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Dressing Barbie: A Celebration of the Clothes That Made America's Favorite Doll and the Incredible Woman Behind Them
A legendary fashion designer for Barbie shares the story of her adventures working behind-the-scenes at Mattel, and spotlights the creations that transformed the world’s most famous doll into a style icon in this beautifully designed book—published in commemoration of Barbie’s sixtieth anniversary—illustrated with 100 full-color photographs, including many never-before-seen images of rare and one-of-a-kind pieces from the author’s private archive.Dressing Barbie is a dazzling celebration of the clothes that made America’s favorite doll, and the incredible woman behind them. For thirty-five years, Carol Spencer enjoyed an unparalleled reign as a Barbie fashion designer, creating some of Barbie’s most iconic looks from the early 1960s until the late 1990s.
Barbie’s wide-ranging wardrobe—including princess gowns and daisy-print rompers, flirty sundresses and smart pantsuits— combined fashion trends and haute couture with a liberal dose of fantasy. In Dressing Barbie, the successful and prolific designer reminisces about her time at Mattel working with legendary figures such as Ruth Handler, Barbie’s creator, and Charlotte Johnson, the original Barbie designer, and talks about her best and most beloved clothing designs from each decade. But Carol’s most impressive creation is her own life. As Handler famously said, “Barbie always represented the fact that a girl has choices”—a credo Carol epitomized. In Dressing Barbie, she talks candidly about how she broke free of the constraints of the late 1950s to pursue a dazzling career and an independent life for herself.
Over the course of her successful and prolific career, Carol won many accolades. She was the first designer to have her signature on the doll, the first to go on a signing tour, the first to design a limited-edition Barbie Doll for collectors, and the designer of the biggest selling Barbie of all time. Now, Carol is the first member of the inner circle to take fans behind the pink curtain, revealing the fashion world of Barbie, the quintessential California girl, as never before.
Barbie’s wide-ranging wardrobe—including princess gowns and daisy-print rompers, flirty sundresses and smart pantsuits— combined fashion trends and haute couture with a liberal dose of fantasy. In Dressing Barbie, the successful and prolific designer reminisces about her time at Mattel working with legendary figures such as Ruth Handler, Barbie’s creator, and Charlotte Johnson, the original Barbie designer, and talks about her best and most beloved clothing designs from each decade. But Carol’s most impressive creation is her own life. As Handler famously said, “Barbie always represented the fact that a girl has choices”—a credo Carol epitomized. In Dressing Barbie, she talks candidly about how she broke free of the constraints of the late 1950s to pursue a dazzling career and an independent life for herself.
Over the course of her successful and prolific career, Carol won many accolades. She was the first designer to have her signature on the doll, the first to go on a signing tour, the first to design a limited-edition Barbie Doll for collectors, and the designer of the biggest selling Barbie of all time. Now, Carol is the first member of the inner circle to take fans behind the pink curtain, revealing the fashion world of Barbie, the quintessential California girl, as never before.
160 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 19, 2019
45 people are currently reading
972 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
August 15, 2023
I received a copy of this book for free for promotional purposes.
I loved everything about this book!
This book is written by Carol Spencer, who was one of the Barbie fashion designers, and chronicles her tenure at Mattel. Prior to reading this book, I had no idea who she was. I enjoyed learning about her career and the behind the scenes look at how Barbie fashions were created and the process it took to make them.
The best part of this book were the pictures. This is a big book (height-wise), so there was plenty of space for the photos. Pretty much every single design that Carol talks about is photographed so you know exactly what she is referring to. The photos allow you to see all the little details that make Barbie’s clothes (and her friends’ clothes) so special.
The writing is easy and accessible, making it suitable for kids and adults. Even if your child cannot read, they will at least enjoy the photos. (Barbie is for everyone!)
Overall, I recommend this to Barbie fans of course! Even if you’re just a casual fan, you’ll still enjoy this and it will likely make you love Barbie even more. Also, if you’re into fashion, this is also a great read for you!
I loved everything about this book!
This book is written by Carol Spencer, who was one of the Barbie fashion designers, and chronicles her tenure at Mattel. Prior to reading this book, I had no idea who she was. I enjoyed learning about her career and the behind the scenes look at how Barbie fashions were created and the process it took to make them.
The best part of this book were the pictures. This is a big book (height-wise), so there was plenty of space for the photos. Pretty much every single design that Carol talks about is photographed so you know exactly what she is referring to. The photos allow you to see all the little details that make Barbie’s clothes (and her friends’ clothes) so special.
