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Barbie turns 50, gets Chinese gal pal
By Michelle Zhang |
September 24, 2009, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
BARBIE is getting a Chinese girlfriend, a new doll on the market, and you can vote for her bosom buddy. Michelle Zhang reports.
Barbie has a perfect figure, a dream wardrobe, a great job, a handsome boyfriend - almost everything a girl yearns for. So, if that perfect girl has a close girlfriend in China, don't you wish that could be you?
You are not alone. Many celebrities feel the same way.
When they were asked to come up with the image of Barbie's best girlfriend in China, some created dolls that look exactly like themselves.
They include A-list actress Li Bingbing, top models Chang Chunxiao and Pei Bei, renowned fashion designer Ma Yanli, as well as editors from fashion magazines such as Vogue and Cosmopolitan.
These one-of-a-kind dolls designed by celebrities will be on display next month in House of Barbie, the world's first department store dedicated to the 11.5-inch (29.2cm) doll, together with the original drafts.
Also on display will be 16 dolls designed by students from arts schools across the country. The one-month exhibition is part of the international activities to celebrate Barbie's 50th anniversary this year.
The doll designed by actress Li looks exactly like herself in miniature, with long, curly hair and big, bright eyes. She wears a slinky mermaid-style evening gown in light gold, chocolate brown and rosy pink. That's what Li wore at a film award ceremony.
Model Pei Bei's doll, however, is less feminine and far more dashing. She wears a simple white shirt, black harem pants, high boots and a big, wide red leather belt. That's one of Pei's favorite styles for daily wear.
"The sharp contrast between the doll's style and that of Barbie herself will surely get people's attention when the two walk down the street," Pei says.
Li Xiaopei, a student from China Academy of Art Shanghai Design Institute, named her doll "Lizzy" after her favorite character in the novel "Pride and Prejudice."
According to 23-year-old Li, Lizzy meets Barbie in a Shanghai wedding dress store. "That's why Lizzy wears a white wedding gown," she explains. "She also asks Barbie for suggestions on her gown because she wants to be the most beautiful bride."
It took her half a month to come up with the idea, finding the fabrics, finishing the clothes, makeup and hair for Lizzy. "Every girl loves Barbie," says the Zhejiang Province native. "I'm so excited that the doll I created might be chosen as Barbie's best girlfriend in China!"
All the visitors to the exhibition can vote for their favorite "Barbie's girlfriend in China" among the 16 dolls by students. The winner chosen in late October gets a certificate and award presented by Robert Best, principal designer of Barbie Collectibles, making his first trip to China.
"We believe in girls' dreams," says Laura Lai, general manager of Barbie Shanghai. "We'd love to help students with the dream of becoming a fashion designer fulfill their wishes a bit earlier."
Apart from Barbie's Chinese friends, the exhibition will also showcase more than 80 limited edition dolls designed by Best.
During the past 14 years at Barbie, Best has designed literally hundreds of dolls. They include the Millennium Bride Barbie Doll, Crystal Jubilee Barbie Doll, Billions of Dreams Barbie Doll, Pink Ribbon Barbie and the collectors' favorite, "Barbie Fashion Model Collection."
He has also designed celebrity series based on Audrey Hepburn, James Dean and Marilyn Monroe.
"It is very difficult for us to 'win' these dolls because similar doll exhibitions are held in many other countries at the same time to celebrate Barbie's 50th birthday," Lai points out. "Most of the dolls on display this time in Shanghai are the only one in the world and thus very valuable - like luxury jewelry."
The company paid very high insurance to fly the delicate dolls from all over the world to Shanghai.
"We hope the exhibition during the National Day holiday will attract Barbie fans to the store," she says, "and put a smile on the face of girls of all ages."
Date: October 1-31, 10am-10pm
Venue: House of Barbie, 550 Huaihai Rd M.
Tel: 400-620-8181
Barbie has a perfect figure, a dream wardrobe, a great job, a handsome boyfriend - almost everything a girl yearns for. So, if that perfect girl has a close girlfriend in China, don't you wish that could be you?
You are not alone. Many celebrities feel the same way.
When they were asked to come up with the image of Barbie's best girlfriend in China, some created dolls that look exactly like themselves.
They include A-list actress Li Bingbing, top models Chang Chunxiao and Pei Bei, renowned fashion designer Ma Yanli, as well as editors from fashion magazines such as Vogue and Cosmopolitan.
These one-of-a-kind dolls designed by celebrities will be on display next month in House of Barbie, the world's first department store dedicated to the 11.5-inch (29.2cm) doll, together with the original drafts.
Also on display will be 16 dolls designed by students from arts schools across the country. The one-month exhibition is part of the international activities to celebrate Barbie's 50th anniversary this year.
The doll designed by actress Li looks exactly like herself in miniature, with long, curly hair and big, bright eyes. She wears a slinky mermaid-style evening gown in light gold, chocolate brown and rosy pink. That's what Li wore at a film award ceremony.
Model Pei Bei's doll, however, is less feminine and far more dashing. She wears a simple white shirt, black harem pants, high boots and a big, wide red leather belt. That's one of Pei's favorite styles for daily wear.
"The sharp contrast between the doll's style and that of Barbie herself will surely get people's attention when the two walk down the street," Pei says.
Li Xiaopei, a student from China Academy of Art Shanghai Design Institute, named her doll "Lizzy" after her favorite character in the novel "Pride and Prejudice."
According to 23-year-old Li, Lizzy meets Barbie in a Shanghai wedding dress store. "That's why Lizzy wears a white wedding gown," she explains. "She also asks Barbie for suggestions on her gown because she wants to be the most beautiful bride."
It took her half a month to come up with the idea, finding the fabrics, finishing the clothes, makeup and hair for Lizzy. "Every girl loves Barbie," says the Zhejiang Province native. "I'm so excited that the doll I created might be chosen as Barbie's best girlfriend in China!"
All the visitors to the exhibition can vote for their favorite "Barbie's girlfriend in China" among the 16 dolls by students. The winner chosen in late October gets a certificate and award presented by Robert Best, principal designer of Barbie Collectibles, making his first trip to China.
"We believe in girls' dreams," says Laura Lai, general manager of Barbie Shanghai. "We'd love to help students with the dream of becoming a fashion designer fulfill their wishes a bit earlier."
Apart from Barbie's Chinese friends, the exhibition will also showcase more than 80 limited edition dolls designed by Best.
During the past 14 years at Barbie, Best has designed literally hundreds of dolls. They include the Millennium Bride Barbie Doll, Crystal Jubilee Barbie Doll, Billions of Dreams Barbie Doll, Pink Ribbon Barbie and the collectors' favorite, "Barbie Fashion Model Collection."
He has also designed celebrity series based on Audrey Hepburn, James Dean and Marilyn Monroe.
"It is very difficult for us to 'win' these dolls because similar doll exhibitions are held in many other countries at the same time to celebrate Barbie's 50th birthday," Lai points out. "Most of the dolls on display this time in Shanghai are the only one in the world and thus very valuable - like luxury jewelry."
The company paid very high insurance to fly the delicate dolls from all over the world to Shanghai.
"We hope the exhibition during the National Day holiday will attract Barbie fans to the store," she says, "and put a smile on the face of girls of all ages."
Date: October 1-31, 10am-10pm
Venue: House of Barbie, 550 Huaihai Rd M.
Tel: 400-620-8181
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