkstone Includes Certificate of Authenticity Doll cannot stand alone. Doll stand included. Colors and decorations may vary. Purchase limits subject to change at the sole discretion of Mattel. SKU#: HRM34 submitted by /u/Far_Caregiver1043 to r/Barbie [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/ArtsyNINJA9860 to r/Barbie [link] [comments]

In 1964, Barbie traded her signature poodle bangs for a sleek, more sophisticated updo: the sideswept pony also known as a "swirl." With this historic hair refresh as her namesake, Swirl Pony Barbie Doll ushered in a stylish new era for the Original Teenage Fashion Model. Our vintage reproduction of this doll wears a replica of the "Black Magic” ensemble – a little black dress with a tulle cape and satin ribbon tie. Swirl Pony Barbie® Doll Reproduction Designer: Bill Greening Label: Gold Face Sculpt: Vintage Barbie Body Type: Silkstone Includes Certificate of Authenticity From July 10 at 9:00am PT through July 11 at 8:59am PT, only Barbie Signature members can buy this Swirl Pony Barbie Doll Reproduction at MattelCreations.com, while supplies last. Doll cannot stand alone. Doll stand included. Colors and decorations may vary. Purchase limits subject to change at the sole discretion of Mattel. ©2024 Mattel SKU#: HRM88 submitted by /u/Far_Caregiver1043 to r/Barbie [link] [comments]

Or, that time Barbie's bestie got knocked up, and a bunch of people lost their shit. If you're like me, you may have only just heard of Midge. To anyone reading this in the future, as I type this, it's April 2023. Trump has just been indicted. Everything Everywhere All At Once just swept the Oscars. Joe Alwyn and Taylor Swift have just broken up. And the Barbie movie directed by Greta Gerwig is slated to come out in July. The movie's marketing team has released a slate of posters of various Barbies and Kens in the movie... and two posters for "Allan" and "Midge," to which the vast majority of people responded, "...Who?" They'll both be major players in our story today, but our heroine is Midge, portrayed by Emerald Fennell. You can view the poster here. Midge is dressed in a cute floral purple dress, has long red hair, and, oh, yeah, she's suuuuper pregnant. That last detail is why we have a story today, and as soon as I heard about the controversy Midge caused in her day, I knew I had to dig more into it. What resulted is a story I ended up having... way more personal opinions on than I ever expected to. (On that note, while I kept my personal thoughts relevant to the doll and the nature of the backlash, this being a political issue, I know it can get pretty heated pretty fast, so if a mod thinks I crossed the line into too much editorializing, please let me know and I'll take it out.) Sources are linked at the bottom, so let's get into it. (If I get any info wrong or miss any crucial details, please let me know in the comments so I can edit the post.) If you want to read my first Barbie write-up about Earring Magic Ken, click here! Who is Midge? Midge, full name Margaret Hadley, was the first "friend" introduced for Barbie, the iconic fashion doll from Mattel that has dominated American culture for six decades and counting. In 1963, Barbie had been on the market for two years, and already, she was drawing controversy. See, people thought the blonde bombshell was just too sexy, too mature for children. Her proportions were too mature and unrealistic, her face was too sultry and seductive, her clothes were too skimpy! So, to try and assuage some of these concerns, Mattel introduced Midge to be a more wholesome counterpart. Midge had the exact same body proportions as Barbie (probably so the two could share clothes), she had a different face mold that looked less "mature," she wore less makeup, and... she had bangs! Bare minimum achieved! Midge was part of the Barbie franchise as the titular character's best friend. She was never as popular, because, well, she was up against Barbie. To quote Time Magazine on the topic: In ads, Midge seems to third wheel on Barbie and Ken’s dates a lot. Again, not great to be Midge. But there are worse gigs than hanging out with the world's most accomplished supermodel. Plus, Midge soon found love! 1964 brought Allan, "Ken's buddy" and Midge's boyfriend. (Note: the spelling Allan's name was later changed to Alan, but I usually see him called "Allan" online and that's the spelling the movie is going with, so that's what I'll use, too.) The pair was often seen double dating with Barbie and Ken. If you've heard of Allan, it might be because he's a bit of a meme in the Barbie community, at least in my circles. Being branded as "Ken's buddy," dressing like that guy in every high school theater program who all the girls have crushes on and no one (including him) has realized he's gay yet, and his box specifically noting that he and Ken can share clothes... I mean, you can probably see where this was going. But, "Allan is Ken's boytoy and Barbie is the beard" jokes aside, Midge and Allan were the sweet, unblonde counterparts to Barbie's oh-so-sexy romance with Ken. Midge was retired from the line after the 1967, meaning she was initially only around for about four years. But in the 80s, she made a comeback (sans Allan this time), with a new face mold and clothes that were updated for the new decade. In 1991, Midge and Allan tied the knot. There was also a "vintage" style doll made for collectors for Midge's 35th anniversary