The writing is easy and accessible, making it suitable for kids and adults. Even if your child cannot read, they will at least enjoy the photos. (Barbie is for everyone!)
Overall, I recommend this to Barbie fans of course! Even if you’re just a casual fan, you’ll still enjoy this and it will likely make you love Barbie even more. Also, if you’re into fashion, this is also a great read for you!
March 22, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. Barbie has become very Chic again, with her Movie and the Book,
Let's Call Her Barbie. I am no exception getting wrapped up in all things Barbie. For a long while Barbie was a conflicting Doll. I adored playing with her as a kid, but when I grew up was wary of the effects she had on young girls and their bodies. Yet, thinking it over realize the impact Barbie had was extraordinary. There were troublesome aspects to her proportions, yet Barbie also was always fiercely independent. She made her own choices and lived a glamorous life. Girls did love to dress Barbie as they wished and pretend she was whoever they wished. All was possible in the world of Barbie. The Author, Carol Spencer was a top Barbie Designer and it was quite interesting reading and seeing all the changes Barbie’s wardrobe went through. She changed with the times. The designs were so in Style and Done in a Way that actual clothes for women were. Carol also traveled, especially to Japan and Asia and it afforded her those opportunities. Had so much nostalgia viewing the dolls and their Outfits. A Fun Read and Culturally Important.
Let's Call Her Barbie. I am no exception getting wrapped up in all things Barbie. For a long while Barbie was a conflicting Doll. I adored playing with her as a kid, but when I grew up was wary of the effects she had on young girls and their bodies. Yet, thinking it over realize the impact Barbie had was extraordinary. There were troublesome aspects to her proportions, yet Barbie also was always fiercely independent. She made her own choices and lived a glamorous life. Girls did love to dress Barbie as they wished and pretend she was whoever they wished. All was possible in the world of Barbie. The Author, Carol Spencer was a top Barbie Designer and it was quite interesting reading and seeing all the changes Barbie’s wardrobe went through. She changed with the times. The designs were so in Style and Done in a Way that actual clothes for women were. Carol also traveled, especially to Japan and Asia and it afforded her those opportunities. Had so much nostalgia viewing the dolls and their Outfits. A Fun Read and Culturally Important.
November 21, 2021
"I dedicate this book to the child in all of us as we play, dream and evolve. Enjoy!"
How Ms. Spencer came to be a fashion designer for Barbie is a fascinating story. What a learning curve there was for Barbie doll fashions in the beginning! From the author's first fashion she designed for Mattel, Crisp'n Cool (a la Jackie Kennedy) to the last fashion she designed (Cafe Society), it's easy to see how much Carol Spencer loved what she was doing! Reading of the ups (Mod! Hair experiments! Dogs!!) and downs (The oil embargo of 1973, etc.) was fascinating, as well.
Dressing Barbie measures 8.5" x 13" which gives the reader a chance to see every detail of the fabulous photos in the book! The pages are thick which makes this book a perfect coffee table book for any Barbie lover.
How Ms. Spencer came to be a fashion designer for Barbie is a fascinating story. What a learning curve there was for Barbie doll fashions in the beginning! From the author's first fashion she designed for Mattel, Crisp'n Cool (a la Jackie Kennedy) to the last fashion she designed (Cafe Society), it's easy to see how much Carol Spencer loved what she was doing! Reading of the ups (Mod! Hair experiments! Dogs!!) and downs (The oil embargo of 1973, etc.) was fascinating, as well.
Dressing Barbie measures 8.5" x 13" which gives the reader a chance to see every detail of the fabulous photos in the book! The pages are thick which makes this book a perfect coffee table book for any Barbie lover.
April 24, 2019
Not only marvelous photos of Barbie and her friends and amazing clothes (!!) throughout the decades, but also the delightful story of how Carol Spencer became one of Barbie's designers and her years designing clothing and accessories. In her charming, always delighted-to-be-designing-for-Barbie manner, Spencer delivers bits of her own personal life but mostly her work, including insider information on different Barbies, their clothes, and how she and her colleagues made economizing and errors work for them.
For teen and adult Barbie fans and those fond of doll clothing and clothing design in general.
For teen and adult Barbie fans and those fond of doll clothing and clothing design in general.
May 30, 2019
Barbie turned 60 this year. To mark this occasion, Harper Design released a new memoir about one of Mattel’s original fashion designers, Carol Spencer: Dressing Barbie: A Celebration of the Clothes That Made America’s Favorite Doll and the Incredible Woman Behind Them. Spencer was a designer at Mattel for over 35 years and her fashions became ours.
