Barbie’s Fashion Show on New York Fashion Week 2009

The most loved doll of all time and a true fashion icon in its own doll special way, Barbie is celebrating its 50th Birthday in 2009 with her own Fashion Show. Its parent company Mattel Inc will market Barbie as a fashion brand with a runway show in February 2009 during New York Fashion Week and will feature many designer collaboration to guarantee an unforgettable birthday. Fifty designers will produce life-sized outfits inspired by the doll. Famous designer Vera Wang will create a life-size wedding gown which will include Barbie wearing its own mini version too. Other designers include Jeremy Scott and Diane Von Furstenberg who will also make real life garments that reflect Barbie’s fashion world.

But the collaborations do not stop there as a little further east in Shanghai, the first Barbie Flagship store worldwide, the House of Barbie, will open its doors in 2009. The store is a 3400-square-meter-store and will carry Barbie dolls and all Barbie related products. The new Barbie collection will go on sale there and Mattel says that House of Barbie will encourage women and girls to “nibble on truffles, smear on pink-tinted mud masks and shop for clothes for themselves and their dolls”.

Mattel will also sponsor New York’s IMG organised Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. The senior vice president at IMG Fern Mallis explains, “For many young girls, [Barbie is] their first association with fashion and dressing up and changing clothes.” And what an amazing year for Barbie and all its fans worldwide it will be!