Barbie Brings in Bucks, Gets New Career

A few weeks ago, we blogged about a Barbie benefit on eBay, in which a dozen one-of-a-kind Basic Barbies were accessorized by some of the top fashion-accessories designers in the world. Proceeds went to the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s educational initiatives and scholarship program.

Four dolls broke the thousand-dollar mark. Lorraine Schwartz’s Barbie, featuring real diamonds, achieved the highest bid, selling for $7,500. Deborah Lloyd of Kate Spade created a pink bag for her doll, as well as a Lady Marmalade costume jewelry necklace. That went for $1,625. Betsey Johnson’s Barbie was encircled by an enormous see-through hoop skirt and donned a sequined, devil-horn hat. Final price was $1,202. And Devi Kroell’s doll carried a fuchsia purse and wore over-the-knee, open-toe, stiletto boots. She sold for $1,075.

That was last week. This week’s Barbie news is the announcement that the doll’s next career (she’s had 125) will be as a computer engineer (available in November, 2010). Described by Mattel as geek chic, the doll’s outfit features a binary-code t-shirt and black knit slacks. Accessories include a Bluetooth earpiece, pink laptop, and hi-tech wristwatch. No word yet if empty pizza boxes and a stack of soda cans will also be available for this new engineer’s cubicle.