B is for Barbie: a childhood remembered

Barbie, Ken, Alan, Midge, Skipper and Scooter.
My dolls.
They defined the 60's, my childhood, spending hours and days creating make-believe worlds, setting up their homes, dressing them and for a decade my collection expanded.
My mother made clothes for Barbie and friends. She knitted blankets and sewed linen for their beds. Pa made me the furniture. Shawni now has my collection.

No question I had to go past the Barbie Exposition being hosted at Les Arts Decoratif on the Rue de Rivoli.
She is 57 years old, a universal icon and the brochure talks about the 'ancient dolls and dresses' on display.
Oh my!

I delighted in seeing these original dolls and how they have evolved over the decades. Behind the scenes videos on the design process was fascinating as was how Mattel has contextualised and evolved Barbie through the decades.

Who knew that Barbie got to the moon before Armstrong! In my day she was a nurse or air hostess and played tennis.

Barbie, friends and family.

First time Barbie comes to Paris.

Quite wonderful the impact of one person's vision.