If you enjoyed last summer's Barbie-mania with the release of Greta Gerwig's Oscar winning film, you'll love the Barbie exhibition currently running at London's Design museum. Celebrating the 11.5 inch leggy blonde's 65th birthday, the Design Museum in London has transformed into a pink dreamhouse with Barbie: The Exhibition. With over 180 dolls on display as well as houses, cars and clothes galore, this fabulous collection delves into the fascinating world of the iconic doll, exploring her evolution as a cultural phenomenon and a design icon.
Barbie: The beginning
In March 1959, Ruth Handler launched Mattel's newest creation at the New York Toy Fair: a fashion doll for little girls with the body of an adult. Ruth had noticed a gap in the market - in a world of girls playing at mother with baby dolls, she noted that "little girls just want to be bigger girls", and there was no toy available to facilitate this. Enter Barbie: Glamorous, chic and with a sassy adult body, parents were reassured by her swingy Sandra Dee ponytail and feminine wardrobe, including a wedding dress.
The exhibition opens, as the 2023 live action film does, with the "Number 1 Barbie" - the original 1959 design doll in a black-and-white swimsuit, cat-eye sunglasses, and heels. Moving into the next room, we are introduced to Barbie's boyfriend/sidekick, Ken Carson - introduced in 1961 as the ideal clean cut, preppy, all American boy - the kind of Ivy League, parent approved boyfriend that girls could aspire to date one day, and a far cry from gay icon "Earring Magic Ken," on display in the next room in his lilac mesh shirt. As the couple's popularity grew, more characters joined the Barbie world: Allan, Midge, Christie, Mattel's first black doll, created in 1968 (the first black Barbie wouldn't appear until 1980) and Stacey, Barbie's English friend who introduced Swinging Sixties Carnaby Street cool to American kids.
Furthering Barbie's reputation as a good role model, in 1961 Mattel released Barbie Sings, a six-song record of wholesome teeny-bop love songs, "recorded by" Barbie and Ken. The dolls provided a safe and age appropriate way to explore and role play womanhood, relationships and even puberty, with1975’s ‘Growing Up Skipper’ : Barbie's younger sister whose boobs grew when you rotated her arm! She was discontinued 10 years later, but you can see her on display in the exhibition.
It was interesting learning about the design process behind creating a new Barbie doll, from concept to production, including clothing sketches that look like they came straight from a fashion house's books. Visitors can see the intricate craftsmanship involved in bringing this iconic toy to life, including a video of how Barbie's hair is painstakingly added, stitch by stitch, beneath a bizarre and slightly creepy chandelier made of Barbie hair...
Barbie as a Reflection of Society
The Design Museum also delves into Barbie's role as a cultural barometer. She has mirrored societal changes, from career aspirations to diversity and inclusivity. While the eponymous blonde, leggy, impossibly thin Barbie has drawn criticism for promoting an unrealistic image to girls, Mattel has gone on to promote a far more diverse, representative line of dolls, many of which are on display: from the introduction of petite, tall and curvy body types, to 1997's Becky, a doll with a wheelchair, Barbies with vitiligo, hearing aids and prosthetic limbs, to the first Barbie with Down Syndrome, produced in 2023 in partnership with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) in the US. No longer are the non white dolls reserved for friends and sidekicks, Barbie herself, along with Ken, are now available in a 35 skin tones and dozens of hair colours and textures so that every child can feel represented.
Far from being just a clothes obsessed girl next door, Barbie has had more than 250 careers. The exhibition features dolls representing various professions, from pasta chef to surgeon, eco warrior to builder, challenging gender stereotypes and inspiring young girls that they can do, and be, anything. Barbie has represented each of the armed forces and went to the moon in 1965, four years before Neil Armstrong ever set foot there, Nearby, 1985’s "Day-to-Night" business woman Barbie complete with pink power suit and mobile phone embraces the "have it all" 80s ideal. In another example of Barbie being ahead of her time, she has run for president six times, and we can't help but think that the first President Barbie, released in 1992, has more than a hint of future first lady Hillary Clinton?