Raised in Minneapolis, Spencer learned to sew as a girl. In 1950, she graduated high school, broke up with her boyfriend and enrolled at the Minneapolis School of Art. From there, she got a plum job as Guest Editor at Mademoiselle, then returned to Minneapolis where she designed children’s wear for Wonderalls and “misses sportswear” for Junior House. Her career at Mattel began when she answered a blind ad in Women’s Wear magazine, seeking a fashion designer. She got the job in 1963 and joined a team of four other designers, under Charlotte Johnson, Barbie’s original stylist. The intense competition between designers resulted in a mini closetful of fun styles for Barbie, Ken, Skipper, Scooter, Casey, Francie, Tutti and friends. And many of Barbie’s fashions were inspired by Spencer’s personal wardrobe.
Dressing Barbie includes pages of beautiful high quality images of a fantastic collection of dolls and clothes. As times in America and across the world changed, so did Barbie and her clothes. From the mod clothes of the 70s, to shoulder pads and big hair in the 80s and 90s, Barbie tried on more than just the latest fashion. New multi-cultural versions of Barbie were introduced, addressing a need for a better representation of girls around the world. New careers also opened up and Barbie became an astronaut, surgeon, CEO and now runs for President every election year.
I enjoyed reading about Spencer’s experiences as a fashion designer at Mattel and learning about the process of creating Barbie’s clothes. When Spencer started her career, designing was hands-on, using glue and tiny patterns. Later, computer designs made the job easier, although Spencer had always enjoyed using her hands to craft her ideas. One of the challenges was to find patterns and prints that were suitable to scale for a doll. I had not thought of that and was interested to read how they determined what to use. The Oil Embargo in 1973 also had an impact on Barbie’s clothes because they were no longer able to use polyester, acrylics or nylon fabrics which use petroleum as a base.
Dressing Barbie is a reminder of how important imaginative play is to children. Spencer leaves the reader with these thoughts: "Because I’ve been in the toy industry for so many years, I can’t help but worry about future generations. As play becomes more centered on the virtual world, will children miss out on the real-life experiences and imagination that playing with Barbie dolls offered?"
Raised in Minneapolis, Spencer learned to sew as a girl. In 1950, she graduated high school, broke up with her boyfriend and enrolled at the Minneapolis School of Art. From there, she got a plum job as Guest Editor at Mademoiselle, then returned to Minneapolis where she designed children’s wear for Wonderalls and “misses sportswear” for Junior House. Her career at Mattel began when she answered a blind ad in Women’s Wear magazine, seeking a fashion designer. She got the job in 1963 and joined a team of four other designers, under Charlotte Johnson, Barbie’s original stylist. The intense competition between designers resulted in a mini closetful of fun styles for Barbie, Ken, Skipper, Scooter, Casey, Francie, Tutti and friends. And many of Barbie’s fashions were inspired by Spencer’s personal wardrobe.
Dressing Barbie includes pages of beautiful high quality images of a fantastic collection of dolls and clothes. As times in America and across the world changed, so did Barbie and her clothes. From the mod clothes of the 70s, to shoulder pads and big hair in the 80s and 90s, Barbie tried on more than just the latest fashion. New multi-cultural versions of Barbie were introduced, addressing a need for a better representation of girls around the world. New careers also opened up and Barbie became an astronaut, surgeon, CEO and now runs for President every election year.
I enjoyed reading about Spencer’s experiences as a fashion designer at Mattel and learning about the process of creating Barbie’s clothes. When Spencer started her career, designing was hands-on, using glue and tiny patterns. Later, computer designs made the job easier, although Spencer had always enjoyed using her hands to craft her ideas. One of the challenges was to find patterns and prints that were suitable to scale for a doll. I had not thought of that and was interested to read how they determined what to use. The Oil Embargo in 1973 also had an impact on Barbie’s clothes because they were no longer able to use polyester, acrylics or nylon fabrics which use petroleum as a base.
Dressing Barbie is a reminder of how important imaginative play is to children. Spencer leaves the reader with these thoughts: "Because I’ve been in the toy industry for so many years, I can’t help but worry about future generations. As play becomes more centered on the virtual world, will children miss out on the real-life experiences and imagination that playing with Barbie dolls offered?"
April 5, 2019
I was a Barbie fiend growing up and I still find myself attracted to the visual aesthetics of the brand so I couldn’t pass up this book. It’s written by one of Barbie’s clothes designers! A concept that I never really gave much thought to, to be honest, so this turned out to be both interesting and gorgeous to look at.
