What's the Problem with Barbie Now?

Commentry by Style and Focus PR

Doesn't it seem like people wake up finding something to complain about. What's the big deal about this Barbie doll? She's part of the Barbie Basics collection which celebrates the Little Black Dress and these dolls are endorsed by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).

Out of all the things these desperate housewives could really find to complain about they decide to focus on Barbie. They think her v-neck dress is too revealing. I find nothing controversial about this doll, in fact I have this doll as well as a couple of other dolls from the Barbie Basics collection in my home office. I think they are unique, stylish and show off the timeless LBD. These stunning dolls are sold as collectors dolls and are just merely showcasing legendary fashion.

If they don't think this doll is right for their little girl then don't purchase it. It's just that simple. These are probably the same women who had a problem with the also collectors Barbie DC Comics Black Canary and Supergirl dolls. They complained and called Black Canary the S&M Barbie when in fact, she's a superhero not a dominatrix. They complained that Supergirl's uniform was too revealing. I'm surprised they didn't say anything about Wonder Woman or Batgirl. Seriously, you just can't please anyone.

Style and Focus News Bites: Barbie, Brad and Birthday Visits

** According to the Associated Press, West Virginia Deomocratic Delegate Jeff Eldridge is proposing to ban the sale of Barbie dolls and others like her in his state. He wants to outlaw the dolls, because the dolls influence girls to place too much importance on physical beauty, at the expense of their intellectual and emotional development.

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My Response:

This is one of the dumbest things I have read, with all the things going on economically he want to go after Barbie. It's the parents responsibility to instill good judgement and values to their children and banning an iconic doll is not going to change our cultures obsession with youth and beauty. So, is he also going to ban gentlemen magazines because they hold a certain stereotypical view towards beauty on how women are suppose to look. Yeah, but I guess I don't see that happening any time soon.

** In the New York magazine article, "Why Were Milan’s Runways So Whitewashed?" details the lack of diversity among models used during fashion week in Milan.

** Shoe designer Yohji Yamamoto has signed a deal with Salvatore Ferragamo to create a new collection of ergonomic shoes called Salvatore Ferragamo for Yohji Yamamoto. The new Ferragamo footwear will be unveiled this Friday, in Yamamoto's fall 2009 runway show in Paris, according to a press release. The shoes, ergonomic Chelsea boots and hiking boots will be available to consumers early July in Yamamoto boutiques, Ferragamo flagships and more directional fashion stores. Prices will vary from just under $500 to just over $1,000. (Fashion Wire Daily)

** According to People magazine, singer Kelly Rowland paid a birthday visit to an ailing little girl, Jasmina Anema. Jasmina is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant. For her 6th birthday on Wednesday, Jasmina enjoyed pink cupcakes and received a Hello Kitty bicycle. But she was so "over the moon" when Grammy-winning singer Kelly Rowland sang "Happy Birthday" to her in her hospital room at NYU Medical Center. Jasmina told PEOPLE that "Kelly made me feel like a princess and she made me feel so special."

** According to Fashion Week Daily, Rebecca Taylor will launch a shoe and jewelry collection. She has partnered with two licensing groups: Peter Marcus Group for shoes and MJJ Brilliant for jewelry. Both collections were inspired by Taylor's ready-to-wear collection and her continuous inspiration from European flea markets and free spirited travelers. The footwear will include leather boot and sandals with prices ranging from $300-$400 at retail. The jewelry collection will consist of whimsical designs in materials such as 18K vermeil and a new signature sequin group. The jewelry line prices will range from $150-$500 retail. Both collections will be available at Rebecca Taylor the boutique, select department stores, and contemporary websites nationwide.

** Brad Pitt to meet with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to discuss Make It Right, a project launched in 2007 to construct affordable and environmentally-sustainable housing for low-income residents of the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans who lost their homes as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Pitt and Pelosi are slated to kick off their meeting at 3:30 p.m., after posing for photos for the press in the Capitol Building. (CNN)

** eBay is adding to its image as being a green company. Alan Marks, senior vice president for global communications at eBay says that its business model encourages reselling old items rather than throwing them out, and buying used merchandise rather than making new stuff reduces carbon emissions that go along with production. “We never set out to be a green business,” Mr. Marks said. “We realized it’s intrinsic.” To promote its green credentials eBay will team with Hearst to run ads Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping and Esquire.

EBay is rather late to the game in making claims about its environmentalism. Large corporations like General Electric and BP have run advertisements for years promoting their environmental efforts, for instance. “Over the last couple of years, protecting the environment has become as American as apple pie and Derek Jeter,” said Michael Brune, the executive director of the activist group Rainforest Action Network. “Every company wants to at least be seen as being friendly to the environment.”

Mr. Brune said he had mixed feelings about eBay’s claim for its green business model. “A lot of the things sold on eBay are new merchandise, and last time I checked the Postal Service still used fossil fuels for all of their planes and their trucks, so it’s not sustainable,” he said, referring to how eBay sellers ship items. “It’s fair to say that buying used goods on eBay is better for the environment, but let’s not get carried away and say this is the greenest thing since recycled paper.” (New York Times)

Meet The New Disney Princess

(Click picture to enlarge)

Tiana in 'Princess and the Frog'

by Charisse Jones
USA Today

Move over Snow White, make room for Princess Tiana.

For the first time, Disney is creating a film with an African-American princess, whose doll made its debut Monday at the American International Toy Fair in New York City.

