THE top designer of Barbie dolls has worked with the iconic girlie collectable for 15 years, collaborated with top
designers on new versions and guided Barbie this year through her 50th anniversary. He tells Michelle Zhang
about the differences between making clothes for dolls and real women.

Robert Best has designed literally hundreds of dolls in his role as principal designer at Mattel where he has worked for Barbie Collectibles for 15 years. His favorite, as he admitted during a recent visit to Shanghai, is "Maria Therese," the premier bridal doll from the "Barbie Fashion Model Collection," a limited edition collection of dolls that celebrates Barbie as the ultimate fashion model.

Dressed in a sublime satin gown covered in organza trimmed in satin, a V-shaped back with tailored bows and faux pearl buttons, the "Maria Therese" Barbie Doll is the epitome of matrimonial elegance.

"It is a doll based on my sister's wedding dress that I also designed," Best said. "It's very special when you are able to put together your career and your personal life in a way like that, and the doll will always be there to remind me of that precious moment in life."

Every Barbie owner has a story to tell about the world's most famous doll that inspires emotions which are, for the most part, positive memories. "I hope that I'm having a similar positive impact by working with Barbie," said the Los Angeles-based designer.

Maybe that's why he laughs a lot. Best talked very fondly during the interview about Shanghai, which he was experiencing for the first time, and commented on local students' works at the recent "Looking for Barbie's Chinese Girlfriend" competition held as part of international activities celebrating the doll's 50th anniversary this year.

Students from art schools across the country were asked to design a Chinese girlfriend for Barbie, and Best was invited to Shanghai for the final contest as a guest judge.

"I love to see the students' works, which are always very inspiring to me," he said. "Students don't have to think about merchandising or sales, but just let their ideas run wild while designing."

Best creates at least eight collectible dolls for Mattel every year. A huge fan of old movies, he draws inspirations from classic and foreign cinema from time to time. Meanwhile, he is also inspired by traveling experiences to different parts around the world.

"Traveling makes you think of things differently, whether it's the traditions of the culture, or even just the way people look," he said. "If it is not something you are used to, it can be a great source of inspiration."

And he loves Shanghai, which, according to him, is "huge, thriving, active, busy and bustling." It is also the world's first city to establish a Barbie house -- "Barbie Shanghai" -- a six-story department store dedicated to the 11.5-inch (29.2 centimeters) doll.

"The city has an interesting mix of the old and the new," he continued. "I think I will have to do a Barbie for Shanghai after I go back home."

Born in Florida and raised in Utah before moving to New York for fashion studies, Best now lives in Los Angeles. When it comes to his personal fashion style, he enjoys mixing the LA laid-back style with classic, tailored details.

"I wear jeans most of the time but I like to dress up sometimes as well," he explained. "I love nice shirts, beautifully tailored jackets and quality accessories such as a well-made bag. It's always about having a mixture of both -- classic luxury items and pieces that you feel comfortable with."

The designer, however, has an innovative approach to Barbie's fashion style.

"There are certain things people always associate with Barbie, like the color pink, sparkling accessories and princess costumes," he said.

"However, to me, Barbie is more like a chameleon, like Madonna in real life. She is always changing, not just according to fashion trends but also to popular movements in culture. That's why she has remained so popular and stayed around for so long."

In February, the iconic doll celebrated its 50th anniversary with a runway show featuring looks created by 50 American designers including Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Anna Sui and Diane von Furstenberg, as part of New York Fashion Week.

"It was a great collaboration between Barbie and new, emerging talents in the American fashion industry, showcasing that Barbie is relevant in today's fashion world," Best pointed out.

Prior to Mattel, the "Student Designer of the Year" at Parsons School of Design in New York had worked for fashion brands including Isaac Mizrahi, Anne Klein and Donna Karan. He described his change from a fashion designer to a toy designer as "pure luck."

"I had always worked in the fashion industry and I'd been looking to make a change," he recalled. "I thought maybe a different experience would benefit me and help me get outside my own self. It was a right time in my life. I felt I was ready for a big change like that."

So, what are the differences between making clothes for dolls and for real women?

"One of the biggest differences is that with dolls, you don't have to be as practical, or solution-minded like you do with women's clothes," he said. "With a woman, you have to think whether she's getting a cab or living in a cold climate -- the limitation comes from life and you have to be sensitive to that. Women also come in different sizes. However, with Barbie, she can be whatever you want, be that a princess or a mermaid.

"There is no limitation other than what the fabric allows her to do since fabrics can be very different on an 11.5-inch scale," he added. "Some fabrics like wool look pretty on a woman but it would be way too thick on Barbie."

Some of the Barbie dolls that Best has created include Millennium Bride Barbie Doll, Crystal Jubilee Barbie Doll, Billions of Dreams Barbie Doll, Pink Ribbon Barbie and the Faberge series. He has also designed such celebrity dolls as the Audrey Hepburn series, James Dean and Marilyn Monroe dolls.

His design theory is based in simplicity, namely good fabrics, classic lines, and feminine details with a touch of whimsy.

"I believe that the simplest things make the most impact," he said. "My ultimate goal is that whether with dolls or human, the clothes should be able to 'transform' the wearer. The clothes should make her feel beautiful, or 'elevated.' Clothes are not just for function but they bring changes to you."

Best has worked with various internationally renowned designers to create limited edition Barbie dolls. His latest project is a partnership with Christian Louboutin, the legendry French shoe maker.

There will be three limited edition Christian Louboutin Barbie dolls, each with four pairs of pint-sized, droll-worthy Louboutin shoes. These carefully made mini heels feature the brand's signature red sole and come with exquisite little shoe boxes.

The first Christian Louboutin doll was released earlier this month, quickly becoming a coveted collectible for both Barbie fans and Louboutin fans all over the world. Wearing a smoking second-skin catsuit, the mini fashionista wears a pair of strappy sandals, and also has a pair of hot pink peep-toes, a pair of leopard-print boots and a pair of sleek black ankle boots.

Meanwhile, "Barbie Shanghai" has also launched two limited edition gift sets for the upcoming Christmas based on Best's sketches of Barbie dolls. Priced at 228 yuan (US$33.30), both include a canvas tote bag, a letter set and a passport/card holder.