When Was Barbie Given Bendable Legs

Hatfield 1 Kristin Hatfield Professor Clark English 101 3037 Page 175 Assignment 4 Paper 5 October 31, 2012 Barbie – An American Icon Icons like Barbie recognized for their popularity and effects on society. Barbie is a subject of obsession all over the world. Collectors, consumers and even some designers become enthralled in the Barbie world. Designers create special designs to fit a specific trend of the high fashion runways. Collectors all over the world collect and spend amazing amounts of money to have the original Barbie in their collection.The consumers have made Barbie a true icon in American culture. The Barbie doll was invented in 1959 by Ruth Handler (co-founder of Mattel), whose own daughter was called Barbara. The Barbie doll was introduced to the world at the American Toy Fair in New York City. Barbie's job was teenage fashion doll. In 1965, Barbie first had bendable legs, and eyes that open and shut. In 1967, a Twist ‘N Turn Barbie was released that had a moveable body that twisted at the waist. The best-selling Barbie doll ever was 1992 Totally Hair Barbie, with hair from the top of her head to her toes.The first Barbie was sold for $3. Additional clothing based on the latest runway trends from Paris were sold, costing from $1 to $5. In the first year (1959), 300,000 Barbie dolls were sold. Today, a mint condition â€Å"#1† (1959 Barbie doll) can fetch as much as $27,450. To date, over 70 fashion designers have made clothes for Mattel, using over 105 million yards of fabric. Barbie has had a huge impact on the fashion industry for over fifty years. . (Mary Bellis, About. com Guide) Hatfield 2 This is what the proportions of a life-size Barbie doll would look likeImage from (thefrisky. com) There has been some controversy over Barbie Doll's figure when it was realized that if Barbie was a real person her measurements would be an impossible 36-18-38. Barbie's â€Å"real† measurements are 5 inches (bust), 3 ? inches (wais t), 5 3/16 inches (hips). Her weight is 7 ? ounces, and her height is 11. 5 inches tall. These measurements seem unattainable to me as a woman living in a world of super-sized portions of food at every corner. Nevertheless, Mattel has also responded to concerns about Barbie’s body.In 1997 Barbie’s body mold was redesigned and given a wider waist, which would make her â€Å"better suited to contemporary fashion designs. †(The Examiner. com) I can clearly remember my first Barbie. I was five years old. It was Christmas day and I was very excited to own my very own Barbie. Along with the doll I also received a dream house, a pink corvette, swimming pool, and even a Ken doll to make the â€Å"Barbie world† complete. I was instantly obsessed with the idea and the make believe life I imagined for my dolls. Not once did I ever think of these dolls as role models or as having a certain body image that I must follow n order to be accepted in society.Unfortunately, a lot of mothers and women believe that the doll has made young women obsessive about their size and looks. Hatfield 3 Overall, this American Icon has influenced our culture in a way Mattel probably never could have ever imagined. Barbie is a doll that creates and follows fashion trends just as the world does. This iconic doll has changed her clothing, hairstyles, automobiles, friends, houses and pets. Barbie is one doll that never goes out of style and has made fashion dolls a great pastime for collectors and children young and old.