I’ve been dying to go to the Barbie Expo since it opened in Montreal. When a Canadian trip became preferable due to the pandemic, I jumped at the chance to finally visit! It’s a free exhibit inside a mall downtown. Les Cours Mont-Royal is steps away from Universel, which is one of my favourite restaurants for breakfast. Super convenient!
Barbie has quite an impressive resume. It’s amazing how a woman with 55 years of experience manages to look so young. With 150 jobs under her belt, she’s relatable to young women with different career goals.
Mattel recently introduced Entrepreneur Barbie. Armed with a smartphone, tablet and sophisticated purse, Entrepreneur Barbie is ready to tackle the same challenges as other women entrepreneurs.
As I was reading Vogue yesterday afternoon, I couldn’t help but notice the numerous references to famous artists and collectors, including historical figures such as Gertrude Stein. Frankly, I was relieved to read a fashion mag cover to cover without stumbling upon the headline, “Prints Charming,” which too many fashion editors have included in recent spreads. However, I was more pleased to read about classic pieces inspiring modern designs that reminded me of the modern art class I took at Western last year, which featured works by Sonia Delaunay, for example.
Recently, French artist Jocelyne Grivaud sought inspiration from famous artwork to create sculptures resembling not only Mattel’s Barbie dolls, but also classic women from the art world.
Check out some of my favourites:
When you’re young, Barbie dolls tend to be at the top of your wish list. Though there has been much criticism about the Mattel dolls’ proportions, in that they can potentially influence young girls to have misconceptions of what a beautiful body looks like, the brand is aiming to integrate social good into their marketing efforts, as evident in their Barbie I Can Be campaign.
On their new interactive website: barbiedreams.com, girls around the world are invited to share their career goals and aspirations. I know I had a dentist Barbie and Barbie versions of my favourite pop stars growing up, like the Spice Girls, so now the brand is engaging its consumers on the premise of Barbie’s multitude of career paths. The website is easy to navigate and is clearly integrated into their overall marketing strategy. Adolescence may be a time of innocence, but it’s nice to see Barbie encouraging young women to think seriously about the future. Likewise, it’s unnecessary for all campaigns aiming to empower young women to focus on body image. I commend Barbie for inspiring girls to consider their professional goals while browsing the web.
Remember, girls, it’s never too early to set up a LinkedIn profile, even if your profile headline changes from “Puppy Doctor” to “Public Relations Specialist” by the time you’re a college graduate.
Update (2025): This originally linked to barbiedreams.com, a YouTube ad and criticism about Barbie on Huffington Post, which are no longer available.
