Meet the new ‘Elvis Barbie’
The singer with the swinging pelvis and the doll with the plastic curves have come together during Elvis Week 2021 in the collectible form of Mattel’s new “Elvis Presley Barbie Doll,” a marriage of American icons that presents the queen of fashion dolls in one of the King’s famous stage outfits.
“When Elvis Presley emerged on the music scene, he introduced the world to his unique sound and signature moves,” reports a press release from Mattel Creations, the “elevated collector platform” of the Mattel toy company. “Barbie honors the legendary ‘King of Rock ‘N’ Roll’ with an Elvis Presley Barbie doll featuring a slick pompadour ponytail and wearing an outfit inspired by his iconic ‘American Eagle’ jumpsuit.
“Like the original he wore during concerts, the outfit is emblazoned with red, gold and blue sparkling eagles, has an attached cape, red scarf, belt and bell-bottoms.”
The doll also is accompanied by a “Certificate of Authenticity.” In contrast, the eyelashes, according to the doll’s vital statistics, are “Painted.”
The “body type” is “Gigi Hadid,” in reference to supermodel Gigi Hadid, who provided the inspiration for a Barbie line in 2017. (“The OG blonde bombshell has a new A-list pal,” reported the fashion website Grazia.)
Released Wednesday, the new Elvis Presley Barbie Doll — which costs $50 — is the latest creation in a relationship between Mattel and Elvis Presley Enterprises that goes back some 25 years. In fact, some of the Barbie-branded Elvis collectibles don’t even feature Barbie.
In 2008, Mattel unleashed the “Elvis and Priscilla Barbie Doll Giftset,” which presented “replica” dolls of Presley and his bride, dressed in outfits based on the clothes Elvis and Priscilla wore at their 1967 Las Vegas wedding. (The groom wore a “black paisley print tuxedo,” according to Mattel.)
Other Barbie-branded Elvis dolls have presented replicas of the King in outfits inspired by “Blue Hawaii,” the “‘68 Comeback” special, the “Elvis’ Gold Records Volume 2” album cover (gold lamé) and “The Army Years.”
Introduced in 1996, the “Barbie Loves Elvis Giftset” paired the King with Barbie rather than Priscilla. According to Mattel, the Barbie “is dressed as an adoring fan of Elvis during the 1950’s. She’s attending a live rock concert and hopes to receive an autograph from the ‘King of Rock ‘n Roll.’ She even holds a picture of Elvis! Produced with the retrospective look of the earliest Barbie dolls, our gal looks fabulous in her 1950’s inspired fashion. Her ensemble includes a pink sweater, pink scarf, black skirt decorated with Elvis memorabilia, white socks and saddle shoes.” The Elvis doll, meanwhile, “looks like he’s ready to rock in his famous gold lamé jacket over a black shirt and pants.”
And then there was the 2011 “Barbie Loves Elvis” doll, which, like the new doll, presents Barbie as a sort of Elvis “tribute artist.” Or, to quote Mattel’s publicity materials: “Barbie doll artistically reinterprets the ‘King of Rock and Roll’... dressed in Elvis’s rockin’ iconic golden suit.”
As usual, Elvis said it best. As he crooned in the song “Lover Doll,” in 1958: “I’m so glad I found you/ Never thought dollies came full grown/ I’m gonna tie a ribbon around you/ Wrap you up and take you home.
“I would never treat you badly/ Like a cast away broken toy/ Lover doll I love you madly/ Let me be your lover boy...”