Dream Dolls: Barbie Rétro Chic, an Upcoming Exhibit in Paris

The upcoming show will present a retrospective of the fabulous creations of the most-famous-dolls-of-all, Barbie. From the iconic dresses of the 1960s to the haute couture gowns, the fashionistas' outfits always echoed the sense of style of women over the World, in small sizes. Little girls knew what they were doing!

Opening on Feb. 11 and continuing until Sept. 13, the exhibit takes place at the Musée de la Poupée (Dolls' Museum) in Paris. Especially showcasing Mattel's creations from 1959 to 1967, plus numerous more contemporary styles inspired by the legendary years. About 50 vintage Barbies will be presented, including Gay Parisienne, Suburban Shopper, Solo in the Spotligh, Evening Splendor, and Golden Glamour.

Celebrating over 50 years of Barbie dolls, some couture dresses will showcase the commitment to real fashion from the designers of the iconic figurine. A children's workshop will allow kids to bring their own doll and fabricate a Dream Dress to take home.

The tiny toy is big business. The 29-centimeter tall doll has been captivating little girls everywhere since 1959, and sales to this day average three dolls every second in the World. One billion sold since its creation. Average owner has six of them. Some collectors have thousands. A selection of vintage dolls from two French private collectors will also be on display.

Mattel, the maker of Barbie and other toys, was founded in 1945 in California, by Harold Matt Matson and Elliott Handler, who's daughter Barbara was the namesake for the famous doll. The last Mattel factory in the United States closed in 2002, and the company started outsourcing production to China. Named as one of the Top 100 Employers in 2013 by Fortunes Magazine, the company boasts that over 1,000 of its employees have been with the company for longer than 15 years.

Rumor has it that two new dolls for 2014 might be a Bob Macky Fairy, and a Zuhair Murad Barbie. On your toes kiddies!