In celebration of her 50th birthday, Barbara Millicent Roberts, better known as Barbie, has opened a flagship store in Shanghai. The six-storey, 35,000-square-foot House of Barbie offers a total brand experience from Barbie clothing (”I’m Hot!” or “I’m a Doll!” slogan tee anyone?), Barbie beauty salon, Barbie Spa (offering ‘Plastic Smooth’ facials and bust-firming treatments), and Barbie café (though she’s probably on a diet after Christian Louboutin recently declared that Barbie has “fat” ankles). Our favourite bit is the neon pink escalator which reverberates with pre-recorded giggles. Genius. Interestingly, House of Barbie has been modelled on a fashion emporium rather than a toyshop. “In China, we don’t know anything about the Barbie brand. It may not be Louis Vuitton or Gucci, but it is very attractive and it comes in pretty colours,” a 24-year-old shopper told the Daily Telegraph. There is also a bar with a DJ, karaoke, and pink martinis (what else?). “Barbies want to talk to Kens, so you have to have a place for that,” a spokesperson said. With US sales declining, Mattel hopes that Barbie will appeal to new markets in China, where she is known as Ba Bi Wa Wa.

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Image credit: http://archide.wordpress.com/page/10/ via Google images


Thanks to Zoe for this story. Zoe hopes to experience House of Barbie someday.

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