Design Barbie's dream home competition

For more than 50 years, Barbie has empowered girls to dream big and explore a world without limits. This year, Barbie unveils I Can Be … Architect, encouraging a new generation of girls to pursue a career in architecture.


Along with introduction of the newest Barbie, the American Institute of Architects and Mattel announce the Architect Barbie Dream House Design Competition. It’s an opportunity for architects to design a home for Barbie that meets her guidelines, which include sustainable design principles, room for an office, open living and dining areas and plenty of room for her five pets, including her giraffe.

Competition outline

• Any AIA member is eligible to compete.

• The contest is open for submission on May 16, 2011 at the web address you’re on right now.

• You can fill out this form to register now for your submission.

• The deadline for submissions ends on June 27, 2011.

• The AIA and Mattel will announce five finalists on July 12, 2011 and the public will be able to vote for their favorites between July 12 and August 1, 2011.

• The winner will be announced by the AIA on August 2, 2011.

• You should read and understand the requirements for submission available by clicking here (PDF).



Of course, the Dream House will be home to Architect Barbie (PDF). Designed to ensure she captured the spirit and style of young architects, Barbie designers consulted with two members of the AIA (PDF) - Despina Stratigakos, Professor of Architectural History at the University at Buffalo and Kelly Hayes McAlonie, Associate Director of the Capital Planning Group at the University at Buffalo and the 2011 President Elect for AIA New York State.


''For more than a century, women have chosen to become architects to express and give form to new ways of living. Yet some still consider architecture an unusual profession for a woman. Architect Barbie salutes the many generations of women architects and encourages young girls to imagine a better world they can design and build,'' says Stratigakos.


Despina Stratigakos, (left) Assoc. AIA, and Kelly Hayes McAlonie, AIA, LEED AP.


There was also another initiative from AIA. The American Institute of Architects partnered with Mattel to launch the “Barbie I Can Be...Architect” during AIA’s national convention, May 12−14, in New Orleans, Louisiana. They invited local organizations to sign up groups of 25-30 girls, ages 7 – 9 years, to have the opportunity to interact with an architect during the AIA/Barbie Workshops. 



Girls had the unique opportunity to learn from a real architect about what it takes to become one in a fun and educational environment on location at the AIA 2011 National Convention (May 12-14). Girls also learned about the first female architect recognized by the AIA over 125 years ago and got to ‘create’ their very own Dream House. All participants in the workshop left with a gift bag including their own Architect Barbie and a special poster.


All images courtesy of Mattel

Tatiana's Doll House: Club diorama



The latest diorama talented Tatiana has created is a place for her dolls to relax and hang out - The Fashion Royalty Club. This display was inspired by a pink plastic piano that she repainted  black last summer. That project was very long and challenging for her as she aimed for a thick glossy finish. One month and two cans of paint later she finally felt happy of how it turned out. She used a high gloss black lacquer by Rust-Oleum and applied it in multiple layers.





The round tables are from a Gloria play set, their bases painted silver. Tablecloths are made from polyester table napkins and curtains are faux silk dupioni napkins  attached with double sided tape. The buffet table is a wooden shadow-box frame that was cut with a miter saw. Cake, pastries, trays and cutlery are re-ment, small white plates came with a no-name play set.





Tatiana made the wall scone lights by splitting a Mattel purple chandelier in quarters and gluing them to wooden pendants from a dollar store. After that she spray-painted everything with black acryllic paint and attached them to the wall using double sided tape.





The chandelier is an accessory from a Barbie playset that she painted black and attached with a polyester thread to a mini square gel tile. Gel tiles come with a sticky back, so it is very easy to attach them without any damage to the surface.





The tabletop candle holders are Gloria minis that Tatiana painted with acrylic paint using a brush. The wonderful black chairs are from the Pivotal Jazz dolls by Mattel. She loves the scale, the style and the quality of them. I must say that they look great - I own some of them! The swan vase on the piano is a wedding favour from a craft store and in it are white roses from buttonier flowers.




Deconstruction Sight Eugenia is dressed in Guaranteed Chic outfit, restyled by Tatiana. Former Face Time Eugenia was re-rooted in raven by the very talented Susan K. She is wearing the Soir De Paris dress. All photos by Tatiana.