April 19, 2023
I borrowed this on the recommendation of my favorite drag queen, Trixie Mattel. I mean her surname doubles as the toy company that manufactures Barbie, I have to trust her opinion. This book was so insightful and informative. I loved all the pictures and it was a quick read. Carol Spencer was an innovator and ridiculously creative. Some of the Barbie's early faces and outfits were tres stinky, but it was fascinating to see the evolution over the years. It's tricky to pick a favorite doll, but I loved it when Carol made a replica of a cowgirl Barbie outfit and wore it to the company costume contest. Icon behavior. I highly recommend this book ahead of the new Barbie movie or if you're interested in some Barbie background knowledge. Hopefully I can find some fun nonfiction books like this in the future. Barbie loves to learn, just like me!
May 4, 2019
Great photos, good writing, well put together. I found the part about how the 1970s oil embargo affected Barbie's designs especially interesting.
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July 1, 2023studying my family lore
December 26, 2023
Carol Spencer was one of the first designers to design clothes for the relatively new Barbie doll in the 1960s through to her retirement in the 1990s. Who better to tell the story of Barbie’s clothes? The book is lavishly illustrated with many photos of the clothes that Spencer made for Barbie, Ken and others over the years. Some will be familiar to those who grew up with her designs, while others show the new direction for Barbie in the 1990s – collectors. Spencer designed many of the early collector dolls’ outfits, from Scarlett O’Hara, to Eliza Doolittle and rare gowns.
It’s an interesting story of how Spencer started in the industry and how she ended up working for Mattel across the eras, from a family business to international company. The competition for design was interesting, as was the need to scale down Barbie’s patterns to ensure that they didn’t look too big. (This never occurred to me before!) It was also fascinating to read about a new fashion line (basics/parts of outfits) was dreamed up due to an excess of fabric. As a kid, I never thought about that, I just liked having outfits that matched!
Spencer also describes how fashion was a key impetus for Barbie’s looks, from Carnaby Street mod to the power dressing of the 80s. The early designs for Barbie’s clothes were lavish, with small extra details like beading or a pattern. This all came to a halt with the oil crisis of the 1970s, where there was a need to economise more. Barbie’s clothes were also made overseas in increasing quantities, which resulted in Spencer taking up projects in Asia, including the Japanese Barbie doll (which I wanted as a child and I still really want).
Of course, the best part are the photographs, many from Spencer’s own collection. There is a wide variety of clothes and accessories from Spencer’s time at Mattel as well as the original advertisement for her job and inside pictures of Mattel.
Overall, this is a great insight into Barbie, teemed with nostalgia. A must for any Barbie fan.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
It’s an interesting story of how Spencer started in the industry and how she ended up working for Mattel across the eras, from a family business to international company. The competition for design was interesting, as was the need to scale down Barbie’s patterns to ensure that they didn’t look too big. (This never occurred to me before!) It was also fascinating to read about a new fashion line (basics/parts of outfits) was dreamed up due to an excess of fabric. As a kid, I never thought about that, I just liked having outfits that matched!
Spencer also describes how fashion was a key impetus for Barbie’s looks, from Carnaby Street mod to the power dressing of the 80s. The early designs for Barbie’s clothes were lavish, with small extra details like beading or a pattern. This all came to a halt with the oil crisis of the 1970s, where there was a need to economise more. Barbie’s clothes were also made overseas in increasing quantities, which resulted in Spencer taking up projects in Asia, including the Japanese Barbie doll (which I wanted as a child and I still really want).
Of course, the best part are the photographs, many from Spencer’s own collection. There is a wide variety of clothes and accessories from Spencer’s time at Mattel as well as the original advertisement for her job and inside pictures of Mattel.
Overall, this is a great insight into Barbie, teemed with nostalgia. A must for any Barbie fan.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
August 31, 2023
how can a barbie story makes me so emo omg i really couldnt put this down easily & managed to read it in one sitting 😪🤧 this is truly such an sensational story about carol spencer and her journey in mattel where she spent 35 years ((since 1963)) designing outfits for barbie.
