AP PHOTOModels dressed in Barbie costumes and holding their matching Barbie dolls pose with a birthday cake during a press preview for the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg, Germany.Supermodel Heidi Klum was in the packed crowd and, looking like a real-life doll with a new short hairdo, drew almost as much attention as the 50 models who wore Barbie-inspired ensembles by designers including Michael Kors, Badgley Mischka and Vera Wang, all of whom will preview their fall styles later in the week.
The real-life Barbies – blond, brunette, black and Asian versions among them – wore styles that fit in with the space-age look seen in several fall collections, including a sleek white Calvin Klein minidress with a clear cape.
The hot pink color used by Alexander Wang for Barbie’s cropped blazer was similar to the lipstick color used by Adam Lippes earlier Saturday for some of his most eye-catching outfits. Shoe designer Christian Louboutin deserves a shout-out for his super-sexy, pink-patent, peep-toe stilettos.
And, of course with her slim hourglass shape, Barbie wore skinny-leg jeans by Tory Burch and Anna Sui to perfection, just like the pros did at runway shows by Yigal Azrouel and Charlotte Ronson.
Bob Mackie returned to the runway with a gold Egyptian goddess getup with feather headdress that made you wish he’d make other cameo appearances just to see his outrageous, fun costumes.
Wang and Monique Lhuillier both styled Barbie in over-the-top bridal gowns, but Kenneth Cole was the only one to give her a Ken-doll mate on the catwalk. His Barbie wore a T-shirt that said “Everyone needs a Ken.”
AP PHOTOA model wears a design by Koi Suwannagate in the first-ever Barbie runway show.
