Claudia Schiffer Barbie finally gets a commercial release - is the doll meeting expectations?

Back in 2017, for her 30th career anniversary and the release of her book, Mattel made an OOAK Barbie in the likeness of Claudia Schiffer, the famous supermodel from Germany. That doll recreated one of Claudia Schiffer’s iconic looks from a 1994 Ellen Von Unwerth photo shoot for Vogue Italia, wearing a metallic Versace dress. Three years later, to celebrate the model’s 50th birthday, Mattel presented two more OOAK Claudia Barbies: one wearing a Versace 1994 Atelier blue gown, and another dressed in a Balmain design similar to one worn by Schiffer in the label’s spring 2016 campaign.

Credit: The Mega Agency

Credit: The Mega Agency

Now, Mattel decided to release a commercial Barbie Claudie, recreating the cerulean pleated floor-length gown by Versace, combined with a faille taffeta bustier inspired by the signature Versace corset bodice. Per Mattel “The doll makes a bold statement, pairing Schiffer’s strength and femininity with Versace’s luxurious glamour”.

Supermodel Claudia Schiffer Barbie® Doll in Versace

Designer: Carlyle Nuera

Label: Platinum

Face Sculpt: Claudia Schiffer likeness

Body Type: Pivotal

Includes Certificate of Authenticity

Doll cannot stand alone. Doll stand included. Colours and decorations may vary. Purchase limits subject to change at the sole discretion of Mattel.

SKU#: HCB94

The Story: Claudia Schiffer chose what Barbie would wear for a doll in her honour. This is one of her all-time favourite gowns, celebrating an iconic ‘90s fashion moment. "Recreating the gown in Barbie scale was a fun challenge,” says designer Carlyle Nuera. “I studied any photo I could find and watched videos of the runway show over and over.” Strappy heels, blonde curls, and soft makeup complete the look. This doll is inspired by the 2020 design made in honour of Schiffer's 50th birthday.

Am I the only one that thinks they did a hatchet job on the new doll? The face paint does not replicate the model faithfully, even though the doll sculpt is the same used in the OOAK dolls. Of course one cannot expect a commercial doll to have the same standards as a one off doll, but still I believe for the price, ($85 in the US, at least $170 in Europe) they could have done better. The hair is also not styled very well. The gown is weird - why would anyone gather a pleated fabric at the waist, when the original design is not like this? Probably to create volume at the bottom of the dress, since the pleats are straight and not like the original. The sewing of the corset is also not that good. And those plastic shoes? For such a limited release, it is awful. There seems to be a discrepancy regarding the quantity of dolls produced: the US certificates give 5,000, the EU ones 1,000. It may refer to the specific markets but they could have just written 6,000.

All doll photos courtesy of Mattel. Claudia Schiffer photos by Ellen Von Unwerth unless otherwise stated.

Barbie Tribute Collection Vera Wang doll is released!

Teased in Instagram and eagerly anticipated by collectors, the Barbie Tribute Collection Vera Wang doll is released by Mattel. I think it is great that, not only do we get a doll that actually looks like the designer it is honouring, we get one that is not another blonde caucasian iteration of the usual Barbie iterations. Plus, Vera Wang is a great designer, with a long history, much respected in her profession and beyond. She has a long history with Mattel, with various dolls wearing her bridal gowns released through the years and becoming highly sought after collectibles.

The doll is designed by Carlyle Nuyera and is a Signature Collection Barbie, now available on the Mattel Creations website for $40.00 - 5 dolls per user allowed.

I simply love this doll. She is beautifully made, with the very particular style and look of Ms. Wang, without any concession to Mattel usual tropes (maybe save some plastic accessories). The price point is great for a doll like this and I would very much like to add her to my collection. Hope she appears on European shops, real or digital, really soon! Can we get more dolls like this please Mattel?

