Thursday, March 10, 2016

Happy Birthday, Barbie! Take a Look Back at All of Her Dreamhouses

On this day in 1959, a star was born. In the fictional town of Willows, Wisconsin, the fictional girl named Barbara Millicent Roberts came into the world, better known to her fans as, simply, Barbie. Today was the day that the doll, now 57 years old, was first introduced at the New York Toy Fair and the day that her narrative began. There was her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Ken; her 50-some odd pets that included zebras and lion cubs; her cool clothes and fancy cars; and, of course, her beloved Dreamhouse.

Each decade since her official “birth” has seen Barbie moving in and out of newly renovated Dreamhouses, beginning with the all-cardboard version in 1962 that reflected the Modernist interiors popular at the time, up to today’s 2016 version that also happens to be the world’s first smart, interactive dollhouse.

Below, as Barbie celebrates another birthday, here’s a tour of all of her stylish Dreamhouses through the years.


Barbie’s Dream House, 1962
This modern-style studio was her very first home, and everything was made of cardboard except for the pink plastic hangers in the closet. The colors were bold and bright in gold and orange, and there were slight nods to the Abstract Expressionism wave that was popular at the time. If you look closely, she also kept records in the house that featured real band names from the early ’60s.


 
Barbie’s Townhouse, 1974
One of the most iconic Barbie Dreamhouses, this three-story abode came with a working elevator and reflected the then-current mod interior design trends, like the use of bright turquoise, sunshine yellow, orange, and brown.
Barbie Dream House, 1979
A refresh on the previous two homes, this model featured working doors and windows as well as planters and shutters. It was an A-frame house that featured bright pops of color like pink and also included plastic and vinyl furniture that was on trend with what was happening in the real world of interiors.



Barbie Townhouse, 1983
In this home, there was a newly remodeled pink elevator, and it included interiors that were much more decadent than in years past.



Barbie Magical Mansion, 1990
Barbie really got fancy in the ’90s: These big (for her) digs included new dollhouse technology like a ringing telephone and doorbell and a light-up fireplace and chandelier.



Barbie Deluxe Dreamhouse, 1998
The Deluxe Dreamhouse featured fully furnished rooms and a swing on the front porch. This home was all about comfort, with plush decor and a monochromatic color palette.



Barbie Dreamhouse, 2012
The 2012 Dreamhouse was a revamped version of the 1970s Townhouse, painted entirely in pink. The luxurious three-story home included a pink personal elevator, an outdoor hot tub, lights and sounds on every level, and a flat-screen TV.



Barbie Dreamhouse, 2013
An update to the 2012 house, this one featured a glamorous central elevator with a likeness of Barbie’s profile cut into the plastic. The motif can be found throughout the space, which also featured a closet packed with clothes and a pretty canopy bed with hot pink curtains.



Barbie Dreamhouse, 2015
This was Barbie’s first home that came equipped with a garage, which seems a bit late in the game considering the fact that she’s gone through so many nice cars throughout the decades.



Hello Dreamhouse, 2016
The two-story home that Barbie currently resides in is the first smart, e-connected dollhouse in the world and comes with its own app. There are floor sensors that recognize when Barbie and her friends are in the house, and embedded speech recognition so that you can control elements of the house like the lights, elevator, and slide.

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