Few toys have reached the exalted status of Barbie – the blonde-tressed, blue-eyed and impossibly glamorous doll created by Ruth Handler (named after her daughter) and launched by toy brand Mattel in 1959.
Ever since then, there have been more than 200 iterations of the doll that have been released, many of which still take pride of place in nearly every little girl’s treasure trove. Barbie’s iconic and whimsical ‘dream home’, meanwhile, was first introduced in 1962.
Back in an era where women were barely allowed to have their own bank accounts, let alone their own private residences, Barbie’s home represented for the generation of young women a symbolic dream far beyond just having a whimsical pink-hued private space to call their own – it was that of female empowerment and financial independence.
To celebrate Barbie’s big 60th birthday this year, Mattel teamed up with home rental giant Airbnb to launch a special once-in-a-lifetime experience at a real life Barbie Malibu Dream House that are sure to thrill generations of Barbie fans and young millennials alike.
For a lucky foursome, they will get to turn their childhood dreams into reality and slip into the shoes – and life – of Barbie for three days when they stay at the dazzling three-storey mansion perched along the coast of Malibu.
Enwrapped by views of the California waves, the interiors of the home are equally charming. Two bedrooms and two bathroom look out to a stunning elongated swimming pool and al fresco spaces perfect for gathering a smorgasbord of friends and family for some barbecuing under the sun.
No surprise there: the entire space is emblazoned in pink. Found across wall coverings, carpets, cushions, furnishings, stationary and the balcony rails, this feminine hue inundates the living and dining areas, the kitchen, bedrooms, study and even the outdoor basketball court.
To avoid the colour drowning the out the home, however, the furniture has been carefully designed with streamlined silhouettes and a contemporary sensibility.
The result is an incredibly Instagram-ready (guests would be hard-pressed to put down their cameras the entire stay) yet just cosy enough for a pleasant rest. We can easily imagine Barbie getting plenty of beauty sleep in this dream home.
Of course, living the full Barbie life encompasses more than staying at her fabulous house. To experience it in its full spectrum, Mattel has arranged for the four guests to enjoy a range of five-star services: a haircut by celebrity hair stylist Jen Atkin and Mane Addicts Creator Collective, a one-on-one fencing session personally taught by US Olympic swordsman Ibtihaj Muhammad, personally prepared meals by Gina Clarke-Helm and a personal tour of the Columbia Space Memorial Center led by aviation engineer Jill Meyers.
All of these to make for a dream of a lifetime for any Barbie fan. They’d better act quick, through; booking opens at 11:00 am PDT on October 23 for a one-time-only stay from October 27 - October 29.
Images courtesy of Airbnb
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