Barbie Fashions Through the Decades: A Paper Doll Book
Barbie Paper Doll Collection Series
2025
illustrations by
What’s inside...
This interactive paper-doll collection lets readers follow Barbie as she models landmark fashions from the 1950s to today. Each decade receives a short historical snapshot, illustrated cut-out wardrobes, and prompts that invite children to mix-and-match looks while learning how world events, music, and pop culture influenced clothing styles. By dressing Barbie for sock-hop dances, disco nights, power-suit boardrooms, and street-wear runways, young stylists explore creativity, history, and self-expression in an age-appropriate, hands-on format.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-7
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Barbie (Barbara Millicent Roberts)
Discussion points
How do clothes show what people value in each decade?
Which outfit feels most like your personality and why?
How might future fashions solve today’s problems?
What materials make clothing more eco-friendly?
Tip: Role play these questions
Create a family fashion timeline using old photos.
Design a new outfit together from recycled paper.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Fashion mirrors social change.
Explanation: Each decade’s outfit links to historical movements.
Real-World Application: Notice how your clothes fit today’s events and values.
Example Lesson: Creativity flourishes through experimentation.
Explanation: Mix-and-match pieces inspire endless combinations.
Real-World Application: Try pairing old clothes in new ways before buying more.
Example Lesson: Respect for diversity enriches design.
Explanation: Global patterns appear in Barbie’s wardrobes.
Real-World Application: Learn about other cultures’ traditional dress.
Example Lesson: Sustainability matters.
Explanation: Modern sections discuss eco-friendly fabric.
Real-World Application: Reuse, donate, or upcycle clothing at home.