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The Barbie Chronicles
A collection of essays, and some poems, about the posable plastic icon at the 40th anniversary of her creation. Everyone has an opinion about the Barbie doll. Created in 1959 by the founders of Mattel (and named for their daughter Barbara), she was the first American-made doll to represent the world.
This is the most adorable, artfully written and gorgeously photographed Barbie book of them all! Well done Keni Valenti!
Since the 1950s, generations of girls have delighted in dressing Barbie in the fashions of the day. In this unrivaled book, today's top designers--Gucci, Prada, Alaia, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Missoni, Dior, Calvin Klein, and many more--are taking their turn, creating ensembles for Barbie that embody their signature styles. In her new incarnation as fashion icon and top model, Barbie boasts one of the most extraordinary wardrobes of all time.
Because of the high demand for all things related to Barbie dolls, most decorative arts libraries order whatever is published without being too concerned about quality. Fortunately, this is a pretty good book and would not be a superfluous purchase for most collections. Aware that most Barbie value guides show prices for dolls in mint condition, Long, a veteran collector and columnist for Toy Shop magazine, has gone a step further by including prices for the individual components of each particular boxed ensemble. There is also information on other dolls in the Mattel family (e.g., Ken, Midge, and Skipper), sidebars detailing Barbie's history (this is where you find out Barbie's last name as well as the names of her parents!), and facts about each individual model. Hundreds of color photos show the dolls as they would look if in mint condition that is, with ensembles intact (important for collectors). Although the table of contents is detailed, the book suffers from lack of an index. Nonetheless, this is a recommended and highly useful tool.
For anyone who loves Barbie and wants to know more, this illustrated biography tells the story of the doll's evolution into an icon of popular culture, beloved and avidly collected by children and adults alike. Conceived in 1959 as an "adult" doll to dress for every occasion, Barbie has since become a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. Illustrations reveal her many faces, styles, and incarnations, from the blonde, blue-eyed mainstay to the exotic dolls available around the world.