Barbie

A comprehensive and official history of Barbie, the iconic and beloved doll Barbie: A Celebration of the Icon is a picture book that tells the story of one of the most influential trendsetters in history: Barbie Millicent Roberts. At 65 years of age, the doll continues to be an inspirational muse, true to her nature as a fashion icon, but ever more inclusive and attentive to global issues, consistent with her motto, “You can be anything;” which is increasingly contemporary. In the 2023 movie Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig, she appeared for the first time in the flesh thanks to actress Margot Robbie, a true contemporary transposition of the original “Teenage Fashion Doll” presented at the New York Toy Fair on March 9, 1959: sinuous lines and a striking face commensurate with the sophisticated aesthetics of the stars of the 1950s. In this book, through five sections and an up-to-date timeline (1959–2024); Barbie helps us reinterpret the social and aesthetic trends that have exercised their influence from the 1950s to present day through history, fashion, society, art, and costume. A companion book dedicated to Ken will follow in 2025.