The description on the Mattel Signature website says:

The Barbie Tribute Collection celebrates visionaries whose incredible contributions have helped shape and impact culture. Inspired by a look from her 2017 ready-to-wear collection, Vera Wang Barbie Doll wears a monochromatic ensemble featuring a black romper under a chiffon dress with attached puff sleeves, a front slit, and the word LOVE featured at the hem. A peplum belt with a zipper detail, black socks, and platform heels with sculpted buckle details complete her look.

Release date: 5/5/2022

Designer: Carlyle Nuera

Label: Black

Facial Sculpt: Vera Wang

Body Type: Articulated Original

Mattel Creations Exclusive. Limit 5 per person. Color and decorations may vary.

SKU#: GXL12

The story of the project from the MC website:

She's an iconic designer and businesswoman who grew her brand from a small bridal boutique into a fashion and lifestyle empire. She's earned numerous awards for her powerful contributions to the fashion industry – including the Legion of Honor from France – a testament to her enduring creativity and the lasting imprint she's made on fashion and culture. She's Vera Wang, the latest powerhouse to join the Barbie Tribute Collection, and as a Mattel Creations Exclusive!

The Barbie Tribute Collection celebrates visionaries whose incredible contributions have helped shape and impact our culture. Lucille Ball was our first honouree, and now we're adding Wang, the entrepreneur and globally renowned fashion designer. And her influence extends far beyond fashion according to Barbie Signature Lead Designer Carlyle Nuera, who headed up the team that brought this doll to Mattel Creations today.

"As an Asian-American designer myself, Vera having a fashion and business empire that has spanned decades is inspirational," Carlyle says. "She’s a global household name, which I feel is so important for representation, for Asian-Americans who want to pursue a career in the arts or design. Or who need to convince their nervous parents that this is actually a viable career path!"

So when the opportunity arrived to create a doll in Wang's likeness, Carlyle jumped at the chance. "We’ve done Barbie dolls wearing Vera Wang’s designs in the past: an evening gown in 1998, and bridal gowns in 1997, 2008, and 2011," he recalls. "This is the first time we’re doing a Barbie doll of Vera herself, and decades later. It’s full circle! I think that in itself shows the scope of Vera’s career and staying power as a fashion designer."

Wang's career as one of the most prominent and iconic designers of bridal wear began with the opening of her flagship salon in New York City in 1990. But her influence was never destined to stop there. In 2000, she launched her first ready-to-wear collection, and that's where the Vera Wang Barbie Doll gets its fashion inspiration. Drawing on a look from her 2017 runway show, our doll wears a monochromatic ensemble featuring a black romper under a chiffon dress with attached puff sleeves, a front slit, and the word "LOVE" featured at the hem. "Vera added the word ‘LOVE’ in a Gothic script to the hem of the dress, which I think reflects the positivity Vera herself always expresses on social media," Carlyle explains.

Recreating the couture outfit did come with its challenges, but our team rose to the occasion with creative solutions. Carlyle shed a bit a bit of light on one in particular: "Because the outfit is made of three separate pieces – the shorts romper, chiffon dress, and peplum belt – the patternmakers had to engineer each piece to lay correctly under each piece so it wouldn’t look bulky."

That peplum belt with the zipper detail, along with the black socks and platform heels with sculpted buckle details, complete the presentation. "I added some black nail polish to finish the look. It's all the same as the runway look, down to the socks worn with the buckle heels," Carlyle says. The doll is also sculpted to Vera Wang's likeness and features her signature long, straight hair.

Model: Fei Fei Sun

Photo: Yannis Vlamos / Indigital.tv

If you like to remove your dolls from the doll box, you'll have endless posing possibilities with the Vera Wang Barbie Doll, which was created with the Articulated Original doll body and comes with a doll stand. If you prefer her in the box, you'll still have a beautiful addition to your doll display, thanks to Packaging Designer Sarah Pata. And if you're collecting all the dolls in the Tribute Collection, Sarah has some fun news for you.

"We knew we needed a package design that felt cohesive but could also be 'adaptable' for any future dolls," Sarah says. "Knowing this, we decided to use a consistent package shape for all the dolls in the line, to help unify the collection. This also allowed us the flexibility to modify the package color and artwork to better match each new doll."

