How Barbie Dolls Have Changed Through History: Photos

Barbie made her debut with a striped swimsuit, blonde ponytail, and red lipstick. Upon her release at the 1959 American Toy Fair in New York City, Barbie was an immediate hit.

“Barbie” star Margot Robbie channeled the look with a black-and-white striped, strapless dress at a press event for the film in 2023.

Barbie got a job! Fashion designer Barbie sported a matching jacket and skirt set with a blouse and sketchbook in 1960.

Barbie and Ken hit the beach (or pool) together. Ken was introduced as Barbie’s fictional counterpart in 1961.

This “Red Flare” Barbie from 1962 features a voluminous red coat and matching hat, said to be inspired by ’60s style icon Jackie Kennedy.

“Midge” was introduced in 1963 as Barbie’s best friend. She had freckles, a button nose, and dark curled hair.

In 1964, Barbie’s “swirl ponytail” hairstyle replaced what until then had been her trademark bangs.

Barbie’s bangs returned in 1965, along with a striped jumpsuit.

“Color Magic Barbie” featured yellow hair and an equally vibrant outfit.

“TwistNTurn Barbie” in 1967 featured bendable knees and a twistable waist.

In 1968, “Talking Barbie” said things like “Let’s go shopping!”

“Christie” was the first African American doll, and was marketed as Barbie’s friend. She debuted in 1968, but is pictured here in 1969.

The Cher Barbie doll was peak ’70s, wearing a miniature version of the outfit the singer herself wore in the music video for “Half Breed.”

“Malibu Barbie” epitomized the laid-back, West Coast vibe in 1971.

The “Busy Barbie” featured hands that could hold items and flexible joints.

“Malibu Christie” joined Barbie in California in 1973.

Barbie’s Town House in 1974 featured three stories and retro decor.

Barbie the Olympic skier was released in 1975, ahead of the 1976 Winter Olympics in Austria.

Barbie stole the show as a ballerina in 1976.

“Superstar” Barbie wore a glitzy pink gown with a sparkly boa.

“Superstar” Barbie teamed up with a fabulously ’70s Ken in 1978.

Barbie and Ken matched in monogrammed swimsuits in 1979.

Teresa, the first Hispanic doll in the line, added more representation to Barbie doll collections.

Barbie took up roller skating in 1981, complete with ’80s leg warmers.

Barbie’s go-to aerobics outfit consisted of spandex and leg warmers.

Barbie’s townhouse in 1983 had a whole new look and included a dining room, eat-in kitchen, living room, and bedroom.

Barbie wore a sparkly dress resembling flower petals in 1984, with a dark-haired Ken by her side.

“Day To Night Barbie” was ready for a day at work and a night on the town.

Barbie landed on the moon as an astronaut in 1986.

“Hot Rockin’ Fun” Barbie wore a pink sparkly outfit with blue eye shadow in 1987.

In 1988, “Fashion Barbie” embodied ’80s styles from head to toe.

Spanish fashion designer Paco Rabanne created a special collection of Barbie outfits for the doll’s 30th anniversary in 1989.

Barbie’s Dreamhouse in 1990 was pink. Very, very pink.

Barbie the Air Force pilot landed on toy store shelves in 1991.

“Totally Hair Barbie” came with hair down to her ankles in 1992.

“Native American Barbie” debuted in 1993.

Barbie’s “Dolls of the World” collection included “Kenyan Barbie” in 1994.

The Barbie Goes to Ascot line of dolls included bespoke millinery.

The 1996 Happy Holidays Christmas Barbie wore a burgundy velvet gown.

Barbie learned to use the computer in 1997.

Barbie’s Deluxe Dream House, introduced in 1998, featured floral wallpaper with pink and green accents.

In 1999, “Generation Girl” Barbie wore a blue dress and denim jacket paired with red heels.

“Jewel Girl” Barbie sported a crop top and pink skirt with a grey jacket.

Following the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Barbie released Olympic swimmers with gold medals in 2001.

Barbie worked as an art teacher in 2002.

Swan Lake Barbie debuted at the 2003 Toy Fair in New York City.

The “Presidential Candidate” Barbie debuted in 2004, an election year.

Destiny’s Child Barbies were all the rage in 2005.

Barbie wore ballet shoes and a pink tutu as a ballerina in 2006.

A “Hello Kitty” Barbie was decked out in themed accessories in 2007.

Barbie hosted her own cooking show in 2008.

Barbie sported a helmet and riding boots as an equestrian in 2009.

Barbie learned to code and became a computer engineer in 2010.

After occupying many different dream houses, Barbie the architect designed them herself in 2011.

Barbie released commemorative Prince William and Kate Middleton dolls in 2012, the year after their royal wedding.

“Raquelle” played Barbie’s nemesis in the animated web series “Life in the Dreamhouse” in 2013.

In 2014, “Barbie Entrepreneur” had big plans — and a miniature smartphone.

“Made To Move” Barbie had flexible joints.

Barbie introduced “Curvy” body types in 2016.

Barbie’s first doll with a hijab was modeled after US Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad.

Barbies of Mindy Kaling, Oprah Winfrey, and Reese Witherspoon were based on the characters they played in “A Wrinkle In Time.”

Barbie’s Fashionista collection included a Black woman in a wheelchair among six different body types, nine skin tones, six eye colors, 11 hair colors, and 10 hairstyles.

New dolls in the 2020 Fashionista line include a doll with vitiligo, another with a prosthetic limb, and one without hair.

In 2021, Mattel released a line of dolls commemorating frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, including one modeled after Sarah Gilbert, a professor of vaccinology at the University of Oxford who co-created the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Actress and LGBTQ+ activist Laverne Cox, the first transgender actor to be nominated for a Primetime acting Emmy Award, became the face of a Tribute Collection Barbie in 2022.

Mattel worked with the National Down Syndrome Society to release the first Barbie with Down syndrome in 2023.

Mattel said the new Barbie’s face had a rounder shape, almond-shaped eyes, smaller ears, and a flat nasal bridge. The doll also wore pink orthotics.

Mattel released a limited-edition 2024 Lunar New Year doll wearing a traditional Chinese opera costume called a xifu.

The first Barbie doll with type 1 diabetes came out in 2025. The doll wore a continuous glucose monitor and an insulin pump.

Barbie introduced the first autistic doll in 2026 with a sensory-friendly outfit, a fidget spinner, headphones, and a tablet communication aid.

“The doll, designed with guidance from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, helps to expand what inclusion looks like in the toy aisle and beyond because every child deserves to see themselves in Barbie,” Jamie Cygielman, Mattel’s global head of dolls, said in a statement.