By Allen Voivod
Since its debut in 2014, the @BarbieStyle Instagram account has gathered more than 2.2 million followers, giving fans a glimpse into the daily life of their favorite fashion icon. Her social media adventures also inspired a unique crowd-voted campaign, to bring some of her most notable looks home to doll collections through the @BarbieStyle Fashion Doll Series.
With those dolls, you could style your very own photo-worthy moments. But that was just the beginning of this sensationally chic series. In our latest installment, we’re taking you “behind the scenes” to prep Barbie for an all-new editorial shoot. The @BarbieStyle Fashion Studio & Doll Set includes our fifth doll in the series, using the Made to Move posable doll body, and arriving with two complete outfits and lots of accessory pieces. Even more remarkably, the set comes with a chair and vanity with a light-up mirror*, plus drawers and shelving to display all those premium, on-trend accessories. It’s a Barbie Signature member exclusive, available now at Mattel Creations.
We talked with Product Design Manager Linda Kyaw-Merschon about her inspirations for Barbie doll’s outfits and now we can share all the specifics. Dress Barbie doll for any occasion with a fitted white top, cropped jacket, and a pair of jeans. Then take her from day to night with a strapless gown featuring a gorgeous floral print and mermaid silhouette. Finish any look with included jewelry, and choose from three pairs of shoes, a clutch, four handbags, and two pairs of sunglasses.
In addition to the doll, fashions, and accessories, Linda also got to choose and design the furniture that comes in the set. “Yes! It’s part of the joy of being a designer,” she says. But it was about more than just picking pieces for the set – it was about creating a whole behind-the-scenes vibe. “I start with a vision, or a mood, or even a fantasy of what this space could look like,” she explains. “In this particular vision, Barbie is backstage on a fashion shoot, getting ready. I see lights flashing, a misty room filled with excitement. I hear racks and racks of clothes being escorted to her, and she passes her hands gently through the fabrics. I wanted to be sure each moment of that is captured in the set with the vanity with real working lights, the clothes that take you from day to night, the accessories, the multiple pairs of shoes, and so on.”
Now, you get to relive that vision, taking Barbie doll from that backstage scene and putting her in front of your camera. To make it as much like an actual @BarbieStyle photoshoot, the set also includes four “pull cards” – aka, photo backdrops. “We wanted these backgrounds to feel very true to the @BarbieStyle world,” Linda says. “The atmosphere and mood had to be just right and be authentic to the channel. We wanted fans to feel like they’re part of this world, that they can open this lovely package and dress, style, and pose their doll with the perfect backdrop. Essentially, we wanted to bring fans and collectors along this very special journey with us.”
Key Lead Packaging Designer Vicky Gevorkyan shared even more about those backdrops and how they were chosen. “The pull cards slide into the package’s clear compartment for safe keeping,” she says. “Some of [the backdrop scenes] were available to use and directly built from our photo studio from the @BarbieStyle page backdrops, and others were purchased to use for this set. But they’re all very street-style moments to complement the doll and her fashions.”
In all, the set includes two complete looks, with three pairs of shoes and 15 fashion pieces; premium accessories like makeup, perfume bottles, jewelry stand, and necklace display; and furniture including a vanity set with a chair and working light-up mirror, shelving, and space to display those accessories. It’s an absolute must-have for any Barbie fan, and it’s available now at Mattel Creations. Get the @BarbieStyle Fashion Studio & Doll Set now, and start planning out the next stunning social media moments with your favorite globe-trotting trendsetter.
*Light-up mirror requires 3 AAA batteries, which are included.
-
4
Recommended Comments
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.