Barbie gets Kiwi makeover

Last updated 05:00 10/03/2009
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KIWI LOOK: New Zealand designer Karen Walker is pictured with the outfits she has designed for Barbie, to mark the doll's 50th anniversary.

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New Zealand designer Karen Walker has designed a new range for Barbie, to celebrate her 50th anniversary.

Walker is the latest high profile fashion designer to dress the iconic doll.

Over the past five decades Barbie has played muse to more than 70 legends of the international fashion community including Gucci, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Hermès and Patricia Field.

Walker has recreated several of her key looks from her Autumn Winter 09 ‘she’s cracked’ collection, shown at New York Fashion Week in February.

The outfits include a bronze twist front dress, a grey Wedgwood dress in wool silk cloque and Powder blue Beswick dress is shattered china silk crepe.

“Barbie has always been a fashion leader and so we wanted her to have the very latest outfits that aren’t even in the stores yet, that were only presented for the first time on the New York runway less than a month ago”. Walker said.

Barbie is the latest in a long line of famous women to be dressed by Walker, including Madonna, Kate Hudson, Claire Danes, Bjork, Claudia Schiffer and Cate Blanchett.

Karen Walker’s Barbie designs will be displayed later this week at the Karen Walker Newmarket, Auckland, store.

They will become part of the official Mattel archive collection.

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- © Fairfax NZ News

7 comments
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BC   #7   04:06 pm Mar 12 2009

Poor Poor Barbie she looks like she's put on at least 20kg. Which is no surprise since most Of KW's designs are overpriced, unflattering and generally really ugly! There are so many more fantastic Kiwi designers out there who never get the time of day KW does!! I really am at a loss to understand the hype that surrounds her.

Tish   #6   01:16 pm Mar 11 2009

I like these designs, well done. But I do think that they are a bit too old to be worn by Barbie. No little girl is going to want to play with that.

sarah   #5   11:17 am Mar 11 2009

The designs are dowdy and boring. Where is the color? The collection is a very poor reflection of New Zealand fashion. I don't think that Karen Walker deserves any sort of reputation as a designer if this is the best she can do. You can see better designs on the Project Runway reality show.

Dee   #4   07:54 pm Mar 10 2009

Wow I for one am really proud of this New Zealand designer. Karen Walker is so accomplished and respected how could anyone call her designs horrible let alone be dissapointed and embarassed Signed A lover of Barbie and a Barbie collector

Tiana   #3   02:07 pm Mar 10 2009

Nothing special, looks like they came from the sixties

Harriet   #2   01:54 pm Mar 10 2009

These designs are very cool, and definately proud to be a kiwi. NZ will forever be on the fashion map because of these designs!!

Merv   #1   11:14 am Mar 10 2009

Proud of it being kiwi and all but does anyone else thinks that the dolls look old fashion and ugly... As Karen said is a "Barbie has always been a fashion leader" i wonder why her design is shocking... Don’t see the kiwi in this... Not sure if Barbie got a Kiwi Makeover or made it to the worst dressed list???? Omg!!! the horrible hats!!!

Very Embarrassed and Disappointed.

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