Mattel has launched a new line of African American Barbie dolls that are inspired by designer Stacy McBride-Irby. The dolls are a direct spin off of the Barbie and Grace story and are meant to give girls another set of smart, sassy and fashionable “role models”. From the Barbie Collector web site:
As told by designer Stacey McBride-Irby, the So In Style™ story revolves around Grace™, who was friends with Barbie® in Malibu before moving away to Chicago, where she met Trichelle™ and Kara™, her new BFFs. There, they began to mentor young girls in their community – Courtney®, Janessa™, and Kianna®.
“I want them to be examples to real girls,” says McBride-Irby, “but I wanted to make sure they had an aspirational theme also, that moms will hone in on.” Each pair comes with accessories that reflect their interests – math and music, drill team and science, art and journalism.
Other features of the dolls include new skin tones and AquaCurl hair which can be curled or straightened with a mist of water. The little sister dolls are a little taller than the Kelly line so they can interact better with the larger dolls.
Meet the Designer of the So In Style line – Part 1:
Meet the Designer of the So In Style line – Part 2:
The collection, which should be in stores shortly – just in time for the holiday shopping season, includes:
Barbie So In Style Grace & Courtney Dolls
Barbie So In Style Kendal & Kara Dolls
Barbie So In Style Trichelle & Janessa Dolls
Additional items from the collection can be seen and purchased directly through the BarbieCollector.com site now.
Seeing the new little dolls…. I fear for the sake of real little girls.
But I do like this message.
the dolls have a great message,but lena what do you mean?
Look how skinny they are. Same contraversy as with barbie, the new dolls are way too skinny, promoting an unatainable immage…. that whole mess.
But, as I said before, I like the message, and I like that they have other interest except fashion.
lol ya hallelujah something mattel made that’s not fashion obsessed!!!
but I agree, way too skinny. Girls are going to want to look like that… have you guys ever seen the collector dolls??? Their bodies are really sad. I mean, the have faint rib lines!!!
I was mad about their Uhura doll. Nichelle Nicholes did not look like that! Seriously, give the girl some muscle. She needs it.
I don’t know… l thought Barbies were meant to be fashion dolls. l mean, they’re given the bodies of models so why would want to pretend they’re normal people?
well,your right,the dolls are kind of thin,and even my little sister who’s only 3 years old,thinks that’s she’s ugly because of some dolls.
the dolls are really cute though.
Ava, that’s because Barbie was meant as a playdoll. She was never meant as a fashion doll, she only became that in recent years.
Barbie was originally marketed as a “teen-age fashion model” when she first came out in the fifties. She was meant to be a fashion doll, and in later years became more fun and with more playsets. She always had fashion accessories though, and she has always been supposed to represent a fashion maven basically.
I have nine dolls:nellie,marisol,elizabeth,molly,nicki,julie,mia,ruthie,chrissa.:mrgreen:
i just saw a selena gomez doll
Is she also really skinny, danielle?
ok, I just saw something really scary…
we went to the store, and while my little brother was looking at toys, I saw a FAB TATTOOS barbie. I know it’s like hearts and puppies, but still, are tattoos neccesary???
g2g babysit…
yup
Wow.