Pictures of “normal-sized” Barbie have got the Internet buzzing lately. Basically, she’s still blond-and-blue-eyed Barbie, except with more realistic body proportions patterned after that of an average 19-year-old woman.
She was created by artist Nikolay Lamm, whose artistic flair, unfortunately, doesn’t extend to fashion judging by that hideous floral bra top and ruffled bikini bottom he chose to dress the dolls in. If you haven’t seen normal Barbie yet, her pictures next to the original fashion doll are below.
Artist Nikolay Lamm shows what Barbie would look like as an average 19-year-old
The original Barbie next to artist Nikolay Lamm’s normal-sized Barbie
Normal-sized Barbie was created as yet another criticism of how Barbie presents an unrealistic body image for young girls. We don’t disagree with that, but we don’t 100% agree with it either. To us, Barbie is a toy, and she’s all about the fun side of fashion! If normal Barbie was actually sold in stores, we’d treat her not as a body image model, but as the fashion doll that she is.
In fact, we’d love it if stores started selling the normal-sized Barbie because, if you noticed, normal Barbie’s feet are flat on the floor instead of being frozen in a tiptoe stance. In fashion right now, it’s all about flat styles, sporty looks, and chic comfort, so that means normal Barbie can wear all of the hottest shoes.
Barbie would be such a chic fashionista if we got our hands on her! Her outfits would be hyped all over Lookbook with the following 5 shoe styles we’d make her wear:
1. Street-stylin’ fashion sneakers
There are so many cool fashion sneakers to choose from right now. We couldn’t narrow it down, so we just went with the coolest: Givenchy. These pretty paisley-printed high-tops cost $595.
Givenchy Printed High Top Sneakers, $595 at Barneys
2. Summer’s shoes of the moment
Celine’s Phoebe Philo is at that point where she can do no wrong. Just take these boxy flat sandals for instance: Philo designed them in the image of Mark Zuckerberg’s shower slides, covered them in fur, and released them in the dead of the summer.
And right now, they’re the hottest things to happen in shoes.
Celine boxy flat sandals with fur
3. The fashion-blogger-favorite Valentino Rockstud flats
Get these cute pink flats at LuisaViaRoma.
4. Fab flat versions of our favorite heels
Contrary to popular belief, designers do listen to us and make flat versions of their beautiful high-heeled creations. Not only are the flats feet-friendly, but they’re also almost always cheaper than the heels.
Christian Louboutin “Pigalle” Spikes Pumps, $1,295 / Christian Louboutin “Pigalle” Spikes Flats, $1,095
Jimmy Choo “Besso” Sandals, $895 / Jimmy Choo “Brook” Low Wedge Sandals, $795
Giuseppe Zanotti Star-Embellished Cage Sandals, $2,495 / Giuseppe Zanotti Star Flat Thong Sandals, $625
5. Trendy knee-high gladiator sandals
Barbie isn’t Barbie without being one of the first to try top trends.
Stuart Weitzman Tall Gladiator Sandals, $398 at Amazon
Credit: Nickolay Lamm