Barbie jacket planning
Are you going to see the Barbie movie this weekend? It’s definitely a ‘must see’ for me. Here’s why…
At 5 years old I inherited my fashionable aunties collection, which included the very first Barbie ever issued. I remember the black vinyl case she came in, and wish I kept it so I could use it as retro handbag today She came with a few outfits too, including a red velvet and white satin ball gown and that iconic back and white striped one-piece bathing suit – as classic today as it was 60 years ago.
Over time, Midges, Skippers, and even a Tutti were welcomed into my Barbie family. I may have had a Ken, but if so I only used him as an accessory and never as a central character in whatever drama I was scripting. They all lived in the greatest cardboard doll house ever, which was stocked with mid-century furniture. It took my Dad hours to assemble over Christmas Eve so it would be ready for me to play with on Christmas morning. I constantly remodeled and redecorated that house with pictures from magazines, assorted boxes, empty thread spools, and anything else I could think to use, even though I wasn’t then, and am not now very good at interior design.
What I am good at, thanks to Barbie and my family, is clothing design. I come from a long line of tailors and still use the same huge pair of shears my grandfather used when he made suits in the 1930’s. My Nana taught me to embroider and my mom taught me to sew before I started first grade. My mom made most of the clothing for me and my dolls, including my Barbie outfits. Her design talents and seamstress skills made me want to make clothes too. Over time, that desire translated into a fashion design degree, a clothing line or two, and even a few awards over the years for my bespoke designs.
I am still consumed by design but most of my making these days is done on a computer. I continue to maintain a large ideas bank and recently, while I was looking through it for inspiration, I came across plans I had drawn up 20 years ago for a Barbie Jacket. Who knew the idea would be so relevant today?
I was going to sew a white wool crepe tuxedo-like jacket lined in pale pink silk charmeuse. Then I was going to make twenty-five to thirty 6-inch appliquéd and embroidered old school Barbie’s, each wearing an iconic outfit, which I would then use to create a border of Barbies around the jacket’s hemline. Back in the day, I imagined wearing the jacket with a hot pink mini tube dress and sky high black stilettos. Twenty years later, I’d opt for a more sedate hot pink silk cami and black wool crepe wide leg pants. That said, I’d still rock the heels, because a Barbie girl would NEVER wear flats!
The Grey Goddess 