This small collection of Barbie clothes, shoes and accessories date from 1969 to 1972. They provide a fashion snapshot of the late 1960s and early 1970s as Paris and Italian couture began to follow the hippie trends. Typical of the era were mini skirts, hot pants, halter tops, short faux fur jackets, calf and ankle length midi dresses, patchwork, gingham and country prints, crotched belts and hats, American Indian jewellery, layered peasant costumes, faux lamb's wool, leather belts covered with grommets and studs as well as head scarves and thongs which laced up the leg. There were fringes on everything, the ultimate fashion item was the maxicoat and the defining fabric of the decade was denim. It was the beginning of women's liberation and bra burning and the end of inhibitions. It was also the end of designers dictating hemlines and styles. By representing fashion in miniature, these Barbie clothes accurately evoke the styles, trends, fabrics and accessories of this era.

By this time Mattel's famous American fashion doll had been on the market for over 10 years. Introduced in 1959, Barbie took the toy world by storm. Its manufacturer, Mattel Inc, targeted its audience by advertising on children's television programs and included catalogues with every outfit and doll. This encouraged girls to become collectors, to build up Barbie's wardrobe and have an outfit for every occasion.


Margaret Simpson
Curator, Transport & Toys
March 2012

"Barbie: Her Life & Times", Bantam Books, 1987.

Barbie made her debut at the New York Toy Fair on 9 March, 1959. She was a complete departure from the baby dolls of the period which encouraged girls to be mothers. Barbie was designed by Ruth Handler, the president of the toy manufacturer Mattel, after watching her daughter play with paper cut-out fashion dolls. Barbie was named after Ruth's daughter, and became a stylish teenage model.

Mattel designers travelled to Paris for the latest haute couture fashions and during the 1960s Barbie's look was distinctly Jackie Kennedy, with a hairstyle called the "Bubble Cut".

Barbie was joined by her boyfriend, Ken, in 1961. (His name was Ken Carson and they met on the set of their first TV commercial). A girlfriend, Midge Hadley, arrived in 1963 soon joined by her boyfriend, Allan. Barbie's younger sister, Skipper, appeared in 1964, and her freckle-faced friends, Scooter and Ricky, hit the stores in 1965. Barbie's twin siblings, Tuttie and Todd, and mod cousin, Francie, joined the family in 1966 followed by Francie's fun friend, Casey, in 1968. A menagerie of pets as well as dream houses, cars and campervans followed.

One of the reasons for Barbie's popularity is that she has changed with the times. During the disco era she was dressed in glitter. When Jane Fonda got into exercise, Barbie donned knitted leg warmers, and when man walked on the moon, Barbie became an astronaut. She had a variety of occupations from a ballerina, nurse and air hostess in the 1960s to a surgeon and Olympic athlete in the 1970s. By the 1980s she was an aerobics instructor, UNICEF ambassador and rock star and by the 1990s a Summit diplomat and presidential candidate.

By the mid-1980s the original Barbie owners were all in their 20s and 30s and the adult enthusiast collectors' scene began. Mattel acknowledged this new market and created a range of dolls specifically for them. The official Barbie Collectors' Club was launched by Mattel in 1997 and today (2012) there are books, magazines, web sites, and even conventions where the attendees can participate in a fashion show dressed as Barbie.

The donor of these Barbie clothes, Suzanne Chee, wrote the following memories of playing with them:

"As a young girl during to late 60s and early 70s, I can remember spending countless hours playing with my collection of Barbies. Growing up an only child, my mother indulged my passion for pretty clothes by buying me the latest outfits. Spending time strolling around Roselands, the first true shopping centre in Sydney, was new and exciting during this era. It became a weekly tradition for us to visit one particular toy shop where my eyes would hungrily scan the rows of beautiful Barbie outfits. Each ensemble was artfully arranged and stitched onto a colourful cardboard base. The graphics were always eye catching with psychedelic motifs and glamorous images. I would play for hours dressing and undressing the dolls, dreaming up scenarios and events for my Barbies to re-enact. You can imagine I was very popular with the girls in my neighbourhood.

I now work as a costume, dress and textiles conservator in a museum and I suppose playing with clothes and dressing dolls never really left me. Instead of miniature garments I have been fortunate enough to work on many beautiful historical garments from the eighteenth century to contemporary ones."

Doll's clothes and accessories, Barbie, fabric / plastic, made by Mattel Inc, United States of America, 1969-1972, used by Suzanne Chee, New South Wales, Australia, 1969-1979

The dolls clothes and accessories comprise the following items:

A lime green sleeveless mini dress with blue and silver stripes, and a lime green fur hat trimmed with blue and with a blue lining. This is from Barbie outfit "Now Knit", Set No. 1452, issued in 1970.

