The new movie, 'Barbie,' sounds fun, even if there are PC lectures inserted, as some people are saying. I was remembering my own Barbies. They were so special then. They cost 17/6 if I remember correctly, which was a lot of money then. And each outfit also cost 17/6. (17 shillings and sixpence.)
The dolls didn't smile then, the smile came later. It wasn't much later, however, that there were imitation dolls, a lot cheaper.
For a while, I made a hobby of making clothes for the dolls. There was a pattern book for sewing, and also a knitting book especially for Barbies.
Once, after Mum had a chat with a neighbour, I rode my pony to her place, around a kilometre away, (or 3/4 mile we would have said then) and I was allowed to look through a wonderful collection of special fabrics, silks, satins, lace.
For a while, I made a hobby of making clothes for the dolls. There was a pattern book for sewing, and also a knitting book especially for Barbies.
I rode home carrying the fabrics that would make all sorts of tiny clothes for my dolls.
Delicate hand sewing, tiny press studs, carefully fitted jackets, (and such a curvaceous doll was not easy to fit.) I spent many hours designing and sewing that clothing.
Children these days have hundreds of Barbies, and hundreds of other toys, new ones far more frequently than only at birthdays and Christmases. They tend to be held cheap.
Back in the 50s, toys were fewer but a lot more special.
I remember my Barbies with a great deal of fondness. Millions of other women must do likewise. It is no wonder that the movie is making millions.
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