...and she took a sip of lemonade from her Barbie teacup.
May 2, 2019 12:15 PM Subscribe
“I had a 16-inch waist and something on top, too, I sure did, but Barbie’s legs were better than mine.” An interview with Carol Spencer, The Chic Octogenarian Behind Barbie's Best Looks [NYT]
I really appreciate this mid-century "screw this!" moment:
"She was engaged to a medical student but when she realized she was expected to work to help pay for education before quitting to be a “doctor’s wife,” she broke the engagement. Then she enrolled at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, where she got a bachelor of fine arts with a focus on fashion design."
posted by tavella at 12:26 PM on May 2, 2019 [22 favorites]
"She was engaged to a medical student but when she realized she was expected to work to help pay for education before quitting to be a “doctor’s wife,” she broke the engagement. Then she enrolled at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, where she got a bachelor of fine arts with a focus on fashion design."
posted by tavella at 12:26 PM on May 2, 2019 [22 favorites]
Ah yes, Barbie. For the last 60 years, myself, my daughters, and granddaughters usually abused them. They could be found naked under the bed in the dust bunnies, with the head removed, and what hair wasn't shorn was ratted and gummed up. There was usually black permanent marker scribbled on their faces.
Three generations of model horses had smooth manes and tails meticulously braided, wore colorful homemade blankets and show halters or bridles carefully tied, and were luxuriously stabled at night.
posted by BlueHorse at 3:14 PM on May 2, 2019 [8 favorites]
Three generations of model horses had smooth manes and tails meticulously braided, wore colorful homemade blankets and show halters or bridles carefully tied, and were luxuriously stabled at night.
posted by BlueHorse at 3:14 PM on May 2, 2019 [8 favorites]
I loved this interview and am very glad it wasn't an obit! I definitely had the ski party sweater, and that 80s-looking white lace leggings outfit on the same shelf as ski party.
Many of my Barbie's clothes came from my mother's Barbie collection, so I had a nice mix of swanky 50s wear, 70s hippie clothes and screwball 80s gear. My mother's Barbie was one of those femme fatale late-50s models, and I considered her my Barbie's older sister.
posted by kimberussell at 5:11 PM on May 2, 2019 [4 favorites]
Many of my Barbie's clothes came from my mother's Barbie collection, so I had a nice mix of swanky 50s wear, 70s hippie clothes and screwball 80s gear. My mother's Barbie was one of those femme fatale late-50s models, and I considered her my Barbie's older sister.
posted by kimberussell at 5:11 PM on May 2, 2019 [4 favorites]
Very cool. I had one real Barbie as a child -- Peaches and Cream Barbie -- and all the rest were knock-offs, because my mother didn't think it was worth spending that kind of money on dress-up dolls. I made lots of clothes for them, and like a whole lot of women (and some men), that's how I first developed my sewing skills and interest in fashion.
posted by jacquilynne at 7:02 PM on May 2, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by jacquilynne at 7:02 PM on May 2, 2019 [3 favorites]
Sounds like we had similar childhoods, jacquilynne! My "good" doll was Sun Lovin' Malibu Barbie, with the painted-on tan lines. The hollow plastic knock-off dolls were great because their arms and legs and heads were easily removed and replaced, so you could salvage bits from any ruined doll and put them together into a Frankendolly.
My dolls' clothes were almost all homemade, but I've certainly coveted many of Ms. Spencer's creations over the years, and it's great to learn about the woman behind them! That's a career I would have loved to have had. I still do some sewing for fashion dolls, even though the little girls in my family are starting to get a bit too old for them.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:45 PM on May 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
My dolls' clothes were almost all homemade, but I've certainly coveted many of Ms. Spencer's creations over the years, and it's great to learn about the woman behind them! That's a career I would have loved to have had. I still do some sewing for fashion dolls, even though the little girls in my family are starting to get a bit too old for them.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:45 PM on May 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
I have now woken up twice in the night both times with my brain insisting that I also had a Pink and Pretty Barbie when I was a child. Since my brain seems desperate for me to correct the official Metafilter record, I am posting this at 440 in the morning. I apologize for my previous error and I would really like to be able to go back to sleep now.
posted by jacquilynne at 1:43 AM on May 3, 2019 [9 favorites]
posted by jacquilynne at 1:43 AM on May 3, 2019 [9 favorites]
I had Malibu Barbie and Ken, and Western Star Barbie and her horse, Dallas. And Mom's Barbie, of course. The Barbie Clan hung out with my Donny and Marie dolls AND my Cher doll with the hair that "grew."
Our sewing attempts for the dolls always fell short in a way, but I think Mom crocheted a sweater for Barbie that all the dolls squabbled over.
posted by kimberussell at 4:17 AM on May 3, 2019
Our sewing attempts for the dolls always fell short in a way, but I think Mom crocheted a sweater for Barbie that all the dolls squabbled over.
posted by kimberussell at 4:17 AM on May 3, 2019
I did chuckle at her description of playing with Barbies as "wholesome." MY Barbies lived in a world of debauchery and drama that would make any soap opera seem tame by comparison.
posted by sarcasticah at 11:57 AM on May 3, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by sarcasticah at 11:57 AM on May 3, 2019 [3 favorites]
Yeah, I forgot that my other "good" doll was the Marie doll. I think her little ice skating costume was sold separately, but I got it in the same Christmas stocking as the doll. As for animal companions, they had THUNDERBOLT, Johnny West's gorgeous Palomino, acquired in mint condition from a church rummage sale.
Actual doll play tended to be either high adventure, sprawling family dynasties, or elaborate, costumed stage shows.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 12:48 PM on May 3, 2019
Actual doll play tended to be either high adventure, sprawling family dynasties, or elaborate, costumed stage shows.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 12:48 PM on May 3, 2019
I had a Sindy instead of a Barbie, but the clothes were awesome because my mother's friend used to sew her own clothes and every time she made something new she'd use the scraps to make me an identical outfit for Sindy. It was amazing. I wish I still had them.
posted by lollusc at 8:49 AM on May 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by lollusc at 8:49 AM on May 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
...my mother's friend used to sew her own clothes and every time she made something new she'd use the scraps to make me an identical outfit for Sindy
My mother did that sometimes!
And when one of my cheap fashion dolls lost the Iast of its hair, she used a lock of her own to make a little pixie-cut wig for it.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 11:39 PM on May 4, 2019 [2 favorites]
My mother did that sometimes!
And when one of my cheap fashion dolls lost the Iast of its hair, she used a lock of her own to make a little pixie-cut wig for it.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 11:39 PM on May 4, 2019 [2 favorites]
« Older We planted the pollen problem | *slaps wooden horse* this baby can fit so many ...... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Hermione Granger at 12:18 PM on May 2, 2019 [2 favorites]