original 1959 Barbie in a striped black and white outfit against a blue background

A 20th Century Phenomenon: Barbie Through the Decades

by Bryn Garrett

Barbie in the 1970s

In the '70s, Barbie began to reflect the alternative lifestyles of the time. Her now long hair was let down to flow straight, and her jobs continued to break gender stereotypes. Her groovy, colorful style was only one way that we see Barbie adopting the characteristics of the 1970s.




the face of a blonde 1970s Malibu Barbie
Three Barbie dolls stand donned in 1970s-style hippie attire
The Barbie Dreamhouse as it looked in the 1970s, with yellow and white walls and a colorful maximalist interior

Makeup

As is seen in the Malibu Barbie from 1971, Barbie adopted a friendly open-mouthed smile and more simplistic makeup.

Fashion

In the 1970s, Barbie's clothing showcased pants more often and mirrored the carefree hippie aesthetic and brightly patterned styles prevalent at the time.

Dreamhouse

With the release of a few new Dreamhouses in the '70s, Barbie had now lived in a multi-story townhome with an elevator, an A-frame suburban house, and the pictured colorful home with windows and balconies.

Barbie accessories from the 1970s, including a sunhat, sunglasses, water pitcher and cups, hairbrush and mirror, telephone, camera, record player, and tennis racket
Miniature 1970s-style furniture, including an opaque red table and kitchenette
Barbie and friends chill outside her yellow 1970s Country Camper and orange motorbike

Accessories

Barbie's accessories adopted colorful, groovy vibes, and also saw more plastic material, losing a bit of the lifelike quality of the previous decade.

Furniture

Barbie's furniture was growing in its variety, with more '70s florals and increasingly colorful prints and patterns.

Cars

This vacation camper is an example of the free-spirit vibes Barbie takes on in the '70s. Her vehicles also become more diverse, with the release of motorcycles, vans, and campers.

A hippie Barbie stands with her arms up and legs splayed out
Registered Nurse Barbie, who wears a stethoscope and a teal scrub dress, surgical mask, and hat
Dolls Christie, Barbie, and Stacie stand together in orange, green, and pink 1970s attire

Body Types

In the '70s, Barbie's body type also reflected the carefree vibes of the decade, with flexible arms, hands, and knees that allowed her to dance and move as she pleased.

Careers

Barbie's number of careers were growing as she became a surgeon, Olympic Skier, and Fashion Model, to name a few.

Friends

A few new friends were introduced to Barbie's circle, including the groovy PJ, Steffie, and Cara. Her original friends remained the most popular, with Ken, Stacey, and Christie always at her side.