Barbie fashion show

Models dressed in (and somewhat as) Barbie fashions rocked the runway on Saturday at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion week in New York. As part of the 50th Anniversary celebration of Mattel’s iconic Doll, fifty different fashion designers created outfits for this event that reflected the past 50 years of Barbiedom. The one constant on the runway? Fab pink Christian Louboutin high heels.

The show opened with a video montage of Barbie throughout the years along with some phrases that poked a little good clean fun at Barbie (by the way, a link to the full video is at the end of this post, but be warned it’s 30 minutes long):

Songs, hairstyles and fashions were shown chronologically spanning the last 50 years. Opening with high ponytails and 50’s era songs like “My Boyfriend’s Back”, the fashions moved through the decades as did the hairstyles, make-up and songs.

For the first half of the show there were lots of early classic Barbie-like feminine details; bows, ponytails, cat-eye glasses and wide brimmed hats. As we reached the sixties, you could see the change from the Breakfast at Tiffany’s-type Audreyesque Barbie to a more mod version.

At about 13 minutes into the show, the curtain closed only to reopen in the next ‘decade’; one punctuated by Katharine Ross-in-The-Graduate-hair, pop music, hoop earrings, floppy hats and much more revealing fashions- yet still clad in the Christian Louboutins. From chokers and vests to the Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress, clearly we’d entered the 70s and 80s.

Lots of pink fabrics, teased hair, short shorts, and butt-cheek baring dresses pranced down the runway to toe tapping music from the Gos-Gos to the Madonna. There was even a patriotic nod with a flag patterned dress and declarative tee reading “Everyone Needs A Ken”.

20 minutes into the show, the curtains once again closed to reopen and introduced the 90s and beyond with techno and electronica music and futuristic fashions. This time the models sported wild eye make up, asymmetrical lines and clear plastic capes and sleeves..and yes, hot pink Christian Louboutins.

The fashion then progressed from early ‘sci-fi’ to far more outrageous ensembles as we rounded the end of the 50 years.

I know the quality of some of the pictures in this post are not so great, forgive me…a few are screen grabs from a video because none of the photos had yet been posted (at the time of this post) and I wanted you to see them as soon as possible.

Here are some various fashion details:

Then lastly came the finale as each of the models pranced down the runway clutching the hands of eager little Barbie-loving girls wearing Barbie Tees and tutus.

Special thanks to Mercedes-Benz and Getty Images for some of the above photos.

You can view the show in it’s entirety here. (get something to eat, it’s 30 minutes).

or the whole show is available to view in 3 parts on youtube thanks to Erich Ben who uploaded it in record time!

here’s part 1 to whet your appetite..

A complete list of the fifty designers is available to view here.