Barbie is one of the most stylish dolls on the planet. Just take a peek at her Instagram account, @BarbieStyle, where she has 3 million followers. Over the years, Barbie has raised the bar in fashion by wearing iconic pieces by Black fashion designers. Here are six pieces that have redefined Barbie’s look to celebrate Black beauty and style.
Zerina Akers (2023)
Image: Instagram/@BarbieStyle.
Barbie partnered with fashion stylist and Emmy Award-winning costume designer Zerina Akers to curate outfits for Black History Month this February. Featuring sweatsuit sets and leather jackets, the Barbie collection captures the essence of chic streetwear.
Harlem’s Fashion Row Starring: Hanifah, Rich Fresh, Kimberly Goldson (2022)
Harlem’s Fashion Row partnered with @Barbiestyle to highlight the aesthetic of three Black designer brands — Hanifa, Rich Fresh and Kimberly Goldson — for Black History Month 2022. Brandis Daniel, founder and CEO of HRW, said the designers gave Barbie “fresh-off-the-runway glamour with their own unique style aesthetic.”
Stephen Burrows (2012)
Stephen Burroughs’ Pazette doll. Image: Mattel
Renowned designer Stephen Burrows created the Pazette Barbie doll in 2012. Barbie transforms into a fashion diva in a multi-patterned jumpsuit adorned with rhinestones and sequins, complete with a white feather headpiece.
Rachel Roy (2010)
Barbie Basics Rachel Roy. Image: Mattel, Inc.
Rachel Roy was one of the CFDA designers behind the 2010 Barbie Basics Collection, which featured Barbie in a customizable LBD. Roy’s work with color pays tribute to her own style.
Byron Lars (1997)
Renowned designer Brian Lars introduced his first Barbie design in 1995. The 16 Barbie dolls he created for Mattel by 2011 feature an intriguing mix of colors, cuts and embellishments, and are part of the brand’s first collection of African-American dolls.
Kitty Black Perkins (1980)
Black Barbie. Image: Mattel.
Kitty Black Perkins, a fashion designer who designed over 100 styles for Barbie, created the first African-American doll to bear the Barbie name for Mattel. Known as “Black Barbie,” she wore the now-famous red sparkly bodysuit and detachable skirt that was popular in the late ’70s.