in 1998. For a long time, Midge sailed through life without a care, without offending anybody. And then, Midge committed the cardinal sin of getting pregnant out of wedlock. Or maybe within wedlock. It's hard to tell. Midge: Mom-to-Be In 2002, Mattel released the "Happy Family" line, starring Midge. And of course, she could be treated by Dr. Barbie! In the initial release, Midge is heavily pregnant. As demonstrated here, her belly, which could be detached, contained baby Nikki, and she could be removed at will. (I can't 100% confirm this, but from what I've seen in my research and some cursory Googling, I think Midge is the first pregnant doll in the Barbie franchise; not the first one to have kids, but the first one to be pregnant. If anyone knows of one that predates her, please drop a link in the comments!) Now, the visual of lopping off a pregnant woman's belly and just, like, yanking the kid out and sticking the stomach back on, is a little weird. (On the bright side, Nikki can canonically kill Macbeth!) But Mattel saw the doll as a potential learning opportunity: An article on Mattel's Barbie.com Web site says the "Happy Family" dolls are designed to satisfy the desire for nurturing play by girls age 5 to 8, and can be "a wonderful prop for parents to use with their children to role-play family situations — especially in families anticipating the arrival of a new sibling." Some sources also note that the original doll lacked a wedding ring. Examining the photos I've found in my sources, this is true. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this will be important later. Yet again I am writing the history of a Barbie-adjacent doll whose controversy largely hinges on the presence or absence of a ring. Two nickels, etc. (Can't confirm whether she has a ring or not in the movie; one of her hands is obscured in the poster.) Think of the Children! The backlash was swift, and intense. Check out these quotes from a USA Today article on the doll. I have redacted people's last names for privacy. "It's a bad idea. It promotes teenage pregnancy. What would an 8-year-old or 12-year-old get out of that doll baby?" asked Sabrina ****, 29, of Philadelphia, waiting to buy a huge toy car because 7-year-old Khalil had made the honor roll. "There's enough teenagers getting pregnant as it is. I think they're glamorizing it, and it's horrible," said Jackie *****, 43, of Philadelphia. "I work in maternity and I see 10-, 11-, 12-year-olds coming in pregnant — and they're crying because they don't even know what's going on." "Most girls want to be like Barbie" or her friends, said Kenya *****, 29, buying a life-sized baby doll and another gift for daughters Alexis, 9, and Kiera, 7. "Maybe if they would have put them all together as a family, it might be a little different, but alone it sends out the wrong message." That last quote really jumps out at me, because, as pointed out in the 4/10/23 Hobby Scuffles thread by a couple posters, baby dolls are super common and no one makes a stink about that. Why is it okay to give little girls a fake baby to nurture and act out the very grown-up role of "mommy," but not to depict pregnancy? (On another note, on the off-chance you somehow read this and are probably feeling very weirded out by seeing your mom quoted in an article that is then being quoted in a Reddit post written by a random 20something who really likes Barbie - congrats on making the honor roll 20+ years ago, Khalil! Hope you loved the toy car. 🙂 ) I think it's also worth pointing out, as some articles covering this whole mess do, that Midge is not a teenager. For that matter, neither is Barbie - at least, the dolls aren't. I mean, unless you think Mattel is selling dolls of Barbie being a Doogie Howser-esque vet, scientist, doctor, President, and racecar driving, I think it's safe to assume our girl isn't actually a "girl," but a grown-ass woman, and presumably her friends are meant to be as well. Like, I can see where the confusion on how old Barbie is meant to be comes in - she looks impossibly youthful, and Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse had a birthday episode where it's a running gag that none of Barbie's friends are sure of her actual age. I don't expect everyone to be as invested in the Barbie Lore as I am, but the idea that Barbie and her friends are teens doesn't make sense to anyone who thinks about it for even four seconds. (To be fair, I wasn't thinking about it when I was, like, six, but I feel like "Midge can be a mommy because she's a grown-up, you're too young but maybe one day!" is an explanation most kids would get.) Then there's the people who insist it'd be fine if Midge were clearly married. I'm not particularly surprised by this reaction, but it does kind of suck. This backlash seems to ignore how many kids have divorced parents, or parents who were never married to begin with, and how plenty of those kids are perfectly well-adjusted individuals, and how many of those single parents are also completely fine and normal and good parents. The idea that it's immoral or a bad example to children to have a character who is a parent and unmarried is... absurd. I hope I don't have to say this in the year of our lord 2023, but being a single parent is not bad or immoral, and it's totally fine and even good to have positive portrayals of single parents in children's media. (Maybe they should've said Midge's husband was dead. Would