Promenade in the Park

First in the "Great Fashions of the 20th Century" series, Promenade in the Park Barbie reminds of James Cameron's film Titanic when we meet Rose Dewitt Bukater in the beginning of the film. It is one of my favourite shots in the film as the camera focuses on her wide brim hat with a deep crown, and then she turns her head to her right after she emerges from the car and we see her face for the first time. I loved her hat!

Despite the disappointing box, the detail of this Barbie is exquisite and demonstrates what Mattel's is capable of (and sadly I see few examples of such detail in the newer dolls). Her velvet hat contains 2 large white roses attached to black, blue and white feathered plumes. Barbie's light brown hair is in a chignon, and she wears beaded earrings and a two stand pearl necklace. She wears a high neck, long sleeve blouse under her blue jacket decorated with black trim with three buttons on her lapel. Typical of the fashion in the 1910s, Barbie's silhouette is made to look longer and the waistline higher with a black two fold satin sash and floor length skirt. Barbie's skirt actually contains two layers - the top layer is fully lined, decorated with black trim matching the jacket and fastened with seven tiny hand-sewn buttons (oh the detail!) and bottom layer is a pleated satin skirt. A respectable lady like Barbie couldn't possibly have gone for a walk without her gloves and a satin parasol (lined with tulle and tied with a black ribbon), and she must have promenaded  rather leisurely wearing ankle length heeled boots!

This Barbie retailed for US$60 and the prices on Ebay are rather low considering the quality and detail of this Barbie.

Release date: 1 January 1998
Label: Collector Edition

Series name: Great Fashions of the 20th Century

Mattel price: US$60

Ebay price as at April 2012: US$45 - US$60