Barbie Doll Blue
Barbie Doll Blue
The Birth of Barbie’s Ken: Living in the Shadows
No comprehension of the Barbie doll is perfect without considering her boyfriend Ken, who has experienced some transitions himself throughout the years. Developed to live in Barbie’s shadow, Ken has kept up with changes which have comprised almost everything from routine style improvements to significant plastic surgery, all to reflect current styles and keep Barbie happy. Starting with the Surfer 60′s to the Disco 70′s, Ken has developed a large following and is the subject of adulation from people across the internet. Regarded a collectible in his own right, let’s take a brief look at a collector’s early chronology of the Ken doll (1960s – 1970s).
Born for a Lonely Barbie Doll
The Ken Doll came to life in 1961 as Barbie Dolls companion and he was an immediate hit as Barbie enthusiasts needed her to get a companion. The first Ken Doll had flocked hair in either blonde or brunette, blue eyes and he was 12 inches tall. Ken came with red swimming trunks, slide sandals together with a yellow beach towel. Eventually his hair became thin and fell out, so finding an original Ken doll with a full head of hair is a real victory. In the years immediately following Ken’s first release, the Ken doll was created with molded hair (blonde or brown), and came with a collectible wardrobe of clothes that would carry him thru many years. Through 1964, minor enhancements were made such as the release of a special limited edition of King Arthur.
The Mid 60s: Ken Goes Through Changes
After Ken’s first years, the Ken doll saw significant alterations. 1965 would be a watershed year for Ken; Bendable Leg Ken was a great enhancement for the Ken doll which made him far more realistic. Up until that point, life-like play with Ken and Barbie dolls was very stiff and the improvements made in the mobility and bendability of dolls during the time really increased the dolls’ popularity. Regrettably, Ken’s entrance into the Mod era didn’t start well; 1966 saw Ken being discontinued but later returned in 1968 as the Talking Ken Doll and in 1969 as Talking Ken. Talking Ken appeared with a entirely new, adult look with a muscular build and fashionable wardrobe. Obviously, his original wardrobe didn’t fit “man-Ken,” much to the dismay of collectors.
Ken Gets Groovy in the 70s
The 1970s introduced major changes to Ken that incorporated clothing, features and look. Mirroring the big cultural and stylistic changes of the day, 1971′s Action Ken Doll entered the Barbie doll scene wearing a groovy gold, psychedelic shirt with vest. Even though he still had molded brown hair, Ken unquestionably stood out in the crowd! That year, Malibu Ken was released and subsequent years saw big adjustments to fashion and functionality like real rooted hair (1973′s Mod Hair Ken). The late 70′s introduced a totally fresh look driven by the disco fashions of the day with the introduction of Superstar Ken showcasing a new face, body and wardrobe.
The Ken Doll: Barbie’s Perfect Boyfriend
Just like the Barbie doll, the creation of the Ken doll has advanced in phases; beginning simply as a young friend for his girlfriend Barbie and then evolving into more of a manifestation of the “perfect boyfriend.” Through Ken’s early development, the influence of pop culture can be seen with the dramatic stylistic modifications echoing the signs and styles of the times. Subsequently, the Ken doll is now a popular collectible in his own right and has won the sympathy of many who view him as the adoring boyfriend who is overshadowed by the beauty, personality and ambitions of his girlfriend Barbie.
Emma B. Wills is a celebrity Barbie doll enthusiast concentrating on the new Farrah Barbie doll. Read more about collectible Barbie dolls at her blog: The Farrah Fawcett Barbie Blog.
About the Author
An Avid Fan of Doll Collecting, I Enjoy Sharing My Knowledge With Others to Help Them Enjoy This Hobby Too.
Anybody know where i can find this barbie?
My daughter just recently lost all of her barbie dolls in a fire. This may sound crazy but i have been doing my best to replace them all. I have almost succeeded too. Only one of them has stumped me and i have looked EVERYWHERE!!!! This barbie has long bleached out (almost white) hair and bangs and she has almost purple lips. My daughter says she came with a see through dark greenish-blue dress with silver stars on it…if anyone can help me find this doll i would be extremely grateful!!!!!
Hollywood Nails Barbie
Here’s the original commercial,so you can make sure that this is her:
She should be relatively inexpensive to replace.
I got mine used at a flea market a few years ago for $1.00.
I suggest trying flea markets and thrift shops,like the Goodwill and the Salvation Army.
You can usually buy dolls for $2.00 or less at those places.
Lagoona Blue Monster High Doll Halloween makeup MH
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New Fashion Princess Clothes Party Dress Gown Skirt for Barbie Doll Gift 003XPU £1.20 |
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New Handmade Party Dress Barbie Clothes Gown For Barbie Doll 332 £1.05 |
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Vintage 1975 Pedigree Sindy Happy Days Dress & HTF Scarf With Shoes. NO DOLL £28.00 |
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Rumble in the Bronxs [VHS] [1997] £9.98 In Rumble in the Bronx Jackie Chan plays a visitor to America who agrees to fend off a biker gang’s designs on his uncle’s market in the Bronx. If you can get past the Vancouver skyline substituting for the New York City neighbourhood, and the cheesy dubbing job, this is another of Chan’s startling, balletic takes on martial arts action. (It’s also his first breakthrough American film.) Even if yo… |
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Barbie & The Rock Stars – Out of This World [1987] “Hi I’m Barbie. My group the Rock Stars, and I are taking off to ‘Out of this World’ in our very first video! Ken, Dana, Diva, Dee Dee, Derek and I are going where no group has gone before.. into outer space! Now our music is rocking the outer limits because we’ve launched into an adventure that’s totally ‘Out of This World’. So strap yourself in for action , because the countdown has just begun! … |
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