Inspired by ... Barbie!

Whether or not you grew up with Barbie as a child, there is no doubt that she is a very inspirational fashion idol, and although we might not be casting her into all the starring roles like we used to when we were younger, we can still borrow her style to play dress-up on ourselves!


{images by Robert Best}

I personally prefer the "vintage" Barbie, that would be Barbie's image from the 90's and earlier. She can be a great role model in many ways, looking at her positive and cheerful attitude, her up-beat and friendly nature, and who could forget her many talents (from artist to astronaut, Barbie has had more than 80 careers). And with more than 105 million yards of fabric and billions of pairs of shoes used to create her extensive wardrobe, I think it's only fair that we borrow a few. She may be a doll, but Barbie can represent so much more, and inspiration for fashion can come from anywhere!

I feel like I've missed out on a part of my childhood. Apparently back in the '90's Mattel had released several fashion comics starring Barbie and her friends, and while they have a certain "Archie and Friends" feel to them, I can't help but feel inspired by what she wears on the cover!

The inspiration

On this cover, Barbie is wearing a purple maxi dress (interesting how she wore this in the '90s and now maxis are so in style right now) complete with purple pumps and a straw hat. There are a lot of roses in the picture, and being a fan of the floral print, I just had to use the flowers as a dress all on its own:

The style

Floral Dress, Purple Dress, Rose Ring, Rose Necklace

To borrow Barbie's look, I used a floral dress inspired by the rose garden she is walking in, or you can be a little more loyal to the image by wearing a purple dress or even a button up maxi! Purple heels and a straw hat will leave you looking casual yet classy. Because I love roses so much, I added a rose necklace and ring! Blow dry your hair straight and then take a romantic stroll through a garden with your own Ken (although this might have to wait until springtime, since its still quite cold in most parts of Canada right now!)

How does Barbie inspire you?