Best Barbies Of All Time: Top 5 Dolls, According To Experts

Barbie, the iconic fashion doll created by Ruth Handler in 1959, is a symbol of timeless beauty, style, and empowerment. When Barbie was first introduced at the American International Toy Fair in New York City, the plastic doll was the first of its kind to feature a grown-up female body, prompting little girls everywhere to imagine what life could become beyond the cradle. Today, the best Barbies represent an array of diverse themes and designs that cater to collectors and enthusiasts worldwide.

From classic Barbies showcasing various careers and fashion trends to limited-edition releases celebrating cultural diversity and iconic collaborations, the world of Barbie offers a captivating spectrum of dolls that continue to inspire creativity and imagination across generations.

The modern-day “Barbie” movie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken, has taken the world by storm. In fact, a recent study dives into one of the many creative marketing tactics that have hatched because of the massive film. Located in Malibu, the oceanfront Barbie DreamHouse created by Airbnb is the latest in a series of global marketing stunts to promote Greta Gerwig’s new film, the first live-action adventure movie about the iconic Mattel doll. Some speculate that this version of the DreamHouse has ominous implications. Read more here.

From the rise of popular dolls like Chatty Cathy to the Cabbage Kids, there is no other piece of manufactured plastic that has transcended its function to become a historical figure quite like Barbie has. In celebration of this cultural mainstay, StudyFinds rounded up 10 expert reviews to present this list of the best Barbies of all time. Did we miss your childhood favorite? Let us know in the comments!

Barbie doll
Barbie doll (Photo by Sandra Gabriel on Unsplash)

The List: Best Barbies of All Time, According to Experts

1. Original “OG” Barbie

The debut Barbie is also known as Original Barbie and as classics come, even with so many revisions to her likeness, we can’t quite forget her face. “The idea behind this doll was to portray, like Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe, the glamour of the stars of the 1950s,” writes a reviewer from Shortpedia.

Barbie’s real name is Barbara Millicent Roberts and she was inspired when the creator, Ruth Handler, watched her daughter play with paper dolls while giving them adult roles. A reviewer for 247 Tempo noted that the creator set out to fill a void in children’s play, naming the doll after her own daughter, Barbara, but the doll’s alluring aesthetic was rumored to be created to be appealing to men.

The reviewer from Top Tenz also noted that there was an understated aura surrounding the OG Barbie that was quite mysterious and, dare I say, tantalizing. They noticed that Barbie had a, “Teeny-tiny waist, a great swimsuit, and those eyes. What are those eyes telling us?”

2. Day-to-Night Barbie

By the mid ’80s Barbie was ready to break out of her glamorous mode by also becoming a CEO with the infamous introduction of Day-to-Night Barbie. This Barbie’s outfit could transform from the office day to evening play, offering the suggestion to women that they did not have to choose between career, success, and fun. “Day-to-Night Barbie depicted a new working reality for women that still kept it fun with her outfit’s ability to change into a dazzling evening look,” says The Odyssey Online.

Day-to-Night Barbie’s ‘We Girls Can do Anything’ campaign seemed to foreshadow a gender role transformation. “Although, almost 30 years later there are perhaps less gendered ways to demonstrate this than a briefcase and double breasted blazer giving way to a cute cocktail dress,” comments The Evening Standard.

Although there will always be debates over the evolving definition of femininity, a reviewer from Romper wrote, “Day-to-Night Barbie showed a multifaceted Barbie who didn’t have to shy from her femininity to get ahead.”

3. Totally Hair Barbie

Although there is no competition among Barbie’s because each one represents the range of limitless possibilities for women, there is one Barbie that even the Guinness Book of World Records had to formally acknowledge. 1992’s introduction of Totally Hair Barbie led to her becoming the best-selling Barbie doll to date, with more than 10 million dolls sold worldwide.

Totally Hair Barbie’s dominating appeal may have been due to the fact that she was sold in blonde, brunette, and African-American versions, according to a reviewer from Grunge. Although everyone’s life has its own unique twists and turns, a seemingly universal memory among many girls in the United States is one brought up by the reviewer from Pop Sugar writes, “remember styling her hair with the gel?” YES! We all do!

Totally Hair Barbie
Modern day Totally Hair Barbie

4. Black Barbie

Although Barbie had a Black friend named Christie who was released in 1968, the same year that Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, the first official Black Barbie appeared to much fanfare in 1980.

Released as a part of the “My Favorite Barbie Doll” collection, this particular Barbie was the most unique of them all. “The doll has a short Afro hairdo,” describes a reviewer from The Baltimore Sun. Worn as a symbol of Black pride since the 1960s, Black girls could now find a relatable face among the Barbie collection with an afro like theirs.

One of today's Black Barbie dolls
One of today’s Black Barbie dolls

“The first Black Barbie ushered in the glamorous ‘80s with a bold red dress with cut-out sleeves,” writes a reviewer from Yahoo. Times have changed and Barbie has changed with it. Today’s Black Barbie has had a makeover, reflecting current Black hair trends including edges with perfectly curled baby hairs, according to Country 102.5.

5. Superstar Barbie

As color television began to permeate the living rooms of Americans, allowing them a view into the world beyond their city limits in the late 1970s, larger than life superstars took center stage. Beauty became a goal as girls feasted their eyes on beautiful actresses like Carrie Fisher. When Superstar Barbie debuted in 1977, it gave girls the chance to be as close to superstardom as they would ever be. And USA Today noted that Superstar Barbie came with a gift for the child – a star necklace.
Superstar Barbie
Superstar Barbie
“Superstar Barbie was the bomb because when you played with her, you imagined you were one of the Supremes or Christie Brinkley or Brooke Shields. She represented glamour, glamour, glamour – and what little girl DOESN’T want to grow up and be glamorous? She was Kimora Lee Simmons before Kimora existed, and the boa-esque thing she wrapped around her shoulders was the icing on the cake,” states Top Tenz.

Superstar Barbie came with a facelift, a refreshing new Barbie identity that was used for the next 20 years. “With her pink gown, pink feather boa, and fabulous jewelry, Barbie is ready for a night out at Studio 54 or on stage, accepting one of her many awards. This Barbie also had a fabulous silver corvette for her and Superstar Ken to ride around in,” writes The Odyssey Online. 

A reviewer from Romper adds: “This is the Platonic ideal of Barbie. Like, close your eyes and think ‘Barbie.’ You’re probably thinking of a doll kind of like this one, right? Long blonde hair? Check. Bubblegum pink everything? Check. Subtle but distinct makeup? Check. Whatever Barbie Girl black magic went on in the making of this doll I have no choice but to respect.”

Whether Barbie reminds of us dreams of superstardom, career goals or the beginnings of self love, Barbie is and always will be, a sweet presence in our memories. Which was your favorite Barbie? Leave a comment to let us know!

You might also be interested in:

Sources:

Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.

Follow on Google News

About the Author

Te-Erika Patterson

Te-Erika is the Publisher of The Feisty News for Women, the only full-service news source for women. Te-Erika is also the author of How To Love a Powerful Woman, Leave Your Baby Daddy and Loving Female Led Relationships: Relationships that Empower Women. A graduate of The University of Florida, Te-Erika enjoys a thriving career as a digital content creator that has spanned more than a decade. She enjoys chocolate, wine and solitude, and she is currently living a quiet life in Montgomery, Alabama. Follow her @Te-Erika

The contents of this website do not constitute advice and are provided for informational purposes only. See our full disclaimer

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *