Barbie is getting a Betty Draper makeover. Toy company Mattel's latest foray into dolls for adults uses hit TV show "Mad Men" as inspiration to style four limited edition Kens and Barbies. The dolls are part of a series Mattel calls the Barbie Fashion Model Collection.
The two "Ken" dolls are styled after the lead character Donald Draper and his business partner Roger Sterling. As with any doll set, however, the main event are the two "Barbies" - created with inspiration from female characters housewife Betty Draper and office manager Joan Holloway. From the looks of the early promo shots, the makers of the dolls didn't have the heart to give the Joan doll the voluptuous figure that's helped to make actress Christina Hendricks, who plays Joan on the show, into something of a style sensation. Maybe they wanted to avoid attacks from Andre Leon Talley and other "experts" about her red carpet choices?
Meanwhile, the Betty doll seems to have been given the most fashion finesse of the four characters. If Mattel wanted to really represent the characters of "Mad Men" they'd have given them cigarettes and cocktail glasses as accessories. Instead the dolls come with such things as pearls, padded underwear, and cute little hats. It's probably for the best.
By Mary Egbula, www.eightyjane.com
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