Barbie: I Dream of Jeannie

Hey, guys!  Are you familiar with the TV show I Dream of Jeannie?  Well, if you are and recall it with a certain fondness, have I got a treat for you.  The popular series from the '60s centered around an astronaut who finds a female genie in a bottle while stranded on an island - a beautiful wish maker who happily grants him his every whim (sometimes to his dismay) by crossing her arms and blinking them into fruition.  His wish is her command as she instantly falls in love with the handsome bachelor upon first sight and, after "following" him back to his home, hijinks ensue.  So, in the spirit of having a little tongue-in-cheek fun, I bring to you a doll loaded with nostalgia.  It's the I Dream of Jeannie Barbie from Mattel.

Faithfully fashioned after the iconic television character, this Barbie is a virtual mini Jeannie from the top of her braided ponytail to the soles of her golden slippers.  Every attention to detail has been meticulously paid as even the doll itself bears a striking resemblance (purposely so) to the actress who played her, Barbara Eden.

Dressed in an ensemble that includes a tasseled middriff accompanied by a white trimmed bolero, "Jeannie" is a dream in all pink - a color that Barbie is more than happy to don since this, too, is her well-known signature shade.

A gauzy pair of harem pants with detailing along the waist drape her long legs while a pendant necklace and mirrored gold slippers act as the only other noticeable embellishments being adorned.   

Oh, and we can't forget the vessel she was trapped inside of for many, many years before being found and subsequently released by her "master" Tony.  She started from the bottle, now she's here... living, loving and devoting her affections to the man who freed her from the tiny living quarters she once called "home".

Nestled amidst her braid and high ponytail of long, blonde hair is a pink headpiece that comes complete with a sheer, tethered veil that wraps softly around her face.

And as far as her makeup goes, subtlety is the key.  While her green eyes are allowed some Arabian flair with stark, angled black liner surrounded by a muted brown, her lips blush a docile hue of rose.  The hint of allure is evident, although quietly subdued.   

So there you have it!  Long before the advent of satellite/cable and the raunch of reality TV were shows that teased and titillated without going too far over the top.  You were always in on the ongoing joke(s) and even when the storyline comprised the same comedic formula (boy + girl + wacky friend/neighbor/mother-in-law), it still had your buy-in.  Well, I Dream of Jeannie was one of those shows that you were more than happy to buy into.  And when I saw this Barbie and how it genuinely looked like the iconic character from the iconic show, I knew I had to get her.   She's a visual, tangible reminder of a more innocent time of boob tube watching... and I'm so glad to have her in my collection!