Barbie Project Runway 2012

Barbie Project Runway 2012 was an amazing success. We had new designers from across the board and the talent that showed up left us clamoring for more!

The challenge was to take the look of 1984’s Peaches n’ Cream Barbie and bring it into 2012. (I apologize for some blurry pictures, I am hoping to get some better pictures from the designers themselves. As it was, the party was too fun for any of us to think clearly about proper photos.) So without further ado, here are the designs:

Angela, one of our original designers from 2009 brought out a super girlie array of blossoms and pink, giving a full skirt and fitted top look that paid homage to the original doll’s look.

Two new designers, Jennifer and Rey, are clearly a double threat. This married couple brought two distinct looks. Both looks held surprises that delighted the spectators. Jennifer’s look was all about “Make Love Not War,” with her butterfly-inspired bodice and dancing-veil skirt. Beneath those skirts was a shimmery set of panties made from shiny butterfly stickers.

Rey’s look, which he called “Roxanne Pow” was quite the opposite. The beguiling beauty distracted us with her peach-stripe-on cream coat and her nearly-nothing undergarments. But she blew us away with her surprise assassin weapons! To top things off, she wore a pair of white gloves and came with a watch to time things like bombs and perm solution.

Joseph’s girls came out to shine. Forgive me, but this is the best picture I have of Julie Ann’s look: a black-topped dress with a twirling skirt of peach-and-green. It was a lovely gown.

Katie’s dress was a blossom inspiration. This gown smacked of someone who has competed with us a couple of times, but I’m told Katie threw it together the night before. Like I said, she seemed just like some of us who have done this before!

My look was inspired less by invention and more by necessity. I worked with things I had in my house: paper and cupcake cups. I trimmed it out with some peach scrapbook flowers in an ombre effect, and filled her skirt out with a shimmery fabric.

Corina took the idea of peaches and cream literal when it came to her materials: food labels for Peach snacks and whip cream. But when it came to her execution, her look took the literal materials and executed a look that was editorial, modern, and inspired. Part Japanese pop-culture, part daytime couture, and part Barbie Hipster, this look brought exclamations of delight.

Here is Judy's Barbie, standing next to Britney's.

Judy, as always, took her attention to detail to amazing heights with her design. Hollywood glam in hand-placed glitter took to the lights and her creamy boa gave us a new texture on which to rest our eyes. The overall look was a red carpet success! Britney crafted a sweet cocktail dress from ribbon for her 2012 look. The design was seamless! Absolutely adorable, this look was ready to walk down the street, and Britney would not forgive me for neglecting to say she had the best braid in show.

Kimberly, who contributed to the money pot, was upset that we had to pick only one winner and couldn’t have prizes for “most inventive,” “best color,” and other things, because all of the designs were very well done. The votes were tight, but there was a winner. I am a little chagrined to say that the winner was me, and I am excited to compete against these talented people again next year! Barbie Project Runway 2012 was a success!