Silken Flame

Vintage Barbie illustrations, built environment, clones and more

Sidebar: for the Boudoir

Two color illustrations of Barbie on vintage trading cards, At left, brunette ponytail character wearing a floral petticoat and brassiere sits on a stool, looking into a mirror she holds in one hand, while her other arm, extended, holds a brush. On the floor before her are two open-toed shoes. On a rack behind her is a red pak polka dot sheath (1962-63). She can't be planning to wear the sheath over the petticoat since the petticoat is very full. At right, blonde ponytail Barbie in a white and blue-trimmed version od Sweet Dreams (1959-63) holds the bottom of her ponytail as she brushes her hair. She, too, sits on a stool. This one has a red cushion and is gold toned. Her shoes are light blue, open-toed with pomons.
Dynamic Toys Jumbo Trading Cards via quintesscaboo on eBay

In the ’60s, Mattel licensed charming illustrations to makers of beauty routine implements for children. Like Barbie, kids could preen in their handmirror, comb their silken locks, apply powders and perfumes–all with Barbie-branded tools.

Here’s the case from a Barbie Beauty Kit, (c) 1961.

Vinyl case in a pinkish shade with a color illustration of Barbie in her ensemble Nighty Negligee (1959-1964) in new colors. THe nightgown is yellow (her ponytail is the same shade) and the peignoir is blue with purple or navy stripes, with two patch pockets and a ribbon tied and neckline in the same shade. She holds the stuffed dog included in the set. Beside her is the familiar Barbie logo above the words "Beauty Kit" in all caps, somewhat unaligned in the vertical so each letter rises or falls slightly relative to its neighbors. Behind the Barbie signature are three outlines or silhouettes of glass bottles with lids in light blue with a stripe of tellow up the right sidfe of each, like an abstaction of light hitting glass.
source: vintageodds2ends on eBay

What did it contain? Most examples I’ve seen were found empty; this one was full of rollers and hair pins, but those may not have been the original contents–the cosmetics bottles outlined behind the Barbie logo imply they were not.

It’s possible the cases were filled with Roclar bath and beauty products, which also have the 1961 (c) but employ a different art style, comparable to Barbie Sings!— also from ’61.

Powder Mitt package, partially open to show the pink-and-white striped mitt. On the pink box is a drawing of blonde pontyail Barbie in profile, wearing the mitt on one hand and applying it to her other arm. She appears to be wrapped in a towel--mostly only her head and shoulders are in view--and wears large pearl earrings. Little sparkles of white dance around her arm and mitt. The words POWDER MITT, like the words BEAUTY KIT in the previous image, are made up of letters with slight vertical shifts relative to one another.
Roclar Barbie Powder Mitt via stinkbomba on eBay

(Yes… bath products from stinkbomba.)

Bubble bath box shows blonde ponytail Barbie in profile, her head, neck, hands and knee visible above the edge of a bathtub. She is surrounded by floating bubbles. As on the Beauty Kit, the letters spelling BUBBLE BATH are all a little off-kilter. At right, a bottle labeled Barbie Cologne--and "COLOGNE" appears to be precisely aligned--has a little profile of blonde ponytail Barbie in a white pearl necklace.
Roclar Barbie bubble bath and cologne via yocumii23 on eBay

Products were also offered for haircare. In ’62, the Christmas catalogs advertised 3-piece comb, mirror and hairbrush vanity sets adorned with Barbie illustrations.

Left: Black-and-white department store catalog listing for "Barbie's 3-piece Dresser set." Image shows a comb, brush, and handmirror. The mirror's back faces up and features an illustration of brunette bubble cut Barbie in a long gown, apparently Enchanted Evening. To her right is a half-height Ken in a tuxedo or suit (maybe meant to be in the distance). To her right a small potted tree or shrub. Text reads, "For little girls who want their hair as pretty as Barbie's. Attractive pink plastic set has Barbie pictures on back of 9-in. mirror. Comb; nylon-bristled brush... 97 cents." R: Color catalog entry for "Barbie and Me" vanity set. Translucent blue plastic comb, brush, and mirror. The mirror and brush have similar wide, rectangular heads, and the mirror lies on its face so the back is visible with its illustration of red ponytailed Barbie in her Orange Blossom fashion of a yellow sheath with sheer or lace overdress. Also included are a doll-sized hand mirror, brush, comb, plus yet another mirror on a stand to sit on a vanity top, all in dark red or brown; in addition to a couple light blue compacts. Basically Ward combined a child-sized set, a doll-sized set, and maybe a couple other items. Text description reads, "Matching boudoir accessories for you and your Barbie doll. 7-Pc. vanity set for Barbie has comb, brush, hand mirror, combination stand-up mirror and vanity tray; plastic lipstick and rouge cases, compact. Girl's 3-Pc. dresser set has nylon-bristle brush and hand mirror with Barbie pictures on back; comb. All pieces colorful translucent plastic.... $1.79."
All catalog excerpts herein via christmas.musetechnical.com

These appear to be the “Pretty Up TIme” boxed sets manufactured by Pyroxoloid, which bore a couple different copyright dates from at least ’62-’64. The Sears catalog, above left, likely shows an older version: the mirror is round with smooth edges; the brush lacks ornamentation. In addition to the Enchanted Evening (1960-63) version in the catalog, Silken Flame (1960-61) and Golden Girl (1959-62) versions also existed.

