Friendship of fashion and dolls; A story from the heart of history

Dolls have a deep connection with the world of fashion that goes back many years and continues because they both speak the same language: elegance, luxury, glamor and dreams. Reviewing the world of dolls is actually reviewing the world of fashion; For example, Barbie unveiled the first Diwali doll to celebrate one of the most important festivals in India, the dress of which was designed by Anita Dongre, or the latest unveiling of the BRATZ doll is related to the recreation of one of the looks of Galliano’s couture collection for Dior in 2000. . Also, other Barbie dolls unveiled in recent months also wore outfits inspired by Carolina Herrera’s Fall 2024 collection and Herrera’s own outfit at New York City’s Ballet Annual Fall Gala. But since when were dolls tied to the fashion world?

Pandora dolls

When dolls were first made in the 14th century, they weren’t used as toys; Rather, they were a tool to display different styles of clothing. These dolls, which later became known as “Pandoras”, were first used by French royalty and aristocrats to promote French fashion in Europe. Pandoras were made of wood; They had painted faces and their body parts were made of wax or linen. These dolls were known as “Grand Pandora” and “Petty Pandora” and had a specific task. These dolls represented the clothes and hairstyles popular throughout Europe at that time, and even during the war, royal permission was issued for them to move safely to the four corners of the world. Pandoras can be considered the ancestors of today’s store mannequins.

The primary use of dolls

During the 17th and 18th centuries, dolls were not only reserved for the court and were also used as models and advertising tools. Tailors would send the dolls to their colleagues to copy the patterns for larger, real clothes.

These dolls were used in the fashion industry for many years, but fell out of favor with the advent of fashion magazines in the 18th century, which provided a cheaper way to access the latest trends. However, in the 20th century, with the formation of a theater called “Théâtre”. De La Mode”, the dolls were revived.

Théâtre de la Mode; Revival of fashion dolls

The Théâtre de la Mode was a traveling exhibition of miniature fashion mannequins held in 1945-1946 by prominent Parisian designers such as Balenciaga, Balma and Hermès. The purpose of this exhibition was to collect aid for the survivors of the war and to revive the French fashion industry after World War II.

This exhibition not only showcased the works of Parisian designers, but also helped to promote French fashion internationally. This fashion theater was shown first in Europe and then in the United States and is now part of the permanent collection of the Maryhill Museum of Art in Washington State.

The rise and spread of Barbie

The doll industry was transformed by the introduction of Barbie by Mattel in 1959. Featuring more than 150 careers and comedy filled with glamorous outfits, Barbie became a symbol of female empowerment and captured the attention of consumers. Famous designers like Dior and Oscar De La Renta designed special clothes for this doll; The first fancy dress design for Barbie was done by Bob Mackey in 1990. Barbie has also lined up with celebrities and has always had an active presence in the world of fashion; So much so that in 2009, on the occasion of Barbie’s 50th birthday, a special fashion wash was held for this popular doll.

Bretz’s presence; A strong competitor for Barbie

In 2001, BRATZ dolls were created by MGA Entertainment and became the first doll to compete with Barbie. The dolls were introduced with a collection of four girls named Jade, Chloe, Jazmin and Sasha as girls who love fashion. These new dolls have attracted the attention of the public and especially generation Z and expanded their popularity in the doll industry; Because they did not adhere to the European beauty standards that used to dominate the market.

Popular dolls in the world of fashion

Barbie and Bratz aren’t the only dolls that have influenced fashion; Dolls such as Polly Pocket and the American Girl Doll have also had a significant impact on the fashion industry. Poly envelopes were created in 1983 and presented their miniature world with details similar to women’s makeup boxes. Fashion lovers have imitated the unique style of Pali envelopes, and fashion shows such as the Fall-Winter 2023 collection of Louve and the Fall-Winter 2023 collection of Mayumiu have been inspired by this doll.

The presence of dolls in famous fashion shows

Dolls have inspired many designers and celebrities to this day. The Moschino brand has presented several collections inspired by dolls; For example, Jeremy Scott’s spring-summer 2015 collection dedicated to Barbie. Scott also designed clothes based on paper dolls and created a miniature clothing line for Moschino.

In 2022, Balenciaga and Valentino also introduced special collections inspired by Barbie, and this year at Paris Fashion Week 2025, the Ashish brand used dolls as models instead of humans. Until now, big celebrities have appeared in big events with clothes inspired by the dolls, and this aesthetic reached its peak with the release of the movie Barbie and the trend of Barbiecore style.

last word

Dolls have long had a profound effect on designers, celebrities and fashion figures. This influence, which may be manifested in the form of a new collection or style, seems to continue in the future. This connection can lead to the creation of innovative designs and the use of certain colors and patterns that give a new look to the fashion world. In general, dolls not only inspire designers, but also form an essential part of cultural and artistic developments.