Alice In Wonderland fever has taken hold everywhere. It’s always been popular but with the release of Tim Burton’s take on the classic, Alice In Wonderland this and that and everything in between has hit the store shelves. But a natural marriage? Barbie and the characters of Wonderland.

This Queen of Hearts Barbie ain’t your everyday Barbie. She comes with an extravagant gown, a hedgehog ball and even a flamingo croquet mallet.  You can pick up one of these lovelies from Amazon here for $US38.99.

Due to the overwhelming success of TV show Mad Men, Mattel have announced they are bringing out versions of Barbie and Ken styled after four “Mad Men” characters – Joan, Roger, Don and Betty.

These dolls aren’t for child’s play though, they’re part of a premium-price collectors’ series for adults called the Barbie Fashion Model Collection with a suggested retail price of $74.95 each.

Unfortunately, they don’t come with cigarettes and martinis, but the dresses alone have me swooning.

As the New York Times points out, there is some nice resonance about the combination of the two brands – Barbie was introduced in March 1959, and the first episode of “Mad Men” is set in March 1960.

“ ‘Mad Men’ represents so beautifully the universe that created Barbie,” said Robert Thompson, professor of television and popular culture at Syracuse University, because the series is about the selling of the American consumer society.”

New York Times via Jezebel

Not only is Barbie’s shape impossible to achieve,  now kids can rest assured that they will most likely never, ever make enough money to dress like as our girl.

Here’s how it’s described on net-a-porter.com:

Limited edition Christian Louboutin for Barbie ‘Cat Burglar’ doll with red hair and green eyes. Barbie wears a black catsuit and Differa sandals, comes with 3 extra pairs of mini Louboutin shoes; Miss ankle boots, Claudia peep-toes and Altameche knee-high boots, each with a box and shoe bag.

Interesting that Toys ‘R Us recommends the doll for girls 14-16.  Lot’s of teens play with Barbies.  Right?

Image:  net-a-porter.com

After 124 jobs, hardworking Barbie has a new career – now she’s a computer engineer!

The role was chosen by online vote. Mattel explains:

For the first time ever, Barbie® asked the world to help her select her next career. Over the past few months Barbie® did research around the world and also conducted an online voting campaign, calling upon the world to vote for her doll’s next career – Barbie® has asked her Twitter followers and fans on Facebook to help her with this important career decision.

But that’s not all! Consumers loudly campaigned for another Barbie® career. The winner of the popular vote is Computer Engineer. Computer Engineer Barbie®, debuting in Winter 2010, inspires a new generation of girls to explore this important high-tech industry, which continues to grow and need future female leaders.

Computer engineer Barbie comes with glasses and a binary laptop. She may not inspire the first female Bill Gates, but she’s a nice option from the regular fairy princess overload. She is currently available for pre-order exclusively at www.MattelShop.com.

Via Gizmodo AU

Eighties nostalgia is all over the place. And of course a mega brand like Barbie had to get bitten by the bug.

Coming this December will be a line honouring US female music heroines called Ladies of the Eighties.  Who will be immortalised in doll form? Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett and Debbie Harry. Yeah, pretty rad. Each doll is available for preorder now for $US34.99.  Besides Joan Jett above check out the other ladies below.

Via:

The four Liv dolls, which are being marketed to girls aged six to 10 for $US19 a piece, all come with their own life story and character traits.

And, in a quaint nod to self-esteem, each of the dolls comes with her own personal physical imperfection. (If you can find one in any of these dolls, please let me know!)

Judging from this photo, I found it ironic that the designer has specifically worked hard to make the lips look real, “not collagen-injected.” He says he spent months examining photos of his girlfriend to make sure he gave the Liv dolls true-to-life mouths. Perhaps his girlfriend is Angelina Jolie?

Photo: Jezebel

Barbie has gone eco-concious with a new range of environmentally aware friends who aim to teach not only Barbie, but everyone that every little girl can make a world of difference.

