1962 Barbie Dolls

Barbie doll wears a ponytail, although the popular Bubble Cut is produced in much greater numbers.

Red is her color this year, coupled with the Red Flare fashion - a vibrant red coat, hat, and handbag ensemble make quite the statement. Garden Party and Tennis Anyone are another two of Barbie doll's fun fashions for this year.

Also this year, the fuzzyheaded Ken doll is retired to a new look of painted blonde or brown hair. Read more

1961 Barbie Dolls

A year after her introduction, Barbie doll is the hottest selling fashion doll of all time. Number 5 is released, featuring different hair colors, including a shade of red known as titian. And the new Bubble Cut hairstyle is popular, courtesy of Jacqueline Kennedy.

Enchanted Evening, a charming pink satin gown, debuts this year. This fashion becomes a collector favorite, and is produced again in 1996.

Barbie gets a boyfriend when Ken doll enters the picture. He's 1/2" taller than Barbie and has short, flocked brown or blonde hair, blue eyes and movable head, arms and legs. He's ready for a day at the beach with bathing trunks, sandals and a towel. Read more

1959 Barbie Dolls

The world was first introduced to the Barbie doll in the year 1959. She debuted in the now famous black-and-white striped swimsuit and top knot ponytail that came in shades of blonde and brunette.

She also came with holes in the bottom of her feet that had metal cylinders inside them so that you could attach her to a black metal stand. Also the number one actually has no blue color in her eyes, the iris is white.

Near the end of the year 1959 the second type of ponytail Barbie was introduced to the world, known as the  number two ponytail. The only difference from the first doll was that she no longer had the holes and metal cylinders in her feet.

Although critics did not give her a warm welcome, at the New York Toy Fair where she first appeared. However she was a huge hit with little girls, selling almost 350,000 dolls in her first year of production.

A popular outfit that came out this year for Barbie was the Cotton Casual. Which was a navy and white striped dress paired up with white open toe shoes.

Other popular outfits for collectors from this year include the Gay Parisienne and the Roman Holiday.

Below is a Barbie's very first commercial from 1959... Read more

1972 Barbie Dolls

Barbie doll is more lifelike than ever this year as Walk-Lively Barbie and Talking Busy Barbie. Walk-Lively Barbie is fashioned in a brilliant red pantsuit and a yellow faux vinyl purse, complete with her own stand to walk on. Talking Busy Barbie can communicate and has rotating wrists and hands that open and close to hold a variety of accessories.

Barbie doll looks fashionable in The Short Set, a trendy and matching knit turtleneck sweater and short outfit, accented with a wide red hip-hugging belt, attached purse, and red knee-high boots. Read more

Vintage Color Magic Barbie Dolls

If you are a collector of Barbies or you are simply looking to get started, you'll find that one of the first dolls that you will find most fascinating is the Vintage Color Magic Barbies.

This is one of the most rare and difficult to find Barbie dolls out there, and it has an impressive reputation as a collectors' item. It was introduced to the market in 1966 and it has the interesting trait of being able to change the colors of some parts of its body.

Along with the doll came two different color change packets that, when mixed with water, created change in the doll's swimsuit and in her hair.

You could make your choice between the doll with black hair that would turn to Ruby Red and of a blond doll that could change to Scarlet Flame hair, though there are reports of dolls that had never been removed from their packaging turning from black to red.

In the package the Vintage Color Magic Barbie would include a diamond print swimsuit, a diamond print headband, a turquoise bobby pin, four hair ribbons, a belt for the swim suit, two color packets along with a sponge applicator, three bobby pins and an instruction booklet.

When looking at the price of these dolls, you will find that they can range from 200 to 400 dollars without the box, and between 800 to 1200 dollars if they are in boxes that have been opened.

It has been speculated that this doll, due to its position as a rarity, would be priceless to a serious collector. It is worth noting that some Vintage Color Magic Barbies have brighter make up, making them more valuable.

If you are going to be searching for a Vintage Color Magic Barbie yourself, you'll find that there are quite a few dolls that look quite similar. To assure yourself that you have the real thing, look for a 1958 stamp on the head rim and the body.

You'll find that it is worth noting this stamp because this line was reissued (albeit, without a color change ability) in 2004. Compare the retail price of 35 dollars for the 2004 and the hundreds of dollars for the Vintage and you can see a difference right away

When you are looking for a Vintage Color Magic Barbie for your collection, just be ready for some competition.

Your best bet is to try to look at retailers online and to see about other secondary retailers. Check out the auction sites and take a look at various different vendors. Though chances are slim, keep an eye out; you never know when you are going to get lucky!

1960s Vintage Barbie Dream House Commercial

This is the real vintage TV ad from the 1960's for Barbie's new Dream House and Fashion Shop. You can tell it is swell... it's Mattel!

Vintage Skipper Dolls

In 1964 Mattel brought the Skipper doll out. The vintage Skipper dolls were supposed to be about 10 years of age. They were also Barbie's younger sister. Many moms liked the idea of skipper for their daughters who were a bit young for the older Barbie dolls.

This introduction of Skipper came 5 years after the first Barbie was brought out. Just like the Barbie dolls, the Skipper dolls went through many style changes and even an age change. Finally in 2003 Mattel retired Skipper for good.

The Skipper dolls were originally 9.25" in height. There was one version though where you could actually make her grow taller. This version was manufactured in 1975 and was aptly named Growing Up Skipper. With a turn of her arms her height changed and more surprisingly her breasts grew but not everyone was pleased with that idea. (article continued below)... Read more

Vintage Allan Dolls

Allan Sherwood was the first buddy doll created for Ken. The vintage Allan doll first came on the market in 1964. His creation mirrored the creation of Barbie's pal, Midge.

Allan was advertised as Midge's boyfriend as well. Allan has the distinction of being the only one of Ken's friends to be given a last name.

The early versions of this vintage doll usually had red painted hair and brown eyes. Just like Ken, Allan was an 11 ½ " doll with straight arms and legs. One of the advertising hooks was that Allan could wear all the same clothes that Ken wore.

An interesting bit of trivia about the Allan doll is that he was named after Barbara Handler's husband, Allan Segal. (article continues below) Read more

Vintage Midge Dolls

Midge Hadley was introduced as Barbie's best friend in 1963 to counter criticism that Barbie was too mature for a children's doll. Unlike Barbie's sculpted features, Midge's face was fuller and gentler with a sprinkling of freckles across her nose.

Midge's fashionable flipped hair was available in three different colors: brunette, blond and red. There were a small portion of Midge dolls made without freckles and some that showed teeth. These models are extremely rare and very collectible today.

The original Midge had straight arms and legs, and came in a two-piece swimming suit. The color varied depending on the doll's hair color. She was made 11 ½ inches tall, just like Barbie, and a major selling point was the fact that Midge and Barbie could share clothing. (article continues below) Read more

Vintage Barbie Clothes

If you are a Barbie collector, or there is one doll that you would just love to see dressed up to the nines, you will find that there are a number of different places that you should look for some great vintage Barbie outfits.

When you are thinking about finding the best vintage Barbie clothes out there, you will find that you are not alone; there are lots of people who are on the hunt to make their dolls the best-dressed, so keep some of the following tips in mind.

First, think about what you are looking for. Are you looking for a specific set of clothing, or are you looking for something that just looks right? The more specific your goal is, the more you are going to need to look at the specialty stores, though you might find that you can get lucky in other ways. (article continues below)... Read more

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