One day some time ago, a friend and I were in a silly mood and were thinking up funny (not to mention a few totally tasteless) names to suggest to Mattel for their next Barbie. It was right around the time when glitter, glitz and sparkle were everywhere – clothes, make-up, jewelry, girls’ toys and even shoes. We came up with one that stuck with me – Sparkle B*tch Barbie.
Over the past six months or so my hat and fascinator creations have had a kitschy and themed feel to them. I have used an ice cream cone, shoe and lollipop ornament on three different fascinators, not to mention my doll’s head steampunk horror hats. I have had it in mind for awhile now to create something with the title of Sparkle B*tch Barbie using part or all of a Barbie doll and seeing as how much I love making hats, it seemed fitting to blend the two together…and this is the end result!
This fascinator was created using a heart shaped papier mache box as the hat base. The Barbie doll used is the special issue 50th Anniversary Barbie that Mattel released a couple of years ago. I used part of the dress to cover the outside of the hat form. I also used the torso and one arm of the doll itself on the top of the hat. The bustier came with the original doll and a custom feather fascinator has been added to her hair. The hot pink with glitter roses were perfect for the theme – signature hot pink Barbie colour and sparkly. A black organza bow and feathers add the final over the top drama that glam Barbie doll designs are famous for. Black grosgrain ribbon frames and trims the outside shape of the hat along its lower edge. The fascinator has a felt lining inside the bottom of the hat form and black elastic was used for a comfortable and secure fit around the wearer’s head.
Sparkle B*tch Barbie would be the perfect compliment to a burlesque performer’s persona, liven up any fashion event or gala and would also add that extra dash of spice to a drag queen’s ensemble.
I am sure Barbie lovers and collectors that may read this will gasp and scream in horror that I could ever do something like this to a Barbie, let alone a collector issue doll. In my defense, she was sitting on a shelf collecting dust with no one truly enjoying her and was destined for the donation bag and thrift store shelves. Hmmm, perhaps I am not really helping my case with those last donation/thrift store comments… She has now been upcycled and turned into an original and unique creation that will make people smile and can truly live up to her glamorous, diva potential!
Also, just because I am a bit of a sass box in this way, I thought I would give the total Barbie devotees out there one more thing to faint and cross themselves over. Here is a before picture of the Barbie, together with the remaining carnage from the deconstruction, murder and resurrection of Sparkle B*tch Barbie. Tee hee.
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