people have been happier with that?) It should also be noted, not everyone hated the doll. According to one contemporary article on the subject: Manager Bill Boehmer of the KB Toys store in Northeast Philadelphia's Roosevelt Mall said the doll was selling well, and he had heard no negative responses from customers. But, clearly, the backlash was too loud to go ignored. The Aftermath Mattel took action, pulling the doll from at least Walmart shelves. Later reissues of the doll gave Midge her wedding ring back, and included a cardboard cutout of Allan. (Because, to hell with the kids who have single moms, right?) Later releases from the Happily Family line included Midge's parents, and Allan with their son Ryan. I've tried to find any official statements from Mattel on the topic, but it looks like they just quietly pulled the doll from Walmart, made a couple tweaks, and moved on. Which may have been the smartest decision for them, business-wise. The Legacy + My Thoughts Unlike Earring Magic Ken, Pregnant Midge isn't a doll I often hear talked about. I think this might because the story isn't nearly as funny - in fact, I find it more exasperating, though I hope my exasperation was at least amusing to you. I guess it's funny in an "oh my God, can you believe the things people get worked up over?" way, in the same way conservatives throwing a fit over a trans man helping Baymax find menstrual products in a Disney show, or over a cute children's book about two male penguins raising a chick together, over a is a little funny. But at the same time, that kind of backlash does reflect some really regressive beliefs held by a not-insignificant portion of the population. People got mad about a trans guy in Baymax! because they're transphobic. People got mad about gay penguins because they're homophobic. And a lot of people got mad about Midge because they have, at the very least, some outdated views on women and motherhood. I mean, I get that some people genuinely thought Midge was a teenager, but the ones who thought it would be okay if she had a husband clearly didn't think that. (At least, I hope they didn't!) From what I can tell, the reactions basically came down to, "woman pregnant with no husband bad," "this doll is definitely a teenager," and "CHILDREN CANNOT KNOW WHAT SEX IS." IDK, I'm speaking from my very specific experience growing up in my specific family with parents who were super open about this stuff and never shied away from conversations like this - I know that's not everyone's experience, and I get that this topic would be harder to broach in other households. But just because a conversation is hard doesn't mean it's not important and beneficial. While I do agree that the doll's method of "giving birth" is... weird, and not particularly helpful sex ed, I do see Mattel's point that the doll could potentially be used to start a discussion about pregnancy and families with young kids. I know there are certain schools of thought that are against that discussion happening, but there's overwhelming evidence that having age-appropriate discussions about pregnancy and, yes, sex can help prevent teen pregnancies, and also help kids come forward to talk about it when they're abused. And kids do find out where babies come from eventually. Why is something that can help jumpstart that conversation bad? (On that note, if you personally don't think the doll is appropriate for kids for reasons beyond the points I covered here, or if you think I'm misinterpreting some people's reactions, please let me know in the comments - I am genuinely curious, and admittedly, I'm not a parent, so maybe there is something I'm missing.) Anyway, you don't hear much about Midge. If you do hear about her, however, she's probably pregnant, despite Mattel's attempts to distance the character from the controversy. She is a character in the popular 2013 webseries Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse, with two new Midge dolls being released that same year. This new Midge is still Barbie's close friend, but has no kids and no husband. But with the movie looking like it'll be a very big hit (watch it bomb now that I've said that), and the "Pregnant Midge" poster garnering so much online discussion, I have a feeling that this version of Midge will be the one that sticks in the public consciousness for years to come. If there aren't any dolls inspired directly by the movie, I will eat my hat. I'm curious if Midge, pregnancy and all, will get one - though if she gives birth during the movie, I would not be surprised if they go the route of having a doll with a baby attached. But I could totally see "Pregnant Midge" being a collector's item for adults, if Mattel wanted to capitalize on the controversy without ruffling too many feathers. And who knows? Maybe one of these days, they'll find a way to have her give birth in a way that isn't something out of a body horror flick. Sources Midge Hadley: The Super Rare Pregnant Barbie Doll Barbie's Pregnant Friend Yanked Barbie 'Obsession': Collectors Reflect on Hobby as Pregnant Midge Doll Is Reported Stolen Who Are Midge and Allan in the Barbie Movie? Pregnant 'Midge' is Too Much for Some Midge (Barbie)) Inventing Barbie The Real-Life Scandal Behind Barbie's Two Strangest Characters Pregnant Doll Pulled From Wal-Mart After Customers Complain Vintage Midge Dolls Barbie Database submitted by /u/thesusiephone to r/HobbyDrama [link] [comments]