BROWARD COUNTY
Posted on Friday, 07.29.11
Ken and Barbie celebrate their golden anniversary with a convention in Fort Lauderdale
Posted on Friday, 07.29.11
It's a dream world of workshops, competitions, and lots and lots of Barbies for sale at the Ken and Barbie Convention, being held in Fort Lauderdale this week.
IF YOU GO
What: Salesroom of the 2011 National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention
Where: Harbor Beach Marriot Resort & Spa, 3030 Holiday Drive, Fort Lauderdale
When: Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday
For more information:www.barbieconvention.com
By Daniela Abratt
dabratt@MiamiHerald.com
Welcome to Barbie’s Dream World, where there are no bills to pay, no need for Botox, and Ken looks as buff as he did in ’61.
“It’s like a miniature world, an escape from reality,” said Kathy Avery, 59, of Oklahoma.
Avery is one of more than 900 men and women from across the globe gathering at the 2011 National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention being held this week in Fort Lauderdale.
But this isn’t just any annual convention.
This is the year Ken turned the big Five-Oh.
This year, the convention decided to honor the couple’s golden anniversary with a “Spring Break” themed bash set on the shores of Fort Lauderdale Beach, mimicking the 1960 film “Where the Boys Are,’’ which epitomized the Ken and Barbie surfer lifestyle when they first came out.
Since then, Ken’s gotten his pilot’s license, and Barbie’s become both a doctor and computer engineer —- all without her losing her waist or him his hair.
The two have been a couple since 1961, two years after Barbie was released to stores. (Yes, Barbie is an older woman).
“Everyone has their own Barbie story, and there’s always an emotional connection,” said Katie Phillips, brand manager for Mattel, which manufactures Barbie and friends.
Take, for example, Eric Chatillon, attending the convention from Lyons, France. He began collecting Barbies in 1996 after visiting a doll museum in Paris in which he found the Barbie similar to one his aunt gave him to use as his action figure’s girlfriend.
Now, he owns about 300 vintage Barbies — the ones that remind him of his aunt — that he stores and displays in “The Barbie Room,” a second bedroom in his apartment.
Chatillon, 47, is hoping to buy a few dolls for his collection at this year’s convention.
As a child, Chatillon dropped his sister’s bubble cut Barbie from the fifth story of a building, just to see what would happen.
Her leg broke off.
“I’m much more gentle with my Barbies now,” he said.
Mattel estimates there are 100,000 collectors around the world.
Those attending the convention this week at the Harbor Beach Marriot Resort & Spa come for a number of reasons: to sell or buy dolls, mingle with other collectors, indulge in a hobby or revisit their past.
The convention, which is open to the public Saturday, is a Barbie lover’s fantasy — there are dealers selling rare dolls, workshops on sewing and restoration, couture Barbie clothing, movie screenings, competitions, raffles, parties and a fashion show.
Young and old alike donned orange tote bags and badges – and pink, lots of pink – as they wandered through Barbie’s Dream World, filled with all the clothing and pink convertibles an enthusiast could want, not to mention the smiles and hugs shared between seasoned attendees.
They perused endless tables in search of the Barbies they’ve been looking for and all the cars, outfits, furniture and Kens — Barbie’s best accessory.
And many attendees participated in the fashion show, dressing as their favorite Ken or Barbie.
Last year, Phillips dressed up with a designer as the Barbie and Ken from the movie Toy Story 3.
“We kind of killed it,” she said. “People are still coming up to me about it.”
“It’s like a miniature world, an escape from reality,” said Kathy Avery, 59, of Oklahoma.
Avery is one of more than 900 men and women from across the globe gathering at the 2011 National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention being held this week in Fort Lauderdale.
But this isn’t just any annual convention.
This is the year Ken turned the big Five-Oh.
This year, the convention decided to honor the couple’s golden anniversary with a “Spring Break” themed bash set on the shores of Fort Lauderdale Beach, mimicking the 1960 film “Where the Boys Are,’’ which epitomized the Ken and Barbie surfer lifestyle when they first came out.
Since then, Ken’s gotten his pilot’s license, and Barbie’s become both a doctor and computer engineer —- all without her losing her waist or him his hair.
The two have been a couple since 1961, two years after Barbie was released to stores. (Yes, Barbie is an older woman).
“Everyone has their own Barbie story, and there’s always an emotional connection,” said Katie Phillips, brand manager for Mattel, which manufactures Barbie and friends.
Take, for example, Eric Chatillon, attending the convention from Lyons, France. He began collecting Barbies in 1996 after visiting a doll museum in Paris in which he found the Barbie similar to one his aunt gave him to use as his action figure’s girlfriend.
Now, he owns about 300 vintage Barbies — the ones that remind him of his aunt — that he stores and displays in “The Barbie Room,” a second bedroom in his apartment.
Chatillon, 47, is hoping to buy a few dolls for his collection at this year’s convention.
As a child, Chatillon dropped his sister’s bubble cut Barbie from the fifth story of a building, just to see what would happen.
Her leg broke off.
“I’m much more gentle with my Barbies now,” he said.
Mattel estimates there are 100,000 collectors around the world.
Those attending the convention this week at the Harbor Beach Marriot Resort & Spa come for a number of reasons: to sell or buy dolls, mingle with other collectors, indulge in a hobby or revisit their past.
The convention, which is open to the public Saturday, is a Barbie lover’s fantasy — there are dealers selling rare dolls, workshops on sewing and restoration, couture Barbie clothing, movie screenings, competitions, raffles, parties and a fashion show.
Young and old alike donned orange tote bags and badges – and pink, lots of pink – as they wandered through Barbie’s Dream World, filled with all the clothing and pink convertibles an enthusiast could want, not to mention the smiles and hugs shared between seasoned attendees.
They perused endless tables in search of the Barbies they’ve been looking for and all the cars, outfits, furniture and Kens — Barbie’s best accessory.
And many attendees participated in the fashion show, dressing as their favorite Ken or Barbie.
Last year, Phillips dressed up with a designer as the Barbie and Ken from the movie Toy Story 3.
“We kind of killed it,” she said. “People are still coming up to me about it.”
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/29/2337178/ken-and-barbie-celebrate-their.html#ixzz1TXjzjNrK
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