For Disney, it's not just about being culturally and politically correct, it's also about growing its lucrative - but aging - Disney princess franchise in a tough economy. Created in 1999, Disney Princesses had $4 billion in global retail sales last year.

The cocoa-colored doll, which sports a tiara, a flowing blue gown, and is roughly the size of a Barbie, is expected to sell for about the same $10 to $15 as Barbie. Disney hopes it will boost the franchise through rough times. The $22-billion toy industry saw sales fall about 3% last year, and sales of dolls dropped a hefty 8%, according to the Toy Industry Association.

Though Princess Tiana was on the drawing board long before Barack Obama was elected the nation's first black president, marketing experts say she signals a growing awareness by industries from toy makers to cosmetic companies that diversity is critical in a nation where people of color will be the majority in little more than 30 years.

"It's very significant," says Lisa Skriloff, president of Multicultural Marketing Resources. "It's like a stamp of approval for one of the most outstanding family (entertainment) companies to say this is important."

Tiana, whose story will come to the big screen later this year in the animated musical "The Princess and the Frog," is the first princess introduced by Disney since "Mulan" in 1998.

Disney executives say that they did not set out to make a social statement.

"It was much more about the storytelling," says Kathy Franklin, vice president, global studio franchise development for Disney Consumer Products. "This was not about a conscious decision to say we need an African-American princess."

Yet, industry watchers say that when Princess Tiana dolls hit store in the fall, they will bring diversity to a marketplace where it's been sorely lacking.

Mattel, which has the license to create the Princess Tiana dolls, is planning to release its own line of black dolls in September. Part of the Barbie family, the So In Style dolls are being touted as having a more authentic appearance, from their hair to their varying skin tones.

Disney, which has had great success with its Princess franchise, predicts that sales will surge with the arrival of Tiana.

"We expect our sales of Princess Tiana products to be significant, and not just to African-American households," says Franklin.

Tiana merchandise will range from Halloween costumes to backpacks. There are plans for Tiana-themed MP3 players and digital cameras to be in stores by the end of the year, and a line of Princess Tiana and "The Princess and the Frog" books will go on sale this fall.

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Blogger Note: I do recall that Mattel had created special black Barbie dolls I believe in the 90's. I just can't quite remember the names.

Scholastic Inc. Offers Young Girls a More Positive Book Option with "Only Hearts Club" Books

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 24 -- In the wake of the recent controversy surrounding Scholastic Inc.'s decision to discontinue Bratz dolls books, the Only Hearts Club announced today that Scholastic Inc. has agreed to expand the titles it carries in the Only Hearts Club series of books.

"Especially in light of the barrage of questionable images and messages being marketed to young girls today, many telling them to grow up fast and to try and be sexy, we applaud Scholastic's decision to carry our books that focus on creating and building a positive self-image and self-confidence in young girls," said Len Simonian, President, Only Hearts Club.

The Only Hearts Club collection of books is timeless, celebrating girlhood. The books are based on the Only Hearts Club fashion dolls, comprised of eight ethnically diverse girls that formed a club with a promise to "listen to your heart and do the right thing." Only Hearts Club dolls look and dress like real girls, in trendy and cool yet age-appropriate fashions. Similarly, the storylines and dilemmas in the books are like those of real girls today. Intentionally developed alongside the dolls, the books center on dilemmas that are familiar to today's girls. Wholesome books with real-life storylines, such as the collection of books from the Only Hearts Club, are key to getting children to start reading. The books also inspire a positive play experience.

Among the titles Scholastic carries are The Friendship Heart and The Secret in the Stable.

Illustrated with rich color photographs of soft and fully posable dolls in action, the books have charming, yet suspenseful plotlines, complete with full character development, realistic dilemmas faced by real girls every day, story climaxes, and instructive, edifying resolutions highlighting the value of teamwork, friendship and social ethics. In each story, an Only Hearts Girl struggles with a difficult decision and ultimately decides to "listen to her heart and do the right thing."

The Only Hearts Club collection of dolls is a content-based brand of real-looking dolls for real girls, combining content that delivers a much-needed positive message to girls. "The sexualization of young girls is currently a huge concern especially with 10 being the new 15 and 8 the new 13," said Simonian. "At Only Hearts Club we work against today's television and music video culture where girls as young as 6 years old are told to wear revealing clothing, act sexy and chase boys. Young girls tell us they love playing with dolls that dress and look like them, and parents and grandparents are ecstatic about finally finding something good for the girls," added Simonian. Each doll has its own personality and interests, all with the common goal of true friendship and a pledge to be nice to others. The dolls combine detailed and realistic facial features with soft, fully posable bodies. Additional products from OHC include doll accessories, play sets, a complete equestrian line named the Only Hearts Horse & Pony Club featuring soft, posable dolls and horses, and a line of mini plush Only Hearts Pets.

Only Hearts Club dolls retail at $15.99. The Scholastic books retail at $6.95.

About the Only Hearts Club:
Headquartered in Southern California, OHC Group LLC is the creator of the Only Hearts Club(R) brand. The company specializes in the design, development and production of innovative toys for the specialty toy and gift market. OHC Group focuses on designing and developing products that are unique, attractive, interesting and fun to play with and also develops the content of its brands in order that they deliver a positive message to children. For more information on Only Hearts Club products and accessories, go to http://www.onlyheartsclub.com or call (805) 385-4400.


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Press Contact:

Christine King/Maya Sobolev
TMG International
maya@tmginternational.com