Before There Were TikTok Trendsetters, There Was Fashion Editor Barbie

By Alexus Mosley

Barbie has always been synonymous with Fashion, but did you know there was an actual Fashion Editor Barbie doll? Designed by Robert Bess exclusively for New York’s iconic toy store, FAO Schwarz, Fashion Editor Barbie entered the spotlight on September 1, 2000, as part of a limited-edition Barbie Fashion Model collection for adult collectors. Crafted from Silkstone, a luxe material that blends resin and plastic to replicate the feel of vintage porcelain dolls, this Barbie was more than just a toy. She was a style authority. Dressed in a leopard-print pencil skirt, a black bouclé coat straight off a couture runway, and the most powerful accessory of all - a gold press badge, she embodied the ultimate media maven.

She took her lattes with extra froth, served looks daily, and never missed a deadline. And yes, she even came with her own mini fashion magazine. So, as media and fashion continue to collide on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack, it makes you wonder: What publication would Fashion Editor Barbie work at today? Would she be running a high-gloss fashion mag? Editing trend reports at Vogue? Or maybe curating Pinterest-perfect moodboards at The Cut?