We had been teased for quite a while with images of the Yves Saint Laurent dolls, mainly from the instagram account @barbiestyle . At the beginning they were supposedly OOAK dolls, then it emerged that they would enter production. And now, finally, they are here. Available to buy at Barbie.com (only the pink and black gown available) for $150,00 each and, in Paris, at the department store Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche (not online). The release is in collaboration with the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris.
Let’s see what Mattel says about the collaboration:
With a shared passion for personal style, Barbie® honors French fashion designer, Yves Saint Laurent (b. 1936 - d. 2008), for his vast impact on women’s 20th century fashion. One of the greatest names in fashion history, Yves Saint Laurent invented the modern woman’s wardrobe: the pea-jacket and trenchcoat in 1962, the first tuxedo in 1966, the safari jacket and the pantsuit in 1967, and the first jumpsuit in 1968.
While constantly in search of simplicity, each collection was also a chance to bring his dreams to life. Fascinated by different cultures, nostalgic of a ‘lost time,’ he came up with dresses that transported the public to an imaginary elsewhere, from Russia to China, from India to Morocco. He also developed numerous garments directly referencing the artists he admired such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Vincent Van Gogh, and of course Piet Mondrian.
And now the dolls, one by one:
Barbie® Yves Saint Laurent Doll Mondrian dress
Paying homage to the visionary designer, Barbie® models Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic Mondrian dress from the Autumn-Winter 1965 collection. The multi-colored knit dress recalls the Dutch artist’s sense of geometry, while a seamless patchwork and sleek back zipper reflect the designer’s keen attention to detail. Black heels with silvery buckles and pearly earrings finish the timeless look. This beautiful doll is presented in collaboration with the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris.
Collection: Barbie® Yves Saint Laurent Dolls
Label: Platinum Label®
Designer: Linda Kyaw
Release Date: 11/05/2018
Body Type: Model Muse
Fashion: Multi-colored geometric knit dress, pearly earrings, black heels
Eyelashes: Painted
Fashion Sewn On?: No
Included with doll: Earrings, dress, shoes, doll stand
Doll Stand: Yes
Package Dimensions (H/D/W): 16/9/5
Package Weight: 5.0706 lbs
SKU #: GCM97
I have been writing it time and time again but nothing changes - and it does not seem it ever will. Charging $150 for non-articulated dolls is preposterous. If Mattel cared about collector dolls, I mean really cared, they would have created a good articulated body, an evolution of their early pivotal one for example, to use for special dolls like these, that could be made to pose elegantly in a variety of poses as befits their high fashion style. Instead, one gets the Model Muse body, immovable, frozen like a statue, doing no service to the exquisite clothes it is wearing.
And yes, this is a gorgeous dress, not only being a miniature YSL dress but being faithful to the original. It is made of separate pieces making up the Mondrian pattern instead of a print, just like the real one was. The dress is lined and the quality is good. The detailed earrings and specially designed shoes complete it perfectly. More about the gorgeous box at the end of the post.
Barbie® Yves Saint Laurent Doll Safari Jacket
Paying homage to the visionary designer, Barbie® models Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic 1968 safari jacket. This garment was specifically created for Vogue (Paris) for a spread in their magazine. The desert-hued, front-laced safari jacket, which is inspired by clothing of westerners in Africa, includes a stylish hip-hugging O-ring belt. It’s a fresh, modernized look that features black knee-length shorts, jaunty sueded boots, and is topped with a floppy, fringed bush hat. This beautiful doll is presented in collaboration with the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris.
Collection: Barbie® Yves Saint Laurent Dolls
Label: Platinum Label®
Designer: Linda Kyaw
Release Date: 11/05/2018
Body Type: Model Muse
Fashion: Safari jacket, knee-length shorts, suede boots
Eyelashes: Painted
Fashion Sewn On?: No
Included with doll: Hat, earrings, boots, belt, blouse, shorts, doll stand
Doll Stand: Yes
Package Dimensions (H/D/W): 18/7/11
Package Weight: 5.0706 lbs
SKU #: FJH71
What a gorgeous rendition! The jacket is almost perfect, a fantastic recreation of the original, made famous in the iconic Verushka image, photographed for Vogue in 1968 (photo by Franco Rubartelli). Attention to detail is again good, with fabric boots and hat. Pity the Karl sculpt is not a match for Verushka’s face - I think each doll should have had a different sculpt.
Barbie® Yves Saint Laurent Doll Paris gown
Paying homage to the visionary designer, Barbie® models Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic ‘Paris’ evening gown from 1983. A ruched pink satin bodice culminates in the back with an oversized pink satin bow, while luxurious black velvet drapes to the floor with an elegant slit. Black pumps, red and black rhinestone bracelets and earrings, and an iridescent statement necklace are the finishing touches to this glamourous look. This beautiful doll is presented in collaboration with the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris.
Collection: Barbie® Yves Saint Laurent Dolls
Label: Platinum Label®
Designer: Linda Kyaw
Release Date: 11/05/2018
Body Type: Model Muse
Fashion: Evening gown with a ruched pink satin bodice, oversized satin bow, black pumps
Eyelashes: Painted
Fashion Sewn On?: No
Included with doll: Bracelets, earrings, necklace, doll stand
Doll Stand: Yes
Package Dimensions (H/D/W): 18/7/11
Package Weight: 5.0706 lbs
SKU #: FPV66
The Paris gown photographed by Gilles Tapie in 1983
This is the only doll still available at the Barbie.com shop, so run if you want it. For me it is the least desirable from the trio, but still want to get it. Would have liked to see another iconic YSL dress though, from his later years, or even better the “Le Smoking” tuxedo.
Special mention goes to the box design, with the logo of the museum at the front and the Yves Saint Laurent info and photo inside, plus the fabric ribbon tie (like the Poppy Parker older boxes). Great job Mattel. I wish I could afford these.