In conjunction with the recent release of Universal Pictures, ‘Barbie presents Thumbelina’ movie, comes a new range of dolls – Blooming Thumbelina and her friends Chrysella, Janessa and Joybelle. With the press of a button Blooming Thumbelina escapes to a secret hideaway in a blooming blossom and her friends come with swappable, stackable wings that Thumbelina has made for them from the wildflowers.

The entire range of Barbie presents Thumbelina comes in 100% recyclable packaging and includes environmental fun facts which help to educate and encourage children to become environmentally friendly from a young age.

To celebrate this sweet new range, we’ve got three Barbie Thumbelina prize packs to give away.

One Major prize winner will receive:
1 x Thumbelina Blooming Doll
1 x Barbie and Flying Thumbelina
1 x Co-star doll
1 x Barbie Thumbelina DVD

Valued at $159.80!

Two runners up will each receive prize packs containing:
1 x Thumbelina Blooming Doll
1 x Barbie and Flying Thumbelina
1 x Co-star dolls

Valued at $129.85!

To enter, simply tell us your best eco-friendly household tip in the comments field below. Don’t forget to supply a valid email adress so we can contact you if you are a winner.

Please read the terms and conditions before entering. Competition closes 5pm May 13. Good luck!

Just… wow. I thought that was more Bratz territory.

Available for about $AU30, the doll pack is advertised as containing ‘Over 40 easy, no-mess tattoos to design and decorate Barbie doll’s fashions’ It comes with a ‘ plastic ‘gun’ to apply the tattoos.

The temporary tattoos can also be applied to the child.

Mattel claims that the new product encourages creative play and self-expression, and brings the Barbie range up to date for the doll’s 50th anniversary.

Critics are saying the dolls will further encourage the sexualisation of young girls. Ed Mayo, chief executive of the UK watchdog Consumer Focus, said parents ‘will be dismayed’ because their children might pester them to get tattoos themselves.

I’ll admit I’m an old fuddy-duddy, so I’m keen to see what Babble readers think — is this just a bit of harmless fun or yet another way childhood is being eroded?

[Via Daily Mail]

Official’s from Fitzroy’s John Street Community Early Childhood Co-op say that they want to “encourage the children to interact and utilise the equipment we provide to enable them to explore and develop natural play skills rather than repeating things they have seen on television.”

They believe superhero outfits can encourage rough play in boys and girly characters like Barbie and Bratz are unrealistic portrayals of women (no argument there).

Also, children may play more imaginatively if they step out of the goodies/baddies mentality of superhero stories and the ‘pretty shopper’ sterotype that Barbie and Bratz portray.

I think centres should be free to set their own rules and in a non-for-profit centre it makes sense not to allow free advertising (which is essentially what branded clothing and toys are.)

I don’t dress my son in many branded items as I think they are often ugly and tacky, but as he is only two he does’t really have a say in what I dress him in. He’d rather be naked!

Alternatively, Australian Childhood Foundation CEO Dr Joe Tucci said rather than discouraging commercial characters, children should be taught about how they fit into their world.

“Whilst we should try to limit their exposure to it we also need to teach them how to engage with it,” he said. “Trying to take us back to a time and place where marketing wasn’t part of a child’s world is unrealistic.”

Do you dress your child in character costumes and clothes? Do you notice they play any differently when wearing them?

[Source]

Heidi Klum looked awesome, as always, while celebrating Barbie’s 50th birthday. The birthday party was held at Barbie’s Dream House, yes, they actually built a real one.

Heidi looks adorable with that giant flower in her hair, it matches perfectly with the Barbie edition of the Volkswagen pink New Beetle convertible. I totally want one of those, especially if it comes with one of those vanity mirrors in the back.

Heidi said she wanted one, so she’ll probably get one and keep it in pristine condition for Leni’s first car- at least that’s what I’d do if I had money to burn and a daughter.

Can you imagine how cute she would look driving around in that car with her little blond ponytail?

Photo Credit- Lisa Rose