Year Of The Barbie - it's Barbie's 50th Birthday in 2009

Barbie celebrates 50 fabulous years of unapologetic glam in 2009. Barbie was created on March 9th 1959 by Ruth Handler, who named her after her daughter Barbara.

There are many things that influenced my becoming a fashion stylist and I'm sure my love of dolls was one of them. I really loved dolls, and I had quite a few Barbie dolls when I was little and I don't think they harmed my self-esteem. If anything I felt less alone because the dolls were fun and they were my friends. I think I had about 6 Barbie dolls.

For the past 50 years Barbie has worked with more than 70 of the biggest names in fashion. So it's no surprise that Mattel has embarked on a three-year deal with the Council of Fashion Designers of America and Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York. Fifty designers will be producing Barbie-inspired life-size garments. Vera Wang will design a Barbie-size and life-size wedding gown. Jeremy Scott will create a capsule collection inspired by Barbie that will debut at Colette on March 12th during Paris Fashion Week. During New York Fashion Week there be a special fashion show in honour of Barbie and Christian Louboutin is planning to design shoes in Pantone 219 - Barbie pink for the show. This January the House of Barbie opens in Shanghai, spanning 35,000 sq ft with 8 floors, including a spa, runway and restaurants.

Mattel Canada has partnered with Canadian designer brands including fashion designer David Dixon, bath and body line Cake Beauty, jewellery house Foxy Originals, home and décor expert Glenn Dixon and retailer Town Shoes to create product lines inspired by Barbie.

On her birthday, Mattel will launch a souvenir doll honouring the original Barbie in her black-and-white striped swimsuit. It will be available for purchase only on her birthday!

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