It’s a Barbie world: Re-released ebook joins box-office blockbuster, new trend as summer time turns pink

We actually reside in a Barbie World now: plastic, unbelievable, relentlessly pink.

There’s a brand new “Barbie” film, starring Margot Robbie as the long-lasting doll.

“Barbiecore” is now its personal trend class, together with candy gingham playsuits, neon bike shorts, and many pink bathing fits.

Even the haute-couture label Valentino can’t cease churning out vibrant bubblegum-hued confections.

Amid all this hoopla, Random Home has rereleased Cindy Eagan’s “The Story of Barbie and the Girl Who Created Her,” from 2017.

This charming image ebook, with illustrations by Amy June Bates, reminds us that Barbie isn’t nearly outrageous pink outfits, cheesy Dream Homes, and Malibu seashore events. 

Barbie incorporates multitudes. Ruth Handler created Barbie in 1959 as a teen trend mannequin.

On the time, the one dolls obtainable for little women to play with had been child dolls.

However Handler — who launched Mattel together with her husband in 1949 as a doll-furniture firm — seen that her personal daughter was extra keen on paper dolls that appeared like adults. 

She thought, Why not create a extra subtle specimen with completely different garments she will be able to put on on her imaginary adventures?

Handler primarily based Barbie’s bodacious physique on a German intercourse doll named Lilli.

She appeared to Paris couture for her wardrobe: a smooth black-and-white strapless swimsuit worthy of the Riviera, and tweed fits, shapely cocktail clothes, and fur-trimmed brocade coats impressed by Dior.

The opposite Mattel execs thought Handler was loopy.

Mother and father bemoaned the doll’s va-va-voom proportions (which might have measured a fantastical 36-18-38 in actual life). However children beloved her: the corporate bought 300,000 in its first 12 months.

Barbie was a ballerina, a nurse, an “govt profession woman,” an astronaut, and even president.

Handler reluctantly gave her a boyfriend, the anodyne himbo Ken, in 1961.

However when clients begged her to make Barbie a mommy, she put her foot down.

She put out a “Barbie Babysits” set as a substitute.

Eagan’s image ebook elides Barbie’s extra controversial features — no point out of her sex-doll origins right here!

For that, adults can tune into LAist’s new podcast, “The Barbie Tapes.”

Nevertheless it’s clear that youngsters will make Barbie into whoever they need, whether or not by slicing her hair or simply utilizing their creativeness. “What is going to she be subsequent?” Eagan writes in her ebook. “That’s as much as YOU!”