Barbie
There are literally hundreds if not thousands of different Barbies  in the world. Don't forget, Barbie has an impressive résumé; she's been an astronaut, a ballerina, a doctor, a flight attendant, a Disney princess, a cheerleader, an Olympic gymnast, a bride, a Versace model, a mermaid. ... the list goes on.
What is truly amazing about Barbie, besides her impressive résumé, is her ability to take on any form in the imaginative eyes of a child. However, while there are millions who adore her multi-tasking capabilities, there are those who dislike the image that she portrays to a young child. Always be certain to check with the parents when buying for another person's child to make sure that they allow it.
Barbie's Many Faces
As mentioned above, Barbie has gone through quite a few makeovers through the years. Here are some of her most memorable moments. Regardless of the persona she takes on, she is typically 11 1/2 inches tall and made of a hard plastic body and soft plastic face. Often, the specialty dolls, including holiday and limited editions, have rooted eyelashes.
| Vintage Dolls |
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Original Barbie #1 1959 The original Barbie, clad in her black and white bathing suit once sold for only $3. Now you can expect to see these collector's dolls sold for anywhere up to $500. |
Barbie Bubble Cut Known for the notorious "bubble" hair cut, this Barbie debuted in 1961 in her striped swimsuit. In the years to come she wore a red swimsuit instead. |
American Girl Barbie She's none other than the classic American girl at the time -- the hair did it. She was also the second of all Barbies to have bendable legs. |
Twist and Turn Barbie In celebration of the mod era, this new Barbies, released in 1967, was able to literally twist and turn its body a -- another first for Barbie. |
1970 Malibu Barbie Lounging was her style in her blue tricot bathing suit. She also has pink shades and a yellow beach towel to lay on. Trés chic! |
Dolls to Buy Now for Children
Dolls to Buy Now for Collectors
Recommendations for Young Girls
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For the youngest of the bunch, Happy Birthday Barbie is a great choice for the first Barbie in a girl's collection. She costs around $20, has a beautiful pink dress that is easy to put on and take off, the trademark brush, and even a life size tiara. Other fun options are:
Always make sure that you take the child's ability and development into account before buying any toy with potentially hazardous accessories, hard to use clothes, or overly large items. |
Recommendations for Grade Schoolers & Preteen Girls
Recommendations for Collectors
The upcoming holiday season is one to be excited for if only in anticipation of the new line of Barbies that Mattel has lined up. Dolls to look forward to include: - Barbie Fan Club Exclusive
- Designer
- Fashion
- Ken and Friends
- Vintage Reproductions
- Wizard of Oz Series: Feb. 2007
- World and Other
Barbie Accessories
Remember that Barbie needs other things to function properly, including a house, a car, friends, family, and maybe a boyfriend.
External Links
About.com has a great selection of articles about collecting dolls, Barbies, and lots of great advice for collectors. It's a must see. Here are some selected articles that might be of use (or just plain fun).
There are many other sites dedicated to Barbie that you might want to check out as well.
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