Our Barbie Tribute Collection Vera Wang Barbie Doll is available now in the online shop, and remember, she's a Mattel Creations exclusive! This Black Label doll sells for $40, and the limit of 5 dolls per person lets you shop for yourself and for gift-giving opportunities, too. So click or tap on over the Barbie Signature shop and pick up yours today.

All photos and information (except the runway one) are courtesy of Mattel Creations.

Happy 61st birthday Barbie!

It’s the 61st birthday for the famous fashion doll, Barbie, or Barbara Millicent Roberts, as is her full name. To honour the anniversary, let’s check out some collector Barbies that were unveiled these past few days.

First up is the Japanese Barbie Convention 2020 doll. The convention was cancelled due to coronavirus, but the doll will be sent to those that were to attend. Designed by Carlyle Nuera, she is a vision in red. The concept for convention Barbies this year is Chromatic Couture and Japan got the red one. The sculpt is madam LaVinia and she’s dressed in a faux leather bralette, satin palazzo pants and a red tulle bodysuit. Her hair and make up are all red too. This is my favourite of the two convention dolls.

The second doll is the Paris Fashion Doll Festival 2020 exclusive Barbie, unveiled this past weekend in Paris. She’s in total blue, part of the Chromatic Couture concept. Again designed by Carlyle Nuera, she has the Mari face sculpt and is dressed in a high-low bubble hem gown with puff sleeves made of two-tone metallic blue taffeta, with a powder tulle blue overlay and clear blue jewellery & shoes. Her make up and hair are all in shades of blue.

And finally, sketches of some of the last BFMC dolls were revealed in the past days. This collection is on its last year and Rober Best is trying to end it in the best possible way. The first one is Best To A Tea. She’s wearing a Chanel style suit. We have seen lots of them on Silkstone dolls and they are all lovely, so I guess this one will be too.

There will be a giftset released too, named The Best Look - a play on the designer’s name perhaps? The sketches look gorgeous, even though the outfits look a lot like past releases. A redhead in grey or black will look smashing. Wondering if she will be in the latest, articulated Silkstone body or the original one. I know most BFMC collectors would prefer the latter.

KITH collaborates with Barbie and offers customers a chance to style their official doll!

KITH is a retail store in New York, founded by designer Ronnie Fieg In 2010. They make and sell sportswear, establish sneaker collaborations and also sell a number of renowned street wear brands. They now announce a collaboration with Barbie, working together to create a special experience for their customers: they will have the chance to create the official Kith x Barbie doll!

Starting this Saturday 9/21 KITH will be hosting styling appointments where customers will get to select one of the four dolls they have created with Mattel designer Carlyle Nuera and then style them in a look from over 100 different Kith Women apparel pieces. One of these submissions will then be selected to be produced as the official Kith x Barbie doll. Accordimg to their Instagram account though, all appointment slots have officially been filled. They do mention that walk-ins are welcome but cannot guarantee access. Follow them for further updates. I love both the doll’s and the outfits, at least what what we can see in the official photos. I envy the people who will get to style a doll and submit it for a chance to win.

So how come they decided to work with Barbie?. “For sixty years, Barbie has been an international pop-culture phenomenon offering girls around the globe a chance to play, tell stories, and, most importantly, to dream. Kith echoes this mindset by presenting an immersive world for its customers by engaging them through a unique retail environment that fosters creativity,” says Kith-founder Ronnie Fieg. This shared philosophy is what started this partnership—and it will remain a key element in the collaboration between Kith and Barbie.

The Kith Women x Barbie collaboration kicks off with a Barbie takeover of Kith’s flagship store in New York.  Several activations are planned including: 

STYLING CONTEST: September 21st - September 29th

Kith will host Barbie styling sessions at its Soho location on the second floor – known as the Arsham/Fieg Gallery. By appointment only, participants can choose from four dolls that represent the diversity and the dynamism of the Kith Woman. Entrants will be able to dress, style and outfit on-site with 100 custom doll-sized apparel and accessories pieces from the Kith Women line. 

