Barbie: Rosie O'Donnell

Last week, Barbie announced some significant changes regarding its fashion doll line.  Already the hardest working doll in the toy business with a wealth of cultures and nationalities deeply embedded in the collection, they are further diversifying the brand by including a new line of dolls with an expanded range of eye colors, skin tones and even body types - the latter garnering the most attention.  In addition to Barbie's traditionally lithe, model-esque body shape, the Fashionistas Line will also offer a tall, petite and curvy version of the beauty.  It's a move that left many shocked and surprised (pleasantly), but I wasn't.  I knew that these were waters that had been previously chartered.  Long before "curvy" Barbie, there was Rosie - a Barbie made in the likeness of well-known "funny girl" Rosie O'Donnell.  Full-figured with her signature smile to match, she was a perfect replica of the star... and a welcomed visual departure from its usual celebrity iterations.        

Best known as the brash "wise-cracker" Doris in A League of Her Own, Roseann "Rosie" O'Donnell has quite the entertainment resume.  With prominent roles on both the big and small screen, the Long Island-born comedienne even helmed her own talk show - a snapshot in time that has been dutifully captured with this doll.  From her signature pantsuit and sneakers to her microphone and additional accoutrements, every detail has been provided and accounted for.

Even the back of the box has been recruited for the sake of authenticity, displaying a full mockup of the set of her talk show to serve as a backdrop during playtime.

Keeping in line with the raven-haired entertainer's simple approach to aesthetics, Rosie's makeup is kept to a minimum; her brown eyes are lightly lined in a burnt sienna, allowing her lips to take center stage in a bright cherry-red.

So there you have it!  When they made the Rosie O'Donnell Barbie, they broke the mold... and defied convention.  Long before all the hubbub over "Curvy", there was Rosie - a doll that lauded the comic's achievements as well as her physical attributes.  It's a doll that acknowledges and celebrates the fact that women come in all sizes.  It's a doll that served as the precursor of what was to come...  And I'm so glad to have her in my collection! 

Barbie: My Scene

You know, there's nothing wrong with changing things up once in a while.  Exaggerated eyes with a profusely plumped up pout, she's an obvious break from the traditional Barbie aesthetic.  Upon their novel debut some years ago, Bratz dolls - with their overplayed facial features and funked out fashions - rode an overwhelming wave of popularity as the new "IT" girls.  Armed with youthful bravado and sass, they let their presence be known with a rebel yell.  As a response, the line of My Scene dolls was born, giving direct notice that Barbie (and friends) could be just as hip as the "new girls" on the "doll block".  Out of the many iterations that came from the line, I did grab a few.  But right now, if you're at all interested, I'd like to tell you a little bit about one of the originals.

No stranger to the elements of funk, Barbie decided to take it "old school", getting totally "funkdafied" in a burgundy leather jacket with a faux fur core and split flared sleeves.  Underneath it all is a gauzy, printed tee.

She decided to match the "up top" funk with something just as groovy "down below":  cream leather bell-bottoms with a serious set of split flares as well.  Burgundy wine seams with thick trimming at the waist earns her a few extra notches on the groove-o-meter.

On her feet are a pair of chunky heeled, over-the-ankle platform boots.

And hanging from her shoulder to help keep her unmentionables from being mentioned is a brown leather satchel.  A mean throwback to the 60s, it has a snap closure with whipstitching along the edge of its flap.

Her remaining accessories (in addition to the scarlet red shades perched atop her head) are a pair of silver hoops...

... and a silver belly chain.

Not only does she come sporting a groove-tastic outfit, but she comes with one to spare!  Perfect for a quick change without the fuss, she has a printed bandeau, "barely there" leather mini and flower-printed go-go boots to round out the surplus ensemble.

With her water-blue eyes and cushioned lips already on the bold and overly expressive side, Barbie decided to keep the makeup slightly more subtle.  However, that doesn't totally rule out the use of frost in her mind as she adds a little pink pizazz to both to help up the ante without going too overboard. 

So there you have it!  The My Scene dolls were a whole new visual take on Barbie (spurred on by a dose of healthy competition) and, for me at least, I think it worked.  I don't think they still make the line here in the states, but may have some editions available overseas.  Whatever the case, I'm just glad I was able to get my hands on the ones that I do have and am overjoyed to have them, including this saucer-eyed beauty, as part of my collection!

Barbie: Basics No. 9

And so, without much thought or deliberation, I plucked yet another stylish diva from the flock of like-minded fashionistas I like to call the "BBC" or "Barbie Basics Crew".  Oh, you may have seen them around.  They're the über sophisticates whose style boasts a simple philosophy: black frocks rock!  Their style is unmistakable, each flaunting a uniquely tailored interpretation of "minimalistic chic" via surprisingly simple LBDs that are, no less, worthy of a double take.  So let's jump right to it, shall we?  I'd love to introduce you to Number 9 from the BBC and do a little show 'n' tell on what she's working with.