A white fur hat and a black and pink vinyl belt from the Barbie outfit "Lamb 'n Leather", Set No. 1467, issued in 1970.

A peasant-style, long-sleeved dress with a ruffle at the neck and wrists made from a bright orange coloured fabric decorated with purple, green and turquoise polka dots. There are matching faux suede purple boots. These are from Barbie outfit "Bubble 'n Boots", Set No. 3421, issued between 1971 and 1972.

A fuchsia-coloured sleeveless knitted mini dress with a "V" neck trimmed with a wide strip of orange suede and with a wide, orange, suede belt with a fringe. There is a single long orange suede fringed boot. These are from the Barbie outfit "Fringe Benefits", Set No. 3401, issued between 1971and 1972.

A long, open sleeveless coat with matching slacks in a heavy woven pattern finished in red, green and pink with a matching shoulder bag with an orange vinyl strap. There is also a yellow nylon blouse with scarf tie. This is part of the Barbie outfit "In Stitches", Set No. 3432, issued between 1971and 1972.

A full-length blue, silver and turquoise sleeveless evening dress, with thin silver spaghetti straps, and featuring long metallic stripes and a silver bow. There is a separate turquoise boa scarf. This is part of the Barbie outfit "Silver Serenade", Set No. 3419, issued between 1971 and 1972.

A full-length skirt with wide, hot pink, yellow and turquoise stripes and a hot pink vinyl waist band. There is also a yellow, long-sleeved blouse with midriff tie, a short orange plush faux vest with hot pink trim and gold bead button closure and a pair of hot pink pilgrim shoes. This comprises most of the Barbie outfit "Flying Colours", Set No. 3492, of 1972.

A full-length checked coat dress with a wide, red suede collar and cuffs with a single button. This is part of the Barbie outfit "Mod Madras", Set No. 3485, of 1972.

A purple-coloured, gathered, peasant-style, long-sleeved blouse with peplum waist from the Barbie outfit "Purple Pleasers", Set No. 3483, of 1972.

A set of white, cotton print, long-sleeved pyjamas decorated with pink polka dots and flowers with pink buttons. There is also a pink-handled round mirror and a single pink bootie with a gold button. This is part of the Barbie outfit "Sweet Dreams", Set No. 3350, of 1972.

A white, fur, stole jacket trimmed with gold braid with blue satin lining. This is part of the Barbie outfit "Blue Royalty", Set No. 1469, of 1970.

A short, orange coat with yellow fur and gold trim with gold bead closures. There is also a matching orange hat edged with yellow fur and gold trim, and a pair of yellow pilgrim shoes. This is part of the Barbie outfit "Fur Sighted" Set No. 1796 of 1970.

A white and orange plaid skirt with an orange vinyl belt. There is also a single orange riding boot. This is part of the Barbie outfit "Made for Each other" Set No. 1881, of 1969.

A hot pink tutu with pink and yellow tulle and a hot pink coat hanger from the Barbie outfit "Prima Ballerina", No.1781, issued between 1970 and 1971.

Clothes and accessories which came with the "Busy Barbie" Barbie doll, Set No. 3311, (the doll is missing) of 1971, comprising a blue denim halter top with white panties attached, and a multi-coloured patchwork, full-length print dress with ruffle at the bottom. There is also a brown plastic portable television set, a portable record player, drinks tray and a travel case with stickers for Paris and London.

Clothes and accessories which came with from the "Growin' Pretty Hair" Barbie doll, Set No. 1144, (the doll is missing) of 1970 comprising a pink satin sleeveless dress with pointed hem line, thin gold waist band and sewn-in panties. The accessories comprise two hair pieces: four, long, blonde ringlets secured together and a set of small looped plaits secured with a pink hair clip.

Clothes which came with the "Dramatic New Living" Barbie Doll, Set No. 1116, (the doll is missing) of 1969 comprising an orange net hooded long sleeved top edged in gold braid.

A full-length white net dressing gown edged with pink lace trim. The Barbie catalogue item number is unknown.

A full-length light blue pair of silk pyjama pants. The Barbie catalogue item number is unknown.

A full-length pair of pink and dark red striped pyjama pants. The Barbie catalogue item is unknown.

A sleeveless bright pink halter top. The Barbie catalogue number is unknown.

There are several loose accessories including shoes, coat hangers, a purse and bottle. The Barbie catalogue numbers for these are unknown.

: 1969 - 1972

2012/71/1

1969 - 1972