WHAT?  Barbie: The Exhibition

WHERE?  The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, London W8 6AG

WHEN?  Now until 23rd February 2025

WHY GO?  To obsess over a doll!  She’s sixty-five and ever evolving, more in tune with today, a world away from the first Barbie doll created by Ruth Handler in 1959 that greets visitors upon arrival in this phenomenal pink extravaganza. 

If the recent film was vainglorious, this cleverly curated exhibition explains her real historical context, why and how this globally famous Mattel doll was created, and it reveals some fascinating insights along with archival footage of the original dolls being made and marketed. 

Amongst the 180 Barbie dolls on show, the timeline graduates from Barbie surfer style and hippy dippy to Barbie as a politician, an astronaut and true to form, there are numerous Prom Barbies in special Anniversary boxes.

The latest Barbie dolls reflect today’s multicultural society along with younger sister Skipper and not to be ignored Ken, whose natty wardrobe ranges from camp to corporate. 

It’s hardly a surprise that the best selling Barbie of all time focuses on her shiny hair, Totally Hair Barbie sold over 10 million across the globe in 1992 and the exhibition’s tribute is a glossy chandelier made from streaks of hair. 

Fans will love Barbie's vintage accessories that must have required supersized playrooms to accommodate her lavish room sets and racy toy cars.

Anyone for tennis?  Barbie of course, she’s always where the action is and this fun loving exhibition doesn’t disappoint.  It will instantly lift anyone’s mood on a dull day.

IN THE KNOW  Not content with merely being a global phenomenon, astronaut Barbie has even been in space!  The exhibition displays the actual doll based on role model Samantha Christoforetti.  They spent six months orbiting the Earth together aboard the International Space Station in 2022 as part of a landmark mission.