Master of Couture

Posted on 14 December, 2012 by admin

No I’m not talking about myself.
I am, in fact referring to the Valentino, Master of Couture exhibition at Somerset House.

I went along last night with my friend Kitty. Museums at night = FUN.
There were some amazing frocks on display. I loved the curation. The mannequins are displayed standing by or sitting on or reclining (did any of them recline? Not sure) in a salon setting along rows of seats laid out for a fashion show, complete with dress numbers and Réservé signs…

Much like this, from the BOTD archive…

The show would have been better with a leopard print carpet.
And more dolls…

That’s obviously me and Kitty sat down, working out how to make the couture gowns.
Except a) no sitting down allowed! Or eating! Or drinking! We were told as we entered the exhibition. It’s as if they’d seen us coming! I casually asked if we were allowed to try anything on. No laughs from security.
And b) turns out we didn’t need to work it out. There was a handy room explaining all the couture techniques, though not how to scale it down to miniature. But we love a challenge.
Anyway. If you like Valentino and or dresses then you will probably like it.
From the poster I kinda expected a room dedicated to his signature red dresses. No such luck. Good job I whipped up this little number…

Here’s a video about the exhibition…

And here is the trailer for The Last Emperor. If you can’t go see the show then you should deffo download this on iTunes as it is fantabulous! Plus all those red dresses make for festive viewing.

We Need To Talk…

Posted on 9 September, 2012 by admin

… about the Paralympics.
It all ends tonight with a show to end all shows, apparently, and a show to end the summer of sport, of medals and magic moments.
So why, I hear you ask, is Beyoncé looking out at me from under those (amazing) spectacles, in that super sexy bodycon red dress? Why Beyoncé and not a Paralympic Barbie? What is her disability? Let’s face it, she’s not even short sighted!
Why, indeed, were the Olympic games so heavily played out here at Barbie of the Day with endless photo shoots of diving, cycling, sexy gymnasts, and yet the Paralympic Games have received only one post? And that post featured an able bodied doll doing umbrella acrobatics.
So what’s going on?
Well actually I have watched a lot of Paralympics. Not as much as the Olympics, I admit. Probably like a lot of you. And even though Channel 4 did a great job, those darn adverts really got in the way.
And the posts?
Well I considered doing some blind judo Barbies in eye masks. I thought about burying Madison waist deep in the sand to recreate seated volleyball. I flirted with the idea of taking a bread knife to Amber’s perfect pins and replacing them with bendy straws a’la Mr Pistorius, (his blades aren’t actually bendy straws, that’s totes against the rules, he knows these things).
Ultimately these ideas seemed very inappropriate whereas an orange bikini or white trouser suit are always appropriate.
The one doll I did want to feature was, alas, out of my grasp. Despite bidding on eBay since June the official Paralympic Barbie from Mattel was not to be mine…

How amazing? I guess I have 4 years until the next games. Sorry, you guys will just have to wait.

Squeeze

Posted on 28 June, 2012 by admin

Everyone loves a bandage dress. Sure they may have been adopted by the slightly tackier end of the celebrity spectrum and there are more knockoff high street versions than Britney’s had hair extensions. But we still love em. The dolls love them for the simple fact ~~they’re dead easy to make~~ they create curves where they don’t have them. Britters loves em because they (just about) manage to control her curves. It might be a squeeze but at the X Factor USA auditions this week, she looked better than she has done for quite some time.

Off With Her Head

Posted on 4 June, 2012 by admin

Absolutely outrageous! Can you believe Kate Middleton copied our frock from yesterday’s post? When she stepped out in the brightest of red dresses, I had to double take. Had she really checked in on Barbie of the Day and stolen our look? Queenie had already told us she would be wearing white so she would be easy to spot as she passed us on the river, but Kate? Well she was practically invisible in that sea of red on the boat. We were much more visible on our balcony waving our flags. I swear as she passed by, Kate looked up and saw Barbie in the exact same dress and shuddered.
Well now you know where she gets all her style inspiration, I’m sure you will all look forward to seeing her at the concert tonight at Buckingham Palace wrapped up in a replica of this fabulous leopard coat.

Fingers crossed this will keep her a little warmer. We’ve gone for red again underneath but this time with a little more sparkle, and a patriotic clutch…

And the crowning glory?

Jubilee

Posted on 3 June, 2012 by admin

It’s here. The Diamond Jubilee. The queen texted me earlier to check what we were wearing. It would be terrible to clash, right? We’ve gone for some royal red and a little bit of bling. We’re leaving the diamonds to her maj. I can’t tell you what she’s gone for but she did pop round last week to “borrow” one of the doll’s feathered couture numbers, very McQueen.
We’ll be waving our flags on the river this afternoon so look out for the dolls on the TV.

Flying High

Posted on 3 April, 2012 by admin

Competition time at BOTD Towers.
I get the materials for my designs from all over the place. A silk scarf from Primarni can make a wonderful ball gown, a discarded umbrella can make a great business suit and a pair of ripped jeans can make enough denim mini skirts for an entire Barbie army. I even have a fabric dealer who supplies me with illicit textiles from the most fabulous places in the world of fashion…. But your challenge, doll lovers, is to identify the origins of this lovely wool dress. Some of you might recognise this cosy fabric instantly and the first person to email or Tweet me the correct answer will win an amazing, limited edition…. Erm, Barbie of the Day mouse mat. And maybe a nice piece of jewellery if you’re lucky.

Seeing Red

Posted on 15 October, 2011 by admin

I can’t watch! I’m not usually a fan of rug-ball but as it’s the world cup and as it is France and we’re in France. And as Wales are wearing red… But a red card? Already? For the captain? Heidi and Britney can’t take it. Time to finish our coffees and head to the salon. The dolls are insisting I go blonder and as Christina Aguilera once said to me on the bus, “what a girl wants…”

Keep Calm and Carry On

Posted on 28 August, 2011 by admin

Fire engine red for a scorching day here on the Côte d’Azur. The bay is full of boats escaping the winds further round the coast but hurricane weather this ain’t. Stay safe New Yorkers.

The Glamazon Strikes Back

Posted on 8 June, 2011 by admin

Still nameless, despite The Very Simon G trying to name her Crystle Von Luzon, today’s BOTD is upping her glam-factor in a desperate attempt to be given a decent and respectable name. In red hot couture she means serious business. This is a top mo-doll you don’t want to mess with.

Hands Off My Eggs

Posted on 22 April, 2011 by admin

Angry Birds is all about protecting your eggs but today at BOTD Towers, we seem to have an egg thief in our midst leaving us with one very angry bird. Not understanding the true meaning of Easter, Ken appears to have scoffed all the chocolate eggs. Fortunately Amber knows the perfect punishment.

Fierce Thursday

Posted on 3 February, 2011 by barbieoftheday

Bringing the weekend forward today at BOTD Towers. A touch of sparkle to brighten up your Thursday.

Think Big

Posted on 22 January, 2011 by barbieoftheday

We’re going Big! Really big! We fancied a change this weekend so have combed out those glossy curls into a monster afro. We may struggle getting in and out of taxis but at least we won’t get lost. You can see this ‘do from space.

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