How to Design Your Own Barbie Doll

Barbie celebrated her 50th birthday in 2009 and is still the world's most famous doll. Since the original Barbie was released, many different Barbie designs have been produced. The designs here include Winter Carnival Queen Barbie and Fourth of July Parade Barbie. You can design your own Barbie by applying your favorite elements to her hair and outfit. While it might seem there's a Barbie for every occasion, there is always room for more.

Things You'll Need

• White fake fur
• White velvet
• Denim
• Red-and-white check cotton
• Brown suede
• Cardboard, paint, and sparkles for scepter, sparkler and baton
• Mini straw hat
• Ribbon for banners

Instructions

1. Choose a theme for your Barbie. Winter Carnival Queen Barbie's costume would be different from Fourth of July Parade Barbie's outfit. In both cases, the occasion and weather would determine the design.

2. Design the clothing for your Barbie. Winter Barbie might wear a long white velvet coat with matching fur trim that runs the length of the front and trims the hem. July Barbie might wear a denim skirt and short-sleeved red-and-white checkered blouse.

3. Select the color, style, and length of hair for your Barbie. Have them suit the theme and costume. Nearly all but the earliest Barbies have long hair. You might stay traditional and keep it long or go retro and shorten it. Winter Barbie would have light sparkly hair as if snow were falling and wear it in an elegant bun. July Barbie's blonde hair would be in a ponytail.

4. Choose footwear that revolves around your theme. Winter Barbie would wear white fur boots that match her coat. July Barbie might wear cowboy boots with fringe or sneakers and socks.

5. Select accessories for your costumes. Winter Barbie would wear a white fur pillbox hat. She might carry a scepter with a snowflake design in one hand and a fur muff on the other. July Barbie might wear a wide-brimmed straw hat with a red, white and blue ribbon. In one hand she would wave a sparkler and with the other carry a baton. Both might wear a banner diagonally proclaiming their titles.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you've designed your Barbie, you can make the outfit you've designed and put it on a Barbie with a similar appearance.

Resources

• Showcase of Barbie dolls over the years.