her dedication is SO remarkable and something that i really admire the most. <3 i could literally feel her love towards whats shes doing which is such an important aspect when it comes to enjoying work. this might just be my personal take - i always believe that enjoying our career should be a priority over earning a high $$ as it can be more fulfilling & productive. to do what you love, is happiness & i truly admire her courage and confidence in facing it all, leading in making her mark which she truly deserves. 💫
"𝐢 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐨. 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞. 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞" 🫶
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. this book is an absolute treasure & i just love how it encourages ppl to just be their authentic selves. i truly enjoyed EVERYTHING. thank you so much carol spencer for being such an inspiration to all of us especially to the younger generation 🩷
also cant help but to feel quite nostalgic, brought the mmrs back when i got my first barbie doll that my dad bought for me when i was a lil kid!! wish i still kept it 🥹🥲 also side track but barbie.com is one of the BEST game websites back then, no one can tell me otherwise 😛
her dedication is SO remarkable and something that i really admire the most. <3 i could literally feel her love towards whats shes doing which is such an important aspect when it comes to enjoying work. this might just be my personal take - i always believe that enjoying our career should be a priority over earning a high $$ as it can be more fulfilling & productive. to do what you love, is happiness & i truly admire her courage and confidence in facing it all, leading in making her mark which she truly deserves. 💫
"𝐢 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐨. 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞. 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞" 🫶
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. this book is an absolute treasure & i just love how it encourages ppl to just be their authentic selves. i truly enjoyed EVERYTHING. thank you so much carol spencer for being such an inspiration to all of us especially to the younger generation 🩷
also cant help but to feel quite nostalgic, brought the mmrs back when i got my first barbie doll that my dad bought for me when i was a lil kid!! wish i still kept it 🥹🥲 also side track but barbie.com is one of the BEST game websites back then, no one can tell me otherwise 😛
June 18, 2023
As both a fashion and history nerd, this book is exquisite. It details a good chunk of Barbie’s history, Carol Spencer’s personal career before and during her three decades of work for Mattel, behind the scenes politics and machinations within Mattel, and the actual logistics of designing for Barbie (which is very engaging for me as a fashion designer myself). Part of what I love about Barbie is that any given Barbie throughout her decades of production is a snapshot of the fashion and social history of the time she was made. You see that all throughout this beautifully photographed book and it leaves you with a deep appreciation for Carol Spencer’s work.
June 23, 2024
I really enjoy learning the stories of women who work “behind the scenes” and this falls into that category quite well. As far as the actual writing goes, it was fine, nothing spectacular, but I loved learning about the process of making Barbie’s fashion’s and Spencer’s rise through the company. I would definitely pick up a more in-depth biography or memoir should one ever be written. The pictures are really what make this book, seeing the fashions Spencer is discussing (especially the rare ones) is quite a treat and worth getting your hands on a physical copy if possible.
July 19, 2019
Carol Spencer is one of the few, if only, remaining links to the origins of Barbie, which began before 1959, and were in their early heydays when Spencer joined Mattel as a fashion designer. The book is big, and beautiful. A love story to Barbie, and all her fans, especially the ones who've been around since almost 1959.
A must for the Barbie library.
A must for the Barbie library.
July 30, 2023
My obsession with Barbie has led me to read this book. It was so fascinating to read Carol Spencer's history with Barbie and the background stories she shared behind some of Barbie's iconic looks. Carol is truly a legend, and I loved how she gave credit to the other people who helped her and were also part of Barbie's history.
April 21, 2020
Very interesting look at what it takes to design for such an icon. Carol had quite the life. I do wish there were more pictures of her sketches and the steps she describes. It would have been great to see the full process.
April 25, 2023
The best part of this book are the coloured photographs. The entire book is written in magazine style columns, and I was a big fan of that. It was a shockingly quick read. I recommend for anyone who is interested in Barbie’s fashion throughout the decades.
August 25, 2023
A fun look at the world of Barbie from one of the longest-running Mattel designers. The focus is on the designs, and Spencer glosses over the harder parts of working for Mattel and having a career in fashion design. It's fun to see how the products evolved from the 1960s to the 1990s.
March 3, 2024
Wow! So much better than I expected, when I found this at the library I thought I'd just look through the pictures, but Carol Spencer has such passion and love for her creations that I read the whole book. Learnt a lot about the creating of Barbie designs, and the changes to Mattel over the years.
January 4, 2023
i love fashion and i love barbie
July 1, 2023
This was such a fun read! Loved learning about the design process and Carol’s insights on working at Mattel and designing for Barbie over 30+ years.
June 20, 2025
De mis lecturas favoritas en lo que va del año 🤌🏻
August 5, 2023
Loved hearing from one of the head Barbie fashion designer-stylists nd getting to know her background. Carol Spencer was ahead of her time and really took on the independence and career woman life they infused into Barbie.
October 12, 2023
What an amazing career Carol Spencer had. I loved reading how she started working for Mattel and designed so many of Barbie's iconic outfits. This is going on my "to own" wishlist.
March 5, 2021
I heard Carol Spencer on a "Moth" podcast where people share their true stories. She shared about her journey to become a fashion designer and it made me want to see the book. The book has lovely photos which really took me back to the 70s when the fabric was bold in color and design. I like Carol's commentary throughout and how she tried to add depth to Barbie by going beyond the usual clothing choices that Barbie typically had.
