Here’s a post that you can skip entirely if you do not have a little 4-6 year old girl or niece.
Our little Ella Joy, like so many girls in her age, likes to play with her Barbie dolls. Knowing that Santa is busy wrapping up gifts, she told me she really hopes Santa will bring her new outfits for her Barbie dolls for Christmas. I told her I’ll send him a text to let him know.
So, I just spent 15minutes perusing Amazon in sheer disbelief! Can anyone explain why the official Barbie clothes are so incredibly provocative?
Here are some of the shops I ended up buying some outfits for Ella’s dolls:
Grandma Linda’s House
Love 2 Knit Doll Clothes
Poppy Frocks
Marianne’s Collection, Handmade Doll Clothes
The Designing Rose
Little Miss Crafts
All 4 U
TrailsCrafts
Even when she’s a Doctor she looks like she is about to burst out of an oversized cake. Drives me crazy.
Dec 1st, 2010 / 10:34 pm
Olivia, that comment made me laugh out loud!
Dec 1st, 2010 / 10:35 pm
You should also check out http://www.tinyfrockshop.com/ … its run by my friend Pamela!
Dec 2nd, 2010 / 1:22 am
Store bought barbie clothes are just so…can i say slutty? and really really inappropriate. Etsy is a really wonderful resource and i’m really glad it exists. There’s just so many wonderful sellers that are so incredibly talented. Also Etsy helps support local artists and small business which is always great.
Dec 2nd, 2010 / 4:10 am
You forgot about all the little boys who happen to like playing with Barbie… My 4 year old son is getting his second Barbie doll for Christmas (because our dog amputated the first one; those stick legs – so great to chew on :-)
I totally agree with you on the provocative issue. I buy only vintage Barbie clothes – on ebay.
Dec 2nd, 2010 / 7:48 am
“if you do not have a little 4-6 year old girl or niece.”
– There are adults who like to collect dolls and play with them, share photos of them, etc.
Anyway, thank you that you bought from me :)
Dec 2nd, 2010 / 9:15 am
When my sisters and I were little our absolute favorite Barbie dress that we’d fight over was a long, flowy (not at all scandalous) handmade dress. These unique pieces will be appreciated so much more than any generic super short and tight “future Frederick’s” outfits.
Dec 2nd, 2010 / 9:53 am
Are you aware of the Barbie “I Can Be…” range?
“Barbie® I Can Be…™ dolls and accessories empower girls to play out different roles and “try on” fabulous careers.”
Here’s Barbie, “Computer Engineer”:
http://shop.mattel.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4032107
Dec 2nd, 2010 / 10:13 am
I feel your pain. My girls are now in their late teens, but even back a dozen years ago slutty clothes ruled. It gets worse when you try to buy clothes for your daughter in the juniors department. Half of the selections violate most school dress codes. :P
When I was a kid, my mother had two friends who made my sister and I entire wardrobes. One friend made exquisite dresses…wedding, formal, ballet, travel outfits. The other knitted ‘sportswear’. I loved every outfit–yet had no idea how special they were until my own daughters had the dolls.
Dec 2nd, 2010 / 10:25 am
As a father, it’s mostly this reason that I do not buy my children Barbies. I think she represents unrealistic expectations in more ways than one. My girls love the american girl dolls, which are WAY too expensive IMO, but Target and Home Sew have some 18″ doll knock-offs that they love just the same. The nice thing too is that my wife can make them clothes a lot easier (and fancier) than Barbie, and they feel like they are playing with a daughter or little sister, rather than an adult. Anyway, kudos for standing up for modesty!
Dec 2nd, 2010 / 11:57 am
Here is another great site: http://www.lovvbugg.com
Doll-clothes, accessories and creative play, owned by a mother of 4 children in Virginia!
Dec 2nd, 2010 / 12:19 pm
Totally agree about Barbie, but TEXTING Santa…??
Dec 2nd, 2010 / 12:58 pm
@Rebecca, how do YOU communicate with Santa?
Dec 2nd, 2010 / 2:33 pm
Totally agree….thanks for saying that out loud!! The clothes that Mattel produces are really inappropriate given their “target audience”- 4-9 year old little girls! I was shocked to see the 3-pack of slutty outfits that my daughter received as a gift…looked like clothes for a hooker.
Dec 2nd, 2010 / 2:34 pm
I have to assume that reception stinks at the North Pole (Santa has an iphone, you know), so I go old school and write a letter, addressed to:
Santa
c/o Workshop
The North Pole
At the top, World 01010
Some years I just close my eyes and WISH real hard.
Dec 2nd, 2010 / 2:50 pm
I have a son, but even when I was a kid I made my own barbie clothes. A few years ago, I knit some clothes for a neighbor girl’s bratz doll. I think those dolls are even worse than barbie, not to mention how disturbing it is to have to pull their feet off in order to dress them.
Anyway, I email Santa: http://emailsanta.com/
Dec 2nd, 2010 / 5:18 pm
My mother detested Barbies, too, and refused to buy any of these clothes, So we started to sew, crochet, glue our own Barbie fashion – lots of fun, and a steep learning curve, very much to the motherly satisfaction!
Dec 2nd, 2010 / 7:40 pm
I hope you will all come and check out my resale Barbie clothing shop that Jamie mentioned called Tiny Frock Shop.
We are having a big Holiday sale on select merchandise!!! Use coupon code Holiday10 at check out for an additional 20% off!!!
We also sell gift packs in 10, 20, 30 and $40 amounts if you want a broad array of items picked by our Tiny Frock Shop stylists!
http://www.tinyfrockshop.com
Thanks for checking us out and pass it along!!
Pamela :)
Dec 2nd, 2010 / 9:05 pm
You should also check out http://www.fashionetteparis.com. Their clothes are made by two Parisians with fabrics sourced for designers of prêt-à-porter. And, yes, they ship to the United States.
Dec 5th, 2010 / 6:37 am
SM–I did the exact same thing! My four year old has Barbies, but the clothing..ugh, and those hooker shoes! So, I went on to Etsy and Ebay– got a whole slew of amazing 70’s and 80’s era clothing for them for the price of 3 of those “provocative” new outfits…not to mention a vintage gray and pink Camaro convertible!
Only problem is, I seem to like to play with them now more than my daughter!
Jan 10th, 2011 / 9:20 am
I thought I was the only person who refused to let her daughter have Barbie s**t clothes. I throw them away and only keep decent jeans, shirts, skirts etc and (mostly) sensible shoes. It is a trial to find them, but I must have managed as a friend told me all our Barbies dress like KD Lang. Good!
Feb 8th, 2011 / 7:06 am
I too found the clothes currently available inappropriate for my 3 year old grandaughter, thanks for pullig all of these site together.
Jul 19th, 2011 / 2:08 am
I liked as much as you’ll receive performed proper here. The cartoon is attractive, your authored subject matter stylish. nevertheless, you command get bought an shakiness over that you want be delivering the following. sick no doubt come further before once more as precisely the same just about a lot often inside case you protect this increase.
Apr 11th, 2012 / 8:57 am
I have a lot of hand made Barbie clothes and vintage. I would appreciate any comments on where to sell these or donate for a good cause. Thanks
Apr 17th, 2013 / 2:54 pm
There’s definately a great deal to find out about this topic.
I like all the points you have made.
Apr 23rd, 2014 / 1:58 am
I am sure this post has touched all the internet visitors, its really really good article on building up new weblog.
May 15th, 2014 / 6:39 am