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Barbie: Building a wardrobe

Barbie has always loved clothes. As a fashion model when she first appeared in 1959, Barbie came in a black and white striped bathing suit, with other outfits available for purchase separately. Since then, her wardrobe has steadily expanded and includes everything from ball gowns to doctor’s scrubs. There are several ways to build a wardrobe for Barbie and her friends.

The easiest is to shop anywhere pink box Barbies are sold, stores such as Walmart and Target. These will stock the newer outfits and accessories for the dolls and are meant for play, not for collecting.

To dress a vintage Barbie doll in period clothing, shopping online is the best bet. Barbie ensembles are available from private sellers on e-Bay and elsewhere. When purchasing these, check with Barbie catalogues to see if the outfits are complete. Tiny shoes, gloves, and other accessories are easily lost, making it harder to find a vintage outfit that is complete. If all the pieces are included, the price of the ensemble will of course be higher than if it is incomplete. For play, outfits missing a piece or two may be fine; if building a collection, the higher price of a complete ensemble may be worthwhile.

Other venues for building Barbie’s wardrobe are garage sales, and trading with other Barbie doll fans. And for those with the patience, sewing outfits is an option. Many patterns are available at fabric stores, along with a wide array of fabrics and trims. Bins of fabric remnants are a gold-mine for inexpensive scraps that are big enough for a Barbie outfit.

Barbie’s original wardrobe items had tiny buttons, zippers and hooks and eyes for closures. Velcro replaced these, making it easier to dress Barbies but losing some of the charm of such details. Small fasteners can still be found at fabric stores and add an authentic touch to vintage-style clothing.

Those sewing for Barbies can also make patterns from store-bought outfits or worn-out items. For completely unique outfits, vintage clothing can be recreated in modern fabrics.

A fabric store is also good source for wardrobe accessories. In the notions department, fine lace and pearl trims make elegant necklaces for Barbies while ribbons make stylish belts and headbands.

Lastly, consider the Barbie Fashion Designer CD-ROM. This offers pictures of clothes and patterns that can be printed out.

Wardrobes for Barbie dolls can be as unique and creative as you can imagine.