Robert Best and Barbie
Throughout the years, Barbie doll has had a plethora of designs created for her by some of the world’s best haute couture designers. Of all the designers lucky enough to work with Barbie, Robert Best has, over the last decade, designed some of the most well known and cutting edge designs for the fashion-forward doll.
Robert began his infamous collaboration with Barbie in the year 2000 with his introduction of the Fashion Model Collection. Created for the serious collector with an eye for high fashion, the Fashion Model collection feature a series of doll designs used with the ground-breaking “silkstone” line of Barbie dolls that were crafted of heavy resin and featured the sultry and glamorous looks of the original Barbie doll introduced by Ruth Handler in 1959.
The Best Collection of All!!! Get his book!
50th Anniversary Barbie Doll
The Fashion Model collection was an immediate hit with both Barbie doll collectors and high-end fashion doll enthusiasts who valued attention to detail and styling. The dolls featured coordinating accessories such as shoes, purses, jewelry, and gloves, and each doll was crafted with custom make-up and hairstyling that was unique to each design and theme. Robert Best designs became so popular with collectors that his influence reached beyond the dolls themselves. Mattel has had much success with the offerings of Robert Best artwork in the form of suitable-for-framing prints, purses, t-shirts, tote bags, and accessories for the home such as throw pillows. In 2009, Mattel bestowed the honor of designing their 50th Anniversary Barbie doll to Robert Best, and his stellar design did not disappoint. Clad in a stunning champagne colored gown accentuated with golden rhinestones and wearing coordinating golden jewelry, this flaxen-haired beauty was a favorite of collectors worldwide. Through the years, Robert Best has designed a number of “character” dolls for Mattel. He was the principal designer behind the Marilyn Monroe series (“Marilyn Monroe in White”, “Marilyn Monroe in Red”, “Marilyn Monroe in Pink”). He was also the creative factor behind some of the Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle dolls (“Eliza Doolittle at the Ascot Races”).
Most recently, Robert Best was the creative genius behind the designs of the dolls based on the television show “Mad Men”. His designs for dolls based on the characters of Don and Betty Draper, Roger Sterling, and Joan Harris have become a crossover favorite for fans of both the Barbie doll and the show. In 2010, Mattel released a glossy, full-color, hardcover book to celebrate a decade of Robert Best designs featuring original sketches of previously unreleased designs. The book was a must-have for doll collectors and fashion aficionados alike. Robert Best continues to be a driving force behind the glamour and beauty that is Barbie. His designs continue to be future classics.
My favorite designs by Robert are featured in the Silkstone Collection. A few that I had recreated are featured below.
Not only am I inspired by Barbie Doll designs for my wardrobe but also for great Halloween Costumes! Take for instance The Birds Barbie doll based on the Alfred Hitchcock classic movie, The Birds. I really wanted to buy this doll for a couple of reasons: first of all, I’m a big Hitchcock fan and secondly, I really like the outfit worn by Tippi Hedren’s character, Melanie Daniels which served a dual purpose. The dead black crows and scattered blood added to the gruesome visual. This year I went as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and copied my Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Barbie Doll look for my Costume.
Check it out:
http://www.barbiecollector.com/shop/doll/alfred-hitchcocks-birds-barbie-doll-l9633
Cheerleader Uniform:
http://sugar-sports-fans.buzzsugar.com/What-your-opinion-cheerleaders-841032