May 2, 2019
Fantastic read!! It was so neat that a lot of the outfits Carol Spencer designed were the ones I loved to dress my Barbies in. Will definitely be purchasing this book.
July 31, 2019
This is an excellent book for anyone who has ever loved Barbie or fashion or sewing or anything remotely related. This book was not-put-down-able as much as any suspense or mystery thriller I've ever read. The pictures are colorful and lush, and the story is not bogged down in daunting details. I defy anyone who was a previous little girl to not read this book and more than once say, "I had that doll!" or "I remember that outfit!" It is a wonderful stroll down Memory Lane while outlining the changes of Mattel over the years, for better or worse. While many of us growing up probably wished we were Barbie, now I wish I were Carol Spencer!
August 13, 2023
ma pole vist kunagi päriselt mõelnud sellele, et Mattelis peavad ju olema juba aastakümneid töötanud inimesed, kelle töö on.. Barbie riideid disainida. Carol Spencer tegi seda tööd 35 aastat.
ma nuku- ja kleidipilte vaatan alati hea meelega ja neid siin ikka jagus, koos lugudega, et kuidas üks või teine välja kujunes. aga kõik see oli kuidagi... taltsas. Barbie-filmi tuules ikka lootsin näha mingeid kontroversiaalseid tooteid või läbikukkumisi ka, aga pigem oli Carol meile ikkagi ritta pannud suuremad hitid läbi aegade.
taltsas oli ka tema enda lugu. kui see karjäär tal tõesti nii sujuvalt edenes, nagu ta siin raamatus kirjeldas, siis oli tegu ikka õnnetähe all sündinud naisega, kellel juba varajastel 1950ndatel õnnestus ilma mingi probleemita kõigepealt õppida seda, mida ta tahtis, siis saada kõik töökohad, mida soovis, ja ollagi 60ndate alguseks täpselt see, keda Mattelil vaja oli: moekunsti õppinud ja laste- ja teismeliste tüdrukute riiete nii disainimise kui tootmise kogemusega disainer-stilist.
ja et mis nende 35 aasta jooksul suurkorporatsiooniks kasvanud firmas siis ka juhtus - kui Spencerit uskuda, siis suurt midagi erilist, muudkui aga sai nukuriideid teha. Barbie leiutaja Ruth Handleri finantspettustest ja tema ja ta abikaasa Mattelist lahkumisest libisetakse nt üle poole lausega. ja kui ongi olnud neid hetki, kus ülemuste otsused tunduvad olevat olnud Spencerile vastukarva, siis kõigi nende osas on tema suhtumine olnud "lõuad pidada ja edasi teenida" ja ainult aimata võib, et vb see teenimine alati nii meeldiv ei olnudki.
ja tahaks ju tegelikult kuulda küll lähemalt just neist osadest tööst, mis ei seisnenud lihtsalt roosa kanga drapeerimises nuku ümber. nt see kaks aastat, mis Spencer veetis Aasias tootmisliine ja terveid tehaseid... kui mitte juhtides, siis mingis olulises rollis igatahes, ja vot selle kohta oleks kõvasti rohkem teada tahtnud.
ainus tõeliselt emotsionaalne juhtum kogu raamatus on see, kui 1970ndatel naftaembargo tõttu ei õnnestu enam piiramatult plastikust vidinaid ja kirevaid sünteetilisi kangaid toota, vot tundub, et sel hetkel küll oli disaineritel nutt kurgus, et iga Barbie kostüümi juurde ei saanudki enam uusi spetsiaalseid kingi teha! ja riiete osas tuli ka tagasi minna olemasolevate (puuvilla)kangaste ja mustrite juurde. "And yet, every member of our design team was determined that no little girl would ever be able to tell the difference between Barbie's outfits before the oil crisis and those that came after. Together, we succeeded." - päris dramaatiline.
