Barbie’s Birthday: How They’re Celebrating in Paris and Shanghai

Mattel has taken Barbie’s 50th birthday party global. After we posted news of Barbie’s human-sized Malibu dreamhouse (the setting for this evening’s gala birthday bash, planned by Colin Cowie), we heard from some far-flung readers about celebrations in other parts of the world. Par exemple, the first floor of Parisian lifestyle boutique colette has been transformed into a special “Barbie room,” featuring a collection of Barbie clothing and accessories by fashion designer Jeremy Scott as well as oodles of limited-edition Barbie products exclusive to colette, including Linda Farrow glasses, Alexis Mabille bow ties, a Goyard trunk, Bruno Frisoni stilettos, and—be still our hot pink hearts—a special edition dessert by Ladurée (pictured above).

In China, Barbie lovers are celebrating in the first ever Barbie store, which opened on Friday in downtown Shanghai. Designed by New York-based Slade Architecture and Ogilvy & Mather‘s BIG division, the six-floor, 40,000-square-foot emporium is part of Mattel’s push to transform Barbie into a global lifestyle brand. Molded, clear polycarbonate panels on the interior facade create a transparent three-dimensional layer that refers to traditional decorative architectural elements, as well as jewelry and picture frames, while a whimsical lattice pattern of Barbie iconography is printed on the exterior glass. At the core of the store is a three-story spiral staircase that encloses 800 dolls. Other features include a pink escalator, a DIY-minded “Barbie Design Center,” a cafe, and a soon-to-open spa.

“Our ability to inspire girls to be anything they dream—from a mermaid to a movie star, a fairy to a fashionista, a princess to a president—and the experiences we defined and created in the store are a direct connection to our brand’s DNA,” said Richard Dickson, senior vice president at Mattel and general manager of the Barbie brand, in a press release. Although it’s probably best to warn the girls that mermaid jobs are few and far between.

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