Valley Of The Fashion Dolls

A Greek fashion magazine, LOOK (it circulates every three months and is free) had a page dedicated to my doll collecting passion with one of my photos of Dania. You can even see me at the bottom of the page holding lovely Poppy Parker in my hand. The page is below and after that you can read the article in English (written by lovely and patient Vagia Matzaroglou from Thessaloniki).


VALLEY OF FASHION DOLLS

Versace, Givenchy and Alexander McQueen in miniature? They do exist. They made Vogue covers and score a global digital fashion hype. Find out about the culture and history of fashion dolls and enter their world through collector Stratos Bacalis and his blog, fashiondollchronicles.blogspot.com

by Vagia Matzaroglou

He dressed Michelle Obama at her husbands inaugural ball but still plays with dolls! And he is not alone! Apart from the enfante terrible Jason Wu, brands like Versace, Badgley Mischka, Givenchy, Lecoanet Hemant, Manish Arora design clothes for dolls. Italian Vogue joined the club by photographing exclusively Barbie in fashion editorials but also fashion houses that create unique doll outfits that are then auctioned for charities.
For a while now, fashion dolls are a fetish for collectors and not a child's toy. They have class and style, charm and finesse, ideal proportions and guardarobes that moan under evening glam and eponymous signatures. Dressed in the latest fashion trends or in vintage masterpieces from specific style periods (see '50s), they "follow" the catwalks and fashion weeks around the planet. Sometimes they even copy the new outfits (in the past McQueen collections have been copied*)... Hairdos, make up and accessories are in the same brand wavelength. The most important doll catwalks are set up in Paris and London at the respective Doll Festivals there but also at the commercial Toy Fairs of the USA. Apart from regular fashion designers like Jason Wu who designs for FR Monogram and Versace and Badgley Mischka for Barbie, Mel Odom and Robert Tonner are considered big names, who take care of the doll's face (the sculpt) down to the most minute detail. The "Haute Couture" of dolls are Charles & Desmond Superfrock's Sybarite dolls.

Stratos Bacalis is a passionate doll collector and probably the only Greek blogger about fashion dolls. "I started out with the Olivia Newton John as Sandy from Grease Franklin Mint doll in 2000. From then on, it became a passion" he confesses. He already owns 120-150 dolls. "The most eponymous of them are my Versace Barbie, my Badgley Mischka Barbie, all my Jason Wu ones (half of my collection) and I would add the two Audrey Hepburn versions (a small by Mattel and a larger by Mme Alexander) for the Givenchy clothes they wear from "Breakfsast at Tiffany's" and "Sabrina". Oh and of course I should not forget Pincess Diana with her designer outfits and Jackie Onassis with her Oleg Cassini dresses".

From where does he get the dolls? "Always through the internet, either directly from the manufacturers (special editions) or from specialized e-shops. When there is a limited edition, if you are not quick enough to pre-order the dolls you want, you have to look for them on e-bay or the relevant forums, which usually means higher prices". 

What are his criteria for buying them? "Almost always it is the combination of doll and outfit, although the garment definitely plays the most important part. But the doll has to "speak" to me". 

He wants to get all the new releases. But "cost is always prohibitive. The prices depend on the edition size and how eccentric the outfit is. The material that the doll is made of also is a factor. They start from around US$45 and end up costin thousands of dollars for unique pieces auctioned for charity".

Stratos Bacalis' favourite hobby is photographing his collection: "I have a mini studio with a lightbox for the photo shoots. I have even done one for the Indian edition of Grazia magazine, with Indian designer outfits. It was a unique experience with the highlight being that one of the outfits was designed and made by Lecoanet Hemant, whose collections I used to admire in the Haute Couture fashion week in Paris". With studies in fashion design and pattern making, he intends to be a little more creatice with his collection. "There is a friend who is very talented in sewing and making accessories so we tried to start a fashion collection for dolls but stopped due to the financial crisis. I hope we can make it happen some time in the future".

Here is my portrait featured in the article, shot by Sakis Gioumpasis:


* It refers to mentions I did during the interview of many doll outfits being "inspired" by a lot of designers and especially Dior and McQueen designs.