Click here to visit the new home of ParentDish!

Hot on HuffPost Parents:

 

Barbie Girls in a Barbie World - At the Prom?

by Bethany Sanders (Subscribe to Bethany Sanders's posts)
Jul 10th 2009 5:00PM

81Comments

Filed under: In The News, Weird But True, Funny Stuff, Teen Culture

Life size barbie dolls

Teens are all dolled up for prom. Image: Mikael Buck, Solentnews.biz

Prom has always been about going over the top on the glam front, but two British girls have gone to new and unusual lengths: They had themselves delivered to their prom in life-size Barbie doll boxes.

Perhaps driven by our red carpet culture, where their favorite celebs show off the latest styles in front of the cameras, British teens in the county of Hampshire, like their American counterparts, make a big deal of their arrival at prom -- showing up in limos and daring attire, and finding other ways to make a stir. Sixteen-year-olds Sammy Burns and Megan Barton took stir-making a giant leap further. At the suggestion of Sammy's mom, Debbie, the girls went as Barbies -- not just all dolled up, but complete with box and bar code.

Designed by Sammy's uncle, the boxes took two weeks to complete and are astonishingly accurate -- they even have a price tag. To add to the fun, Sammy's uncle and brother dressed up as delivery men and brought the girls in on hand carts. A forty-minute line -- forty minutes, that must be some prom! -- ensured that the girls' efforts paid off. Everyone noticed their arrival.

"We stayed in the boxes for about half an hour," Sammy says. "It was really hot and a little scary at first. But we soon got used to it and we kept smiling for everyone while they took pictures of us. It was great fun. We wanted to be properly unique -- and we were."

Properly unique for prom, yes. But Barbies are anything but individual. This stunt was definitely creative -- and well played. But as a mom, I wonder if it's entirely appropriate that these girls are packaging themselves up as dolls -- specifically, as anatomically, over-the-top playthings.

Sammy's mom said that she was inspired by her daughter's childhood love of Barbie dolls, so I'm sure they just viewed it as a harmless stunt. But what does it say about these girls that Barbie is what they aspire to be, even just for a night? And, since the Barbie folks own American Girl, is that what they'll dress as for graduation?

Cookie: Picks of the Week

    Blink Designs Sewing Kit
    Blink Design has produced a funky range of beautifully-designed Sew It Yourself Soft Toys; we are particularly keen on the babushka. $25, Our Green House.

    Hands to Hearts International Baby Massage DVD
    All proceeds from this instructional video will help improve the health of orphaned and vulnerable babies around the world so that you can learn basic baby massage strokes that will make both you and your little one feel better. $25, Hands to Hearts.

    Handstand Kids Chinese Cookbook
    The large takeout box package (including child-friendly chopsticks) makes this Chinese Cookbook kit full of delicious and healthy Chinese recipes the perfect gift for a little chef. $28, Handstand Kids.

    Heath Ceramics Tea Towel
    We love the look of this tea towel from Heath Ceramics; the print is fun, the color is spot on, and it looks perfectly at home with any collection. $18, Heath Ceramics.

    UV Skinz
    UV Skinz sun protective swimshirts carry a UPF rating of 50+, which blocks out over 98 percent of the sun's harmful rays, protecting your children's delicate skin from those damaging rays. And better yet, the designs are definitely cool enough to rule out any arguments before beach time. $31, UV Skinz.

    Simple Toddler Shoes
    Simple has just launched their first collection of footwear for toddlers and we're smitten. The toggle laces and Velcro straps make them easy to put on and take off and their non-marking outsoles keep them from scuffing your floors. $40, Simple.

    lisa leonard designs baby's first spoon
    An easy but lovely gift the next time someone you know has a baby. These stainless steel spoons are great for everyday but extra special because they're personalized, and we especially love the font. $22, Lisa Leonard Designs.

    Vitamins On Demand
    If you're like us, figuring out exactly which vitamins and supplements you need is probably too daunting a task to bother with, but Vitamins on Demand has made it pretty darn simple. You can choose a prepared pack ready-to-go or customize your own depending on your needs. $20, Vitamins On Demand.

    Bugs in a Blanket
    Even if the thought of any kind of bed bugs completely freaks you out, we think your kids will be charmed by this story of little insects that live in and old blanket. Plus, the book evokes the coziness of the bugs' texture-rich world through the mixture of a felted wool technique and an amalgam of appliqué, fabrics, and stitching. $10, Amazon.

    Suki Shirt
    You can tell that architect and illustrator Ivo Bisignano truly understands the way kids' minds work, because his Suki shirts combine style and story time. The tees, made from 100 percent organic fabric and come in three styles, depict a group of children (including a girl named Cookie!) "who existed in a world of fantasy and dreams." Beyond 7, (646) 619-6857.



Want to see even more of Barbie? Check out StyleList's coverage of this fashion icon!

Tags: barbie, barbie doll, BarbieDoll, barbies, england, fair oak, FairOak, girls, hampshire, pd-poll, photo gallery, PhotoGallery, prom

Your<span>Voice</span>

Ask Us Anything About Parenting

Get Answers

Recently Asked

More Related Questions

ReaderComments (Page 4 of 4)

Add Your Comments

Previous 20 Comments

FollowUs

Flickr RSS

TheTalkies

AskAdviceMama

How can I get my teenage son to open up?
AdviceMama Says:
Start by teaching him that it is safe to do so.
Read more

More Recent Questions: