America's most iconic doll is at it again. Virtually splattered with tattoos, TokiDoki Barbie is definitely not your grandma's Barbie.
A doll simply having tats is not the issue. If anything, it's a sign of how mainstream they've become. If an estimated one in four American adults under 50 have one, why shouldn't Barbie?
At a little over 50 herself, Barbie's no tattoo neophyte. She's sported a little ink at least twice before -- in 1999 when one model had a butterfly on her stomach, and again in 2009, when Totally Stylin' Barbie came with temporary tat kits that kids could use to decorate her and themselves.
But this time, flowers completely cover her clavicle, a sinister-looking dragon curls across her back and a large geisha adorns her left shoulder. Her black shirt sports crossbones under a heart (love + death = confusing message), and the rest of her ensemble includes pink hair, hot-pink miniskirt, fanged mouth-shaped-belt buckle, leopard leggings, silver stiletto pumps and black toenail polish. This Barbie looks more like she's headed out to an underground club than a Dream House.
But with her accompanying $50 price tag, it's unlikely many parents are going to be wrapping up one of these to put under the tree. She's designed to appeal more to adult collectors than impressionable tots, and appears to be quite successful at it: She's out of stock already. But if this is the direction Barbie's going, we have a few more suggestions for Mattel:
Kardashian Divorce Barbie: The ring's painted on with disappearing ink, or House Arrest Barbie: Comes with rhinestone studded monitoring bracelet.
Kristin Tillotson • 612-673-7046