United Colors of Barbie
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
This fall, fashion-loving girls will be able to dress just like their Barbie dolls, thanks to a new collaboration between Benetton and toymaker Mattel. United Colors of Benetton boutiques will be carrying the new Barbie Loves Benetton clothing collection for girls, as well as four Barbie dolls sporting miniature versions of the same fashions.
The looks were shown off recently at a fashion show held at Manhattan’s Gotham Hall. Before the show began, dozens of executives from Mattel mingled with Italian-speaking representatives from Benetton around circular bars adorned with Barbie dolls, as music throbbed over the loudspeakers. Designer Anna Sui was escorted to a seat in the front row, as was Baby Phat designer Kimora Lee Simmons, whose 5-year-old daughter, Ming Lee, would be modeling in the show.
Girls ranging in age from about 3 to 12 strutted and danced down the runway in the new collection’s four lines, labeled London, Paris, New York, and Stockholm. London, possibly the edgiest of the looks, featured high lace-up boots, a pleated jersey miniskirt, a “University of the Super Cuties” T-shirt layered over a white oxford shirt, and a bomber jacket. The Paris line was all pink, and included a houndstooth miniskirt, velvet pants, and a pouffy pink purse. New York, which was “influenced by city street style,” according to the press material, consisted of bright-orange leg warmers, cropped jeans, and a pink hooded sweater with rainbow trim. Stockholm, the cutest and most wearable of the looks, featured a brightly colored jacquard zippered cardigan, a white corduroy miniskirt with snowflake details, a rainbow-striped scarf, hat, and leg warmers, and white faux-fur boots.
The London and Paris collections and dolls will appear in Benetton stores September 15; New York and Stockholm will follow October 13. A special holiday apparel collection and doll will be released later in the fall.