Two images of circular handmirrors with handles lying facedown. One is the color of turquoise and features an illustration of blonde bubble cut Barbie in the Golden Girl sheath. Behind her, the matching fur-trimmed coat is flung over a straight backed chair. She holds a gold clutch. Surrounging the immage is a billowy green curtain with gold rope and trip. Right brunette bubble cut Barbie wears the Silken Flame dress without its wide gold belt. She appears to hold a tea cup. In the background is a table.
via Facebook and Theriault’s.

The updated set with illustrations on both mirror and brush, like Ward’s version above right featuring Barbie in Orange Blossom (which has also been spotted in the wild), appears to be more common. In addition to Orange Blossom (1961-64) we’ve peeped sets for Bride’s Dream (1963-65), Friday Nite Date (1960-64), Ballerina (1961-65), and Let’s Dance (1960-62).

Four images of Barbie Pretty Up Time Vanity sets or pieces therefrom, all color photographs. Two are in boxes, showing oval-shaped brushes and mirrors with long handles, facing into the package so their backs are exposed showing Barbie illustrations. The mirror and brush in one set both have an illustration of blonde Barbie in Bride's Dream, while the second mirror and brush are illustrated with brunette Barbie in Let's Dance. The Bride's dream set looks to be made from opaque pink plastic, while Let's Dance plastic is clear or maybe pinkish-clear. Each set also has a matching comb. The remaining two subfigures show the backs of individual pieces: A mirror illustrated with blonde ponytail Barbie in Friday Nite Date (it is written "Friday Night Date" on the mirror) and a brunette in Ballerina. The Let's Dance illustration appears to have no background at all; Bride's Dream has a wash of pink; Friday Nite Date has a streak of light blue with some sparkles; Ballerina stands on a pink oval surrounded by footlights with a wash of yellow beyond. Each has the little Barbie signature at lower right and the name of the fashion handwritten below or below and left.
Pretty Up Time vanity sets via invaluable.com, eBay, Worthpoint, and Theriault’s.

The following year Ward’s listed a much more involved “Glamour Cosmetics” set consisting of an assortment of makeup and cleansers.

Black-and-white catalog image shows about a 21-piece set of cosmetics and creams plus a mirror on a stand. Bubble cut Barbie's floating head is illustrated in the midst but not attached to any of the pieces. The perfume bottles referenced are toward the top and their stoppers look like inverted Star Trek boomerang logos. Text: "Barbie's Glamour Cosmetics. Play "beauty care" items for little girls with a flair for fashion. There's a stand-up vanity mirror (8x4 1/2 in. wide), perfume flacons with fancy stoppers, compact, creme rouge, 3 shades of lipstick and nail polish. Also apothecary jars of cotton and bath crystals, jars of beauty creams, canisters of bath powder and dusting powder, even a box of facial tissues--more than 20 items in all... $2.99."

This could be the mysterious Beauty Kit from ’61, or more Roclar products, or perhaps another manufacturer got involved–the pictured packaging isn’t recognizable. If the catalog listing is accurate, these were cute (love the swooshy perfume bottle stoppers!) but not illustrated.

Pyroxoloid had at least one more foray in ’74, now using photography. While youthful grooming and toiletry sets were a Christmas catalog mainstay over the intervening years, our story of Barbie-themed boudoir products ends here.

Four panels showing backs of brushes and mirrors from Pyroxoloid. Left is Orange Blossom as shown in a catalog earlier. This one is the linked auction of a used and well-worn version. In this view we can see Barbie holds her bouquet close to her face in one white-gloved hand. There is a pale blue swoosh beihnf her and a scattering of yellow stars or blossoms. Next is a closeup of the same "Friday Night Date" image included above. It's easier to see in this view that she holds a tray with two drinks. She also has a very pale swoosh behind her with black asterisk sparkles scattered all around. The last two are from 1974 sets. Both are opaque, hot pink plastic. One shows blonde Living Barbie and the other brunette Marlo flip, both photographed from about the chest up, with the Barbie signature in black at lower right and no other writing. The Marlo wears her original swimsuit. Not sure about LIving Barbie but it's something red and sleeveless with a v-neck, maybe another swimsuit.

sheathsensation

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