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After half a century in high heels, Barbie finally steps into something more sensible

Mattel, the second biggest toy brand in the world, has unveiled Barbie’s new look as part o...
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Newstalk

13.28 8 Jun 2015


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After half a century in high h...

After half a century in high heels, Barbie finally steps into something more sensible

Newstalk
Newstalk

13.28 8 Jun 2015


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Mattel, the second biggest toy brand in the world, has unveiled Barbie’s new look as part of the Fashionista range, which also sees the doll, often accused of presenting girls with unrealistic body proportions, have new “articulated ankles”. The redesign of Barbie’s legs mean she can now slip into something a bit more comfortable, changing between stiletto heels or flat shoes.

Barbie's newly designed legs allow her to wear flat shoes [Mattel]

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Since the doll’s creation in 1959, her feet have always been posed at an angle to wear high-heeled shoes.

But according to a Mattel press release, the executive decision was made to articulate Barbie’s ankles in light of a newly proposed professional doll – Film Director Barbie. Mattel’s designers felt that as an auteur filmmaker, Barbie would more likely be wearing “running-around-the-set flats”.

But Barbie can still slip into heels for the film premier, the press release says.

Changing shoes is long overdue, with the American Osteopathic Association saying that extended wear of high heels and continually bending your toes can result in a number of physical ailments like ingrown toenails, nerve damage, bunions, osteoarthritis, and irreversible damage to leg tendons. 

Barbie’s legs are not the only physical change Mattel is exploring with its popular doll; after decades of criticism of the homogenous look of Barbie, the toymaker is set to unveil a number of new variations, including dolls with different skin tones, body shapes, eye and hair colours. 


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