Barbie's Wardrobe - Midnight Blue

I'm not a fashionista. I'm ... you could say... a wearer of clothing. I like my clothes to be comfortable and the right size and possibly not to have holes or spots (that part is not always easy if you have cats).
There are features I love, like pockets in dresses or 3/4 sleeves, but beyond that, I'm fairly undemanding and not adventurous.
That doesn't mean I don't like to look at clothes at all, especially those that I would never be able to wear myself, due to money, my size, lack of occasion, etc. There are still ways to bring Haute Couture into my life, though. I mean Barbie and her friends.
I have always been fascinated by miniatures and Barbie's vintage outfits with their tiny zippers and buttons and buckles and accessories are incredible. This is my "fashion life", either through my own small collection or pictures.
(And yes, I do know Barbie's body isn't natural, I knew it as a child and I never strived to look like her ... if I had, something would have gone wrong).
Let me give you a glimpse in Barbie's wardrobe every, now and then.

1965 was an excellent year. I should know because I was born in 1965, a definite sign of quality.

1965 was also the year the first American Girl Barbie turned up, our model today is from 1966, however. I seriously wish I would have aged as well as she has.

Today she's presenting an ensemble called "Midnight Blue".

The elegant gown has a strapless silver lamé bodice and full midnight blue satin skirt.
It is worn under a wide satin cape of the same color, lined in white satin like the large fake white fur collar.

The ensemble is usually completed with long white gloves, blue open toe mules with heels, a silver dimple purse, and a white graduated pearl necklace.
Unfortunately, this presentation was so spontaneous that we couldn't find the purse and necklace. Okay, you got me. I only have the golden purse and that wouldn't have worked. I'm quite sure that I have the necklace, but another doll is wearing it.
And while I'm in confessing mode, one of the gloves is a substitution (which is too big which I only just noticed again, I really need to get her a proper one), and there's a bit of water damage to the satin in the back.
Fact is that "Midnight Blue" is a hard to find outfit and prices are accordingly high. I was lucky to find this one and it displays beautifully, don't you think? For full disclosure, I edited the doll stand out of the picture, but didn't change anything about the outfit.

 
"Midnight Blue" is one of the elusive 1600s fashions and was only manufactured in 1965 (what did I say?) as #1617.
It was not unusual to have color variations in other countries, such as Japan or Europe, but that doesn't mean those are easier to find. In this case, there's a different blue (some people say that color comes from fading in sunlight, others say it's a variation), but also a "Midnight Pink" and "Midnight Red" (as called by collectors not because the name makes sense, but identifies the design easily).
I would love to have both, but the red even more than the pink.

I always thought this would be the perfect outfit to wear for the opera - maybe "The Magic Flute", after all she looks like a "Queen of the Night" herself!

Barbie is a registered trademark of Mattel, Inc. I am not affiliated with Mattel in any way.


Sources:

1. Sibyl DeWein and Joan Ashabraner: The Collector's Encyclopedia of Barbie Dolls and Collectibles. Paducah, KY, Collector Books, 1994
2. Sarah Sink Eames: Barbie Doll Fashion, Vol. I, 1959 - 1967. Paducah, KY, Collector Books, 1994
3. Vintage Barbie Midnight Blue. On: Fashion Doll Guide
4. Vintage American Girl Barbie Dolls 1965 - 1966. On: Fashion Doll Guide