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Three of New Zealand’s leading designers
have created exclusive garments for the world’s most fashionable
blonde, Barbie, to celebrate her 45th Anniversary.
The garments by Tanya Carlson, Denise
L’Estrange-Corbet and Francis Hooper for World, and Trelise
Cooper, will be auctioned off with all proceeds going
to the Make A Wish Foundation. The auction starts this
week and finishes December 20, with bids to be placed
by calling the Make A Wish Foundation on 0800 625 329.
The project follows a similar one in Australia with designers
Akira, Alex Perry, Claire Dickson Smith for Third Millennium,
and Alannah Hill.
Tanya Carlson says Barbie has been a
style icon since the 1950s. “So we thought it would be
the perfect tribute to design a dress reflective of the
romantic 1950’s era,” Carlson says. “Working with Barbie
was an absolute pleasure. She was quite the professional
and never once complained throughout our many fittings.”
Each of the designers’ garments for Barbie
reflect their individual style while being inspired by
their blonde muse.
Tanya Carlson’s garment is a hand-dyed
50’s ball gown in shaded layers of jonquil, primrose and
lemon sorbet. Over a silk organza tiered petticoat, her
tulle dress is adorned with glass beads and iridescent
sequins, complete with beaded earrings, primrose satin
shoes and a signature Carlson velvet purse.
World has taken a far more conceptual
approach by recreating the label’s “Origami” outfit which
won the coveted “ New Zealand Avant Garde Fashion Design
Award” in 1995. The outfit comprises a white cardboard
bodice, black long cardboard skirt with quilted raffia
shawl that falls to the ground.
Trelise Cooper’s garment is an exquisite
gold, bronze and emerald embroidered top with a luxurious
silk skirt falling on top of layers of delicate tulle
petticoats. Cooper’s exceptional eye for detail is reflected
in the antique braided hems, vintage fabric appliqué
skirt detail, gold sparkle stilettos and sprinkling of
diamantes.
Barbie has been a fashion and style icon
since her debut in 1959, with many of the world’s most
distinguished designers from Dolce and Gabbana, Versace,
Armani, Alexander McQueen to Gucci and Prada designing
garments for her.
Since her first appearance in a stylish
zebra striped swimsuit, Barbie has reflected the fashions
of each era. A look back at Barbie from the 60s, 70s,
80s and 90s is to walk down the memory lane of fashion
and style. In the 60s, influenced by the Beatles led “British
Invasion” Barbie went mod. In the 70s she wore up to the
minute fashions reflecting the prairie and peasant looks
and the glittery disco years. In the 80s Barbie wore her
power suit and Dynasty style glamour dresses.
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