As I skimmed through the Fashion & Style section of the New York Times, expecting to find articles on which designer is pushing the envelope this week or what retailer may be next to take the plunge, I unexpectantly found one that was humourous and refreshing: Hello Kitty and Barbie, Round 1.
According to this article, there have always been unofficial battles between high-caliber designers or fashion icons, and now there's a new twosome being talked about: Sanrio's Hello Kitty and Mattel's Barbie doll. Barbie, in honor of her upcoming 50th birthday is having a show dedicated to her on Valentine's Day in Bryant Park. Hello Kitty will be the inspiration for another group of looks at an event hosted by MAC Cosmetics, who recently created a Hello Kitty line.
Honestly, I chose this article to blog on because I am a 21-year-old near college graduate, and I absolutely adore Hello Kitty. She adornes items all over my apartment, including an alarm clock, sitting stool, waffle-maker, table lamp, refridgerator magnet, stickers, you name it. And I'm not the only person my age who has fallen into this marketing trap. I don't know what it is about this little white kitten face with a big pink bow on her ear, but you can put her on just about anything and it will sell. So while it may seem surprising and ridiculous that this cartoon has made its way to the runway, if you stop and think about it, we should have seen it coming.
Barbie, however, while classic, has not had the same appeal with the teen and young adult audience. Barbies are still considered playthings for the elementary-school aged segment, which has more options than ever right now. Even children this age may not appreciate Barbie as much as we once did, with the emphasize on electronics and gadgets rising more and more over time. But I do think her lines at Fashion Week will resonate better with those higher in the fashion circle who will appreciate the longeivity of her career and all the trends she has encountered over time.
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