Happy Birthday Barbie...

Today is Barbie's birthday.  Created by Ruth Handler, Barbie was created on March 9, 1959.
Barbie was named after Handler's daughter Barbara.  Reportedly, Barbie has had more than 100 careers -- and is still counting!


I remember Christmas 1961 - the year I got my first Barbie doll.  Back then, Barbies came in their bathing suits and high heels.  Then you bought little packages with an outfit and all of its coordinating accessories.  You could also buy small packages with teenie tiny shoes - all different colors and styles.  OR, if you were like me, you didn't have the money to buy all of these outfits so you made your own clothes for her.  My Barbie probably had at least six changes of clothes per day.  Some more crudely made than others.  But I treasured her and her wardrobe.


Today, if you want a Barbie dressed up in a particular style or themed outfit, you need to buy the doll already wearing it.... it's hard to find clothes "sans doll" in the stores!  Guess that means that even today's Barbie fans have to make their own clothes unless they have money growing on trees in their backyards!

At the end of a very busy day, Barbie would go "home" to her now-vintage original case.  It was years after I quit playing with Barbie that such things as the Barbie Mansion and Barbie's own car were available.