ühesõnaga, rohkem ikka roosa edulugu on see kõik ja suuremat "läbi raskuste tähtede poole" inspiratsiooni siit ei leia, aga ega siin mingit enda mahategemist ka pole. lihtsalt selline hästi konkreetne "olin tubli, teadsin, mis tahan, tegin kõvasti tööd ja hoidsin madalat profiili - ja saingi väga edukaks". ja kas ma ütlesin, et palju ilusaid nuku- ja kleidipilte.
ma nuku- ja kleidipilte vaatan alati hea meelega ja neid siin ikka jagus, koos lugudega, et kuidas üks või teine välja kujunes. aga kõik see oli kuidagi... taltsas. Barbie-filmi tuules ikka lootsin näha mingeid kontroversiaalseid tooteid või läbikukkumisi ka, aga pigem oli Carol meile ikkagi ritta pannud suuremad hitid läbi aegade.
taltsas oli ka tema enda lugu. kui see karjäär tal tõesti nii sujuvalt edenes, nagu ta siin raamatus kirjeldas, siis oli tegu ikka õnnetähe all sündinud naisega, kellel juba varajastel 1950ndatel õnnestus ilma mingi probleemita kõigepealt õppida seda, mida ta tahtis, siis saada kõik töökohad, mida soovis, ja ollagi 60ndate alguseks täpselt see, keda Mattelil vaja oli: moekunsti õppinud ja laste- ja teismeliste tüdrukute riiete nii disainimise kui tootmise kogemusega disainer-stilist.
ja et mis nende 35 aasta jooksul suurkorporatsiooniks kasvanud firmas siis ka juhtus - kui Spencerit uskuda, siis suurt midagi erilist, muudkui aga sai nukuriideid teha. Barbie leiutaja Ruth Handleri finantspettustest ja tema ja ta abikaasa Mattelist lahkumisest libisetakse nt üle poole lausega. ja kui ongi olnud neid hetki, kus ülemuste otsused tunduvad olevat olnud Spencerile vastukarva, siis kõigi nende osas on tema suhtumine olnud "lõuad pidada ja edasi teenida" ja ainult aimata võib, et vb see teenimine alati nii meeldiv ei olnudki.
ja tahaks ju tegelikult kuulda küll lähemalt just neist osadest tööst, mis ei seisnenud lihtsalt roosa kanga drapeerimises nuku ümber. nt see kaks aastat, mis Spencer veetis Aasias tootmisliine ja terveid tehaseid... kui mitte juhtides, siis mingis olulises rollis igatahes, ja vot selle kohta oleks kõvasti rohkem teada tahtnud.
ainus tõeliselt emotsionaalne juhtum kogu raamatus on see, kui 1970ndatel naftaembargo tõttu ei õnnestu enam piiramatult plastikust vidinaid ja kirevaid sünteetilisi kangaid toota, vot tundub, et sel hetkel küll oli disaineritel nutt kurgus, et iga Barbie kostüümi juurde ei saanudki enam uusi spetsiaalseid kingi teha! ja riiete osas tuli ka tagasi minna olemasolevate (puuvilla)kangaste ja mustrite juurde. "And yet, every member of our design team was determined that no little girl would ever be able to tell the difference between Barbie's outfits before the oil crisis and those that came after. Together, we succeeded." - päris dramaatiline.
ühesõnaga, rohkem ikka roosa edulugu on see kõik ja suuremat "läbi raskuste tähtede poole" inspiratsiooni siit ei leia, aga ega siin mingit enda mahategemist ka pole. lihtsalt selline hästi konkreetne "olin tubli, teadsin, mis tahan, tegin kõvasti tööd ja hoidsin madalat profiili - ja saingi väga edukaks". ja kas ma ütlesin, et palju ilusaid nuku- ja kleidipilte.
July 21, 2023
Many thanks to Becky's Book Reviews for bringing this to my attention!
Ah, the 1950s. Women were going out into the work force more, and there were all manner of opportunities. My mother, for example, wanted to go to a program in Pittsburgh that would have taught her computer skills, but her brothers (who were paying her tuition after her father's death) told her that she could be a teacher or a secretary. She chose teaching. Young Carol Spencer took a gamble and applied to a position that she suspected might have something to do with Barbie. After designing some children's clothing, she got the job, and started on an absolutely illustrious career making Barbie... Barbie. This is a feminist tale at heart, and such a wonderful snapshot of midcentury opportunies for women. I've always been conflicted about Barbie, but now I do think that at the time, she was definitely aspirational for many girls. It's hard to describe to modern people how important clothing was at this time. Clothing spoke volumes about you before you ever said a word. Class. Education. Socioeconomic position. But the thing was that you could make people think you were wealthier, more education, and of a higher social position if you dressed the "right" way. All of this mattered. To see Spencer's career alongside the evolution of Barbie was fascinating. I was never allowed to buy Barbie outfits; they were too expensive. I had one or two store bought ones that were birthday or Christmas gifts, but most of them were made by my mother. I did, however, practically memorize the booklets that came with the dolls and/or outfits, so when Spencer mentions outfits, I definitely remember them! I started designing for Barbie myself when I was four, and spent an inordinate amount of time in high school (high school!) making tiny Barbie clothes, ostensibly for a display at the fabric store where I worked.
