Barbie the Celebration of an Icon

A comprehensive and official history of Barbie, the iconic and beloved doll Barbie: A Celebration of the Icon is a picture book that tells the story of one of the most influential trendsetters in history: Barbie Millicent Roberts. At 65 years of age, the doll continues to be an inspirational muse, true to her nature as a fashion icon, but ever more inclusive and attentive to global issues, consistent with her motto, “You can be anything,” which is increasingly contemporary. In the 2023 movie Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig, she appeared for the first time in the flesh thanks to actress Margot Robbie, a true contemporary transposition of the original “Teenage Fashion Doll” presented at the New York Toy Fair on March 9, 1959: sinuous lines and a striking face commensurate with the sophisticated aesthetics of the stars of the 1950s. In this book, through five sections and an up-to-date timeline (1959–2024), Barbie helps us reinterpret the social and aesthetic trends that have exercised their influence from the 1950s to present day through history, fashion, society, art, and costume.