Participants will then submit a photo of their uniquely styled Barbie to be evaluated by a cross-section of the fashion industry’s most notable tastemakers. The panel of judges will include Dianne Garcia, Jackie Kim – director of Kith Women, Maeve Reilly, Ade Samuel and Kith founder Ronnie Fieg. Judges will select the top six looks, which will be put to a public vote via @KithWomen social platform. The submission that receives the most public votes will then become the official limited-edition Kith x Barbie doll, to be released in late 2020 and available from Kith stores worldwide.

RETROSPECTIVE: September 21st to October 2nd 

A complementary retrospective exhibition that celebrates Barbie’s 60-year history will be on view at Kith’s Soho store from September 21st to October 2nd. The original Barbie created in 1959, featuring her iconic black and white chevron swimsuit, will be on display, alongside surrounding ephemera and milestone moments. The in-store museum-inspired vignette layout will be a testament to the doll’s empowering legacy and status as a pop-culture icon.

LIMITED EDITION COMMEMORATIVE APPAREL

Kith will also be designing and distributing limited edition Kith x Barbie 60th Anniversary t-shirt, available only to the first 200 attendees.

All photos courtesy of KITH and Mattel

National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention 2018 dolls: all kinds of new!

The National Barbe Doll Collectors Convention took place in Phoenix, Arizona, from July 11th to July 14th. I don’t have any experience in covering this event and usually their convention dolls are not favourites. This year though, things changed. The convention dolls changed. In a major way. And all thanks to Carlyle Nuyera, one of Mattel’s designers. He had the task to design this year’s convention dolls and, imho, did an amazing job. Let’s read what he has to say about them.

“Presenting ‘On The Avenue’ Barbie, the 2018 National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention Doll! A few firsts for a Convention Doll; the first Curvy Convention Doll, the first Fashion gift set convention doll and the first convention doll designed by me! When I was designing the convention doll and knew that the theme was ‘On The Avenue’, my mind went to the Fashion Avenue line from the 90s, what I played with as a kid. I wanted to design a doll that allowed for one of Barbie’s earliest and purest play patterns; fashion play! Dressing your Barbie, mixing & matching pieces, styling her to create a lewk.

On The Avenue Barbie comes with silver earrings, a pastel organza top that ties in the front with long tails, a shimmering champagne organza ball gown skirt with architectural draping, a black sparkly knit bodysuit (perfect for #Beyoncé #SingleLadies lewks 👯‍♀️), a knee length skirt with layers of silver foiled pewter mesh and silver lamé, a pair of black t-strap heels and a pair of cream strappy heels!

I also want to always be forward thinking in my design approach. I wanted this Barbie to be a Collector example of how inclusive Barbie is now in terms of body type, so I designed her to use the Curvy Collector body that I first designed for Madam LaVinia Barbie. And you already knowww I love unusual face sculpts, so I used the Selma & Daria sculpts painted with side glancing eyes (#shemysterious 😜) and a beauty mark. Hope you all love her and have fun playing!”

I read a lot of positive comments about the dolls on social media, both from attendees and from non-attendees alike. The most amazing ones were from people that recognised themselves in the dolls, people with normal bodies, people of colour, ordinary people. On the other hand, lots of collectors were disappointed that the dolls were not more high fashion styled, more glamorous looking and more embellished.

My take? I love them, and I rarely like Barbie convention dolls. They are very chic and stylish, with both outfits reminding me of Isaac Mishrahi’s early collections, where he was combining full evening skirts with knit sporty tops in an way only US designers can do.

I love that they are not in the usual model muse or Silkstone body, the stiff, frozen, high fashion style body that people are used to receiving in Barbie conventions. But taking a look in most worldwide Barbie conventions, I like these two best. By far. Great job Carlyle and well done Mattel. Please give us more like these.

All Barbie photos courtesy of Mattel and Carlyle Nuyera.