Definitely buying this for my school library, because the two or three books on Barbie that I have get checked out all the time. In fact, I think this is a good opportunity to stock up on Barbie titles! Any suggestions?
Ah, the 1950s. Women were going out into the work force more, and there were all manner of opportunities. My mother, for example, wanted to go to a program in Pittsburgh that would have taught her computer skills, but her brothers (who were paying her tuition after her father's death) told her that she could be a teacher or a secretary. She chose teaching. Young Carol Spencer took a gamble and applied to a position that she suspected might have something to do with Barbie. After designing some children's clothing, she got the job, and started on an absolutely illustrious career making Barbie... Barbie. This is a feminist tale at heart, and such a wonderful snapshot of midcentury opportunies for women. I've always been conflicted about Barbie, but now I do think that at the time, she was definitely aspirational for many girls. It's hard to describe to modern people how important clothing was at this time. Clothing spoke volumes about you before you ever said a word. Class. Education. Socioeconomic position. But the thing was that you could make people think you were wealthier, more education, and of a higher social position if you dressed the "right" way. All of this mattered. To see Spencer's career alongside the evolution of Barbie was fascinating. I was never allowed to buy Barbie outfits; they were too expensive. I had one or two store bought ones that were birthday or Christmas gifts, but most of them were made by my mother. I did, however, practically memorize the booklets that came with the dolls and/or outfits, so when Spencer mentions outfits, I definitely remember them! I started designing for Barbie myself when I was four, and spent an inordinate amount of time in high school (high school!) making tiny Barbie clothes, ostensibly for a display at the fabric store where I worked.
Definitely buying this for my school library, because the two or three books on Barbie that I have get checked out all the time. In fact, I think this is a good opportunity to stock up on Barbie titles! Any suggestions?
July 17, 2023
First sentence: Barbie quite simply changed my life.
Premise/plot: Carol Spencer shares her experiences as a fashion designer for Barbie at Mattel. She worked as a designer for Mattel from 1963 through the 1990s. Four decades designing fashion and fashion accessories for Barbie (and friends). The book is packed with back stories and photographs. It is organized by decade. When she started at Mattel, there were four women working as fashion designers. I'm not sure how many more were added to that team through the decades. But she definitely played an important role in styling Barbie. This one provides context for Barbie's style. She gives behind-the-scenes look in various inspirations for various looks.
MY thoughts: I absolutely loved this one!!!! I enjoyed reading about each of the decades. I don't know that I have a favorite, favorite section. I loved finding out more behind-the-scenes glimpses of memorable and iconic dolls. Like the creation for Totally Hair Barbie, for example. She was responsible for the first MY FIRST BARBIE doll and the subsequent My First Barbie line. One of my the funniest stories is how she shares WHY there were three different fashions with gold and white stripes--a bathing suit and headdress, a holiday dress, and another shorter dress. They accidentally ordered 2,500 yards instead of 250 yards!
I read this one in one sitting. It was an awesome read. Perhaps not for every single reader. But for those that do love BARBIE or those that love fashion design or history.
I think this one works as a book that you read cover-to-cover. OR as a reference book that you skim. The photographs are awesome.
Premise/plot: Carol Spencer shares her experiences as a fashion designer for Barbie at Mattel. She worked as a designer for Mattel from 1963 through the 1990s. Four decades designing fashion and fashion accessories for Barbie (and friends). The book is packed with back stories and photographs. It is organized by decade. When she started at Mattel, there were four women working as fashion designers. I'm not sure how many more were added to that team through the decades. But she definitely played an important role in styling Barbie. This one provides context for Barbie's style. She gives behind-the-scenes look in various inspirations for various looks.
MY thoughts: I absolutely loved this one!!!! I enjoyed reading about each of the decades. I don't know that I have a favorite, favorite section. I loved finding out more behind-the-scenes glimpses of memorable and iconic dolls. Like the creation for Totally Hair Barbie, for example. She was responsible for the first MY FIRST BARBIE doll and the subsequent My First Barbie line. One of my the funniest stories is how she shares WHY there were three different fashions with gold and white stripes--a bathing suit and headdress, a holiday dress, and another shorter dress. They accidentally ordered 2,500 yards instead of 250 yards!
I read this one in one sitting. It was an awesome read. Perhaps not for every single reader. But for those that do love BARBIE or those that love fashion design or history.
I think this one works as a book that you read cover-to-cover. OR as a reference book that you skim. The photographs are awesome.
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