Dressed, the history of fashion is a production of Dressed Media.

With over 8 billion people in the world, we all have one thing in common.

Every day we all get dressed. Welcome to Dressed, the history of fashion.

A podcast that explores the who, what, when, of why we wear.

We are fashion historians and your host, April Callahan, and Cassidy Zachary.

Welcome Dressed listeners to part two of our series on Barbie Fashion History.

And if you haven't already, make sure and go back and listen to part one of this podcast

because this is where we learned all about the origin of Barbie, who was the brainchild of

Mattel co-founder Ruth Handler. And we also learned about how fashion was foundational to Barbie's

existence from day one. Not only did she debut as a teenage fashion model in 1959, she had a

fashionable wardrobe to match. And it is this interchangeable wardrobe sold separately that has

always been in direct conversation with the changing tides of fashion. And this interchangeable

wardrobe would also go on to make the handlers and the tell billions of dollars.

It also made Barbie a bonafide fashion icon. And a target. In episode one, you may remember,

we also spoke about the Barbie paradox. And this idea that she's always been simultaneously

adored and the subject of controversy. And part of this ongoing love hate relationship

is Barbie's commitment to fashion and a very specific, fashionable body ideal. It must be said,

which depending who you ask is either her greatest strength or her greatest failure. And we know

that this is not unique to Barbie because historically, women's participation in fashion has earned

the ridicule of society for centuries. Yes, this is correct. But what is unique in this case cast

is that Barbie is not a woman. She's a doll. She's an inanimate object. Maybe not in our hearts.

Of course, this just really points out the value that we, you know, place on this as a

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