Happy 50th Barbie!

I love Barbie. I think it's incredible she's still an icon at 50. Barbie is going strong. I still have my dolls: Barbie, Ken & Ginger, a later incarnation of Barbie with a platinum bubble hair style. Remember those? My Barbie is original and so is my Ken doll. I did, however make up her face and take down her hair to twist into a chic chignon so she's not collectible.

My dolls were played with. They were loved. They dated. They lived together in my Barbie house...Barbie & Ginger not Barbie and Ken. I have all my original Barbie clothes in a Barbie wardrobe and they are in pretty darn good shape. I have the accessories too. Barbie the artist with the portfolio, Barbie the secretary, Barbie the business woman. Ken the tennis hottie, Ken the golfer, Ken the...I don't know. He never seemed like he was enough for her even to my 10 year old eyes. He was always just Ken. Kind of dull of but handy.

Barbie and Ken played tennis, went out in their evening clothes, had sex although Ken has no equipment. They eventually married. I have the tux and bridal gown, bouquet, veil, cummerbund. They dominated my 8-13 year old life. I don't think I stopped playing with them til I hit 9th grade, grew out my bangs, wore a smidgen of eyeliner and a ghostly pearlescent lipstick and became too cool for dolls.

Fashion Plate by Cole Scott Images

Girls Kick Ass by Cole Scott Images

Untitled by Cole Scott Images

My parents moved out of the house I grew up in when I was 22. I had lovingly put away all my dolls at fourteen. My parents were kind enough to keep them for me all those years, up in the attic of their retirement home. Once in a while, when I'd visit, I'd take down a box and look through it. I still have my beautiful Madame Alexanders and their wardrobes too.

My husband became fascinated with my Barbies earlier this year. He could not believe all the clothes and accessories and the way I'd kept them. He arranged a few scenes for a photo session. I like the first two. The last one bothers me. I look at it as Barbie erotica. He says it depicts closeness and sweetness.

She's kept her figure and her looks. That's a hell of a thing for a gal at fifty!

For more fun facts and stories on Barbie at fifty go to this page.