After reading The Projectivist's lovely post about Barbie turning fifty, I felt the urge to tell my experiences with Barbie.My mother would not let me have a Barbie. And that was because of Ms Barbie's big boobies. Yes, my mother thought that the dolly looked like a tart with those breasts. Personally, I think my mum was a wee bit jealous because she was born with no more than a handful, if you know what I mean.
Instead, I got Sindy. Now don't get me wrong. Sindy is cute but she sure has a long way to go to look like Barbie.
Then my mum bought me Skipper who was Barbie's little sister.
Eventually I bought myself a second hand Barbie at a church fete. She was a little used, but I was just happy to have her. Then my mother gave up and bought more second hand ones for me, each one had their own style.
One Christmas my mother made loads of clothes for my Barbie and Sindy dolls for Christmas. Some of the fabric she used was cut up from her emerald green wedding dress. I recall the excitement of getting those clothes as though it were yesterday. In fact, I still have the original patterns my mother used from a Danish women's magazine.
When I was about ten, my mother gave me a second hand GI Joe figurine. No Ken for my Barbie. Only a real commando dude for my girl. They set up house in a tree. I used an icecream container for their pool.
Just as well I had a son otherwise my house would be full of Barbie dolls.
My husband is very surprised I loved Barbie so much. I have always been a bit secretive about how much I adore her outfits and other paraphernalia.
She was the ultimate blonde bombshell, albeit of the plastic extrusion kind.
Happy Birthday Barbie.
Ciao
LC
i had a thing for ripping their heads off when i was a toddler, that's what my elder sister says. mainly because those were her dolls that i'd behead.
ReplyDeletelater, i'd only keep one doll i'd like - but strip all the old ones so i can take their clothes.
that would sound very worrying if i were a dude - naked, beheaded barbies. hehe.
Mars: I recall cutting my Barbie's hair and it looked very, very bad. Never grew back either. I used to swap their heads over as well. Not that it made a difference, they all had the same body.
ReplyDeleteOnly your sister's Barbie's got the chop? I wonder why that would be?
i was very careful with my dolls and like you, Linda - i started out with Sindy doll.
ReplyDeletei loved that doll. i remember my excitement when i got the bubble bath setting. a little bath with a hand-pump that was meant to replicate a spa bath with bubbles!
ahhhhhhh those were the days!
I can't say I did the Barbie thing, but my sisters did and I can understand the appeal. I alays lusted new boxes of crayons.
ReplyDeleteI loved my Barbie , still do =)
ReplyDeleteSee my post for pics to part of my collection.
Lot's of moms back then and even more today didn't let their girls play with her so don't feel bad.
I remember thinking when I was all of 7 or 8 that I would totally date Barbie if I were G. I. Joe.
ReplyDeleteAwwww. Cow having a soft spot for Barbie too.
ReplyDeleteAdmits that this concept of having lots 'o Barbies is foreign to her upbringing, where childhood was accorded One Barbie, One Ken, and you'd better not break them because you only got one!
They are awfully cute though!
Moo!
She is a hottie for sure.
ReplyDeleteI was G.I. Joe'r for sure tho.
Projectivist: Oh, a blonde Sindy. I had brunette. I would have been very envious of your bath set. I ALWAYS wished for a Barbie campervan. Other friends had it.
ReplyDeleteI never, ever had a new Barbie. All of mine were second hand.
Hope: My love was Derwent pencils. I only got some when I was 18 from an old boyfriend. My pet cockatoo split all 72 of them one night when I was asleep.
I now have a box on 72 and no one is allowed to touch them - not even me. I just lift the lid and sigh.
Nancy: Oh,you have a lovely collection. How nice it must be to walk in that room of yours and just bond with them all.
Chris: Well, there is always Pamela Anderson if you want the real live version!
Topiary Cow: I did have a fair few in the end, but all were second hand. Truly, I have NEVER had a new one. I loved all of them - even if they were used.
My mother believed in the "one man's trash is another man's treasure". And she was right.
Southern Sage: She is still better than a Bratz dolly.
Ken was a bit unmanly, poor thing.
Another comment left, but never posted. I can't check to see if it posted, so it's hit or miss.
ReplyDeleteSorry about that.
Anyway, I forgot what I said, something about not having had a Barbie, but a Francine doll, Barbie's cousin or niece or relative, etc.
My brother got silly putty in her hair and after I washed it unsuccessfully, I dried it and it all crinkled up into a nasty looking melted hair afro.
I was crushed.
Kareb: Silly Putty. I got that stuff in MY hair and mum had to cut it out.
ReplyDeleteIs that what inspired you to become a hairdresser? Help people with silly putty hair disasters?
Remember that doll who had hair you could pull out from the top of her head? Chrissy or something.
Your last post never appeared. I have that happen sometimes - then cannot recall what I said.
I have my Barbies, my daughter Barbies and a ton on clothes. They're all put away for safekeeping.
ReplyDeleteI'm still waiting on Menopausal Barbie...
Silly putty. Truly, the food of the gods. The grossest, stickiest, problem-causingist toy ever invented.
ReplyDeleteCow luuuuuuved it.
Best Barbie accessory: a cute little plaid ice chest thing for their picnics.
Cow is sure Linda's Barbies were just as nice used...as new.
Moo!
A second-hand Barbie and a second-hand GI Joe? You poor thing!
ReplyDeleteHave you seen the 50-year-old Cougar Barbie video going around the Internet? Pretty funny!
Mizmell: Oh, Barbie would be straight onto hormone patches. No hot flushes for her.
ReplyDeleteThat will be an exciting day when those Barb's in storage get taken out for a play again.
Topiary Cow: I did have a cardboard box I modified to make into a caravan in the end. All painted up and even windows. I was very creative. Barbie and GI Joe lurved it.
Linda Lou: I have seen plenty of Cougar's that look like a sun dried Barbie, inflated bosoms and all.
Second Hand dolls. I know, I know. EVERYTHING I got was second hand. Too many kids in the house.
Yes! Baby Chrissy! I had one, and I cut all her hair off, and then she had NONE. Oh, well. A part of me thought that the hair would keep growing, LOL. I've wanted to be a hairdresser my entire life.
ReplyDeleteKaren: I also cut my Chrissy's hair off and truly thought it would grow back.
ReplyDeleteJust as well I did not become a hairdresser! Poor Chrissy.