Beneath an amazing collection of space related dolls, I also spotted a gold "Jewel Hair Mermaid" Barbie which took me back to my 90s childhood, although the museum's doll's foot long blonde hair was in much better condition than my poor Barbie - I think I'd wrecked mine within weeks...
Design Innovation: In a Barbie World
Barbie's famous abode, the Barbie Dreamhouse, is also a powerful symbol of female independence. The original Barbie home is a cool, cardboard, one-room bachelorette pad. Released in 1962, when unmarried women would have been denied a mortgage in the US,
Barbie had her own flat, complete with a TV, record player, books and notably no kitchen.
While other toys focused on preparing girls for their future roles as homemakers, this was a home for an intelligent, independent woman.
Each iteration of Barbie's universe is a time capsule for fashion, home design and even cars, and it's fascinating to see miniaturized versions of iconic furniture and architectural styles presented in a playful exploration of design, from the groovy pink and green 70s furniture to the achingly 90s "Trendy Loft", complete with lava lamp and inflatable bubble chair. An independent woman has to have wheels, and Barbie's cars have included a sporty drop top 60s Austin Healy, a campervan, a 90s Jaguar XJS, a Fiat 500 and most recently, an eco friendly electric vehicle complete with charger!
A Fashion Icon in Miniature
You can't talk about Barbie without acknowledging her love of, and influence on, fashion. The exhibition showcases an array of outfits from the doll's extensive wardrobe reflecting the changing trends through the decades.
From the early, simple ensembles to the haute couture creations designed by renowned fashion houses, Barbie has been a trendsetter for decades. The exhibition cleverly juxtaposes these miniature garments with full-sized designer pieces, like Barbie's custom made beaded dress by Richard Quinn, created for Milan Fashion Week 2021. We also loved her fabulously 90s Donna Karen collaboration.
The exhibition ends looking at Barbie's modern identity, as much an icon for grownups now as she is for children. For many, Barbie is a fashion influencer! The @BarbieStyle Instagram account has almost 3 million followers, with the majority in the 18-34 age bracket, and the "Barbiecore" movement, which has exploded since the first sneak peeks of Margot Robbie in costume were released in 2022, has grownups around the world styling themselves and their homes in a joyfully nostalgic playful way, as demonstrated by the outrageously pink Balmain handbags on display. Last year's film is acknowledged with a poster and Barbie's neon rollerblading outfit, and there are large blown up copies of magazine covers including Vogue and Time Magazine, a Barbie painting by Andy Warhol and a post from Barbie's Instagram account celebrating her inclusion in Forbes' 2023 Power Women List.
Barbie's Enduring Appeal
"Barbie: The Exhibition" is more than just a showcase of toys; it's a celebration of a cultural icon. The exhibition successfully captures Barbie's enduring appeal, demonstrating how she has evolved while remaining relevant to new generations.
Whether you're a lifelong Barbie fan, a new convert after last year's film or simply curious about this cultural phenomenon, the exhibition is a fascinating and entertaining experience. It is a testament to Barbie's impact on design, fashion, and society as a whole.
Barbie is more than a doll; she’s a cultural touchstone. From her inception, she has reflected and influenced societal ideals of beauty, success, and the expectations of what a woman can and should be. Her evolving careers and appearances mirror the changing roles of women, from homemaker to astronaut. Barbie has ignited conversations about body image, gender stereotypes, and consumerism, and while controversial at times, she remains a vital symbol of aspirations and dreams for millions, sparking imaginations and inspiring future generations.
Barbie: The Exhibition is at the Design Museum, 224–238 Kensington High St, London until February 23, 2025.
Adult tickets from £14.38
Children aged 6 to 15 from £7.19
Concession/Student tickets from £10.77
Under 6s go free
Members go free
Opening hours:
10:00 – 17:00 Monday to Thursday
10:00 – 18:00 Friday to Sunday
The exhibition gallery will start closing 30 minutes before the museum does.
Nearest tube station: High Street Kensington (Circle/District lines)
A note from the Design Museum: Barbie: The Exhibition is very popular. We strongly recommend booking tickets in advance to avoid disappointment on the day. Please note that the museum accepts digital/card payments only, including ticket desk, shops and cafes.
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