Barbie meets her stylist, Charlotte Johnson (1964)
When Ruth Handler debut her “Teen Age Fashion Doll,” named Barbie, in 1959, her wardrobe was a huge part of the marketing campaign. This photo shows the first Barbie fashion designer, Charlotte Johnson, with one of the early Barbie models. Johnson would create the black and white striped swimsuit worn by the first Barbie doll. She also designed Barbie’s first gown, a black sheath with a mermaid-style puff at the bottom. Johnson had a keen attention to detail, bringing miniature couture to the dolls. Johnsons had a keen eye for fashion trends but knew there was a three-year gap between the design to production. Mattel, Barbie’s home company, sent Johnson to Fashion Week in New York and Paris to help ease this gap. This ensured Barbie’s fashions were always current. Johnson’s striped swimsuit design was so iconic, it featured in the opening sequence to the billion-dollar Barbie movie in 2023.