While her voguish cohort Number 1 opted for a cowl-neck version, this beauty decided on a slouch turtleneck ribbed-knit with an empire waist.  Sleek with a gentle hug on all the right places, this sleeveless LBD's cocktail length affords her the best of both worlds as she can comfortably go from daytime's uptown to nighttime's downtown all without having to make a pit stop in between to change.

Working as the perfect complement to her dress in both comfort and versatility are a smart pair of black slingbacks.  Pointed in the toe and high-heeled, they provide the extra BAM! needed for her already shapely gams to achieve pin-up worthy status.

From the top of her arms right down to her naked wrists, there are no excessive adornments in sight... except for the flash of color beaming from her freshly manicured hands.

Short hair, don't care!  Every flaxen lock is in its assigned place as she fearlessly sports a sculpted, chin-length bob, courtesy of the expert shears at Vidal Sassoon.

And while at the salon, Barbie decided to have the full-on works and get her face "beat" by one of the resident makeup artists, giving the MUA carte blanche in the process.  Sparkling gold with a brown cut crease and purple highlights was what the artist composed for her lids while large, butterfly-like lashes were used to accent her almond-shaped eyes and make them appear more open.  On her lips, a glossy rose-pink helps to balance out all the drama and add the final touch.

So there you have it!  Another member of the BBC expertly rockin' a version of the "little black dress" and doing it with finesse and much flair... but without the raucous and visual clamor of bangles and such.  Again, simplicity is the main element to their philosophy.  Hair and makeup bring a bit of interest to the conversation, but clearly the floor belongs to the LBD, leaving the timeless classic to do most of the talking and speak for itself.  As Barbie has proven time and time again, less is more when you stick to the basics.  It's the perfect equation for fashion success!

Barbie: Harley Davidson

Hot.  Biker.  Mama.  Those are the three words I would freely use to describe this free-spirited beauty.  Clad in black leather from top to toe, she's all dressed up with nowhere in particular to go... but every intention on getting there.  She's up for some adventure.  And why not?  The weather has finally broken and she's got some time off from her busy schedule, so a well-deserved road trip seems in order.  And Barbie knows just the road hog to recruit for her impromptu sojourn - her fired up, chromed out Harley Davidson!  It's a super mean machine; the perfect two-wheeled specimen to take tooling around back roads and beyond...  She's ready to discover the "undiscovered" and is equipped with all the right accoutrements to do it with style.

 

Layered in the finest of biker babe essentials, Barbie sports a black crew-neck top underneath her thick cut, black leather jacket.  Both jacket and top are emblazoned with the Harley Davidson name/logo as well as orange-yellow flames, with the zip-up jacket bearing its flames down the length of the sleeves.

 

Working aesthetically in cahoots with her jacket is a boss pair of matching leather pants with a set of orange-yellow flames running up the outer seams.  Vivid in color and design, they will definitely be an eye-catcher as Barbie flexes her riding muscles and burns up and down the highway. 

And just in case you still weren't sure where her loyalties lie when it comes to motorcycles, she added on a few more Harley Davidson accessories, like the thick, chain-linked belt wrapped around her svelte waist...

... and black, three-pocket leather backpack, complete with snap closure. 

Keeping the flame motif going, Barbie opts for a black helmet with fiery, bright decals to help keep her safe on the road. 

And, forever maintaining her code of chic, this fashionable chopper chick rounds out her riding ensemble with a designer pair of ink-black motorcycle boots.

Windswept tresses may sound romantic, but add to that a case of "helmet hair" and you have a recipe for a tangled, unsightly disaster!  Well, Barbie will have none of that as she smartly dresses her locks in long cornrows styled in a half 'n' half.  In her ears are a simple pair of small, silver hoops and perched on her head is a pair of road-worthy sunglasses.  Road tested, road approved! 

With all that's going on with her outfit and such, Barbie decided to keep her makeup to the bare minimum.  A soft, neutral eye and a rich, burnt-red lip was all she was looking for.  And really, that's all she needed to bring a little color to her face.

So there you have it!  Barbie is getting her motor running and heading out on the highway.  She's looking for adventure and whatever else happens to come her way.  Loaded in leather, she appears to be the quintessential "biker babe", but she's way more than that.  She's a bad-to-the-bone bombshell who knows her way around an open road and has the fully customized, miles laden Harley to prove it.  She's ready to put her pedal to the metal and see some sunrises and sunsets...   A HOT BIKER MAMA who undoubtedly knows how to ride out with style!