Apparently Barbie (yes the Mattel doll) chooses endorsements like other celebrities (pseudo celebrity? 10 year old girl icon?). Currently she is supporting Bulgari's support of Save the Children International's "Rewrite the Future" campaign to fund education efforts for children in poverty stricken areas of the world.

In addition to a 1 million euro donation to the Rewrite the Future campaign, Bulgari has created a line of 11 jewelry pieces and 7 timepieces whose sales will help fund their dedication of 10 million euros to Save the Children by the end of 2009. One of the jewelry pieces is a signed silver Bulgari ring with a Save the Children inscription engraved inside the band. The ring will retail for $555. Barbie is modeling the ring - though I don't think you can get that particular size at your local Bulgari boutique.

As a guy I've never played with Barbie dolls, but it looks like she got a bit of a makeover for this Bulgari marketing image as one of the celebrities the endorse the campaign. Or maybe her hair looks like that right out of the box? You can see Barbie showing off her Bulgari ring, which might be one of the most expensive Barbie accessories available. Other celebrities (I am not really sold on the fact that Barbie is a celebrity at all, more like a piece of pop culture) that support the Bulgari Save the Children Rewrite the Future campaign so far include: Julianne Moore, Benicio Del Toro, Ben Stiller, Sally Field, Sting, Willem Dafoe, Rosario Fiorello, Gabriele Muccino, Jason Lewis, Andy Garcia, Valeria Golino, Isabella Rossellini and Debra Messing.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

The Palms Resort in Las Vegas has created a new Fantasy Tower suite devoted to a childhood favorite. The Barbie Suite was unveiled this week as part of the continuing celebration of the doll's 50th birthday. The 2,350 square foot suite has pink decor, Barbie pictures, a two-way fireplace and a Jacuzzi tub. It was designed by Jonathan Adler and rents for $4,000 a night.

Other Palms suites include the Real World suite which hosted the cast of the MTV show for a season, the basketball-themed Hardwood suite, the Hugh Hefner sky villa, and the g-Suite designed to resemble the hotel's Ghostbar. The suites have been used in many reality TV shows and for awards show after parties.

Barbie's 50th year celebrations have taken the popular doll everywhere from the fashion scene in New York to the streets of Milan with brands from Goyard to Fiat creating pink pieces to honor the doll. Forbes also gathered a collection of Barbie memories that had everyone from Jamie Lee Curtis to Donna Karan and Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius opining on the impact of Mattel's iconic toy.

[via WDSU]

Barbie turned 50 this year, and in true diva style it seems she just can't stop celebrating. Her latest "gift," a bright pink Fiat 500, was unveiled last month in Milan. The car was created with the help of Mattel and features crystals on the hubcaps and trim, Barbie silhouettes on the pillars, and a 60's-style retro car cover to keep it all shiny and new.

Sounds great, right? Not really, as apparently Barbie won't get to drive it, she'll just get to be a passenger. Fiat reps were quoted as saying "Barbie will be aboard and she'll have her own special driver: Ken, of course."

What's that about???

Via Autoblog

It's Barbie's 50th birthday this year (if this is the first you're hearing of it then you've been living in a hole) so of course everything Barbie is popping up everywhere. Maison Goyard didn't want to be left out so the celebration continues with this special limited edition trunk, decorated in Barbie's favorite color (pink!) and complete with a Barbie and accessories inside. Available at Collette for €2880.

I think I'd actually like it better if it came without the random Barbie inside, leaving room to use the trunk for storing your personal favorite Barbie doll instead.

Via ForbesLife

Jewelry designers find their inspiration in all kinds of interesting and unique places, and Margaux Lange finds hers in the chopping up of Barbie dolls. She buys Barbies (and apparently a few Kens too) on eBay and at garage sales and dissects them into tiny pieces, pairing them with sterling silver to create pendants, earrings, rings, and brooches. The above pictured necklace, called "The Kiss", is one of the more 'normal' designs -- others that feature just severed hands, eyes, or mouths are definitely much creepier. There's even a group of "Have a Heart Busts" that consist of Barbie's breasts incorporated into heart pendants and pins. (I'm speechless, just see the gallery). $70 - $525

Via Book of Joe

Barbie's 50th birthday is turning into an epic celebration. She's already gotten her own pair of tiny Louboutin heels and a big pink book, now she's getting her own runway show during New York Fashion Week. As Fashion Week Daily reported last week, famous fashion designers including Diane Von Furstenberg will lend their talents to creating Barbie-inspired designs. The fashions will be matched by a special collection of jewels and bags by Bulgari.

Bulgari has an anniversary of its own this year, its 125th which it is celebrating with an exhibition on May 20 at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome.The exhibition will support the Save the Children "Rewrite the Future" campaign which is funding education programs for 8 million children in war-torn regions. Barbie will appear with many celebrities in a portfolio of photographs shot by Fabrizio Ferri who has contributed to the project on a pro bono basis. As I mentioned last fall, Bulgari's campaign for Save the Children also includes a silver ring which sells for $290.

As we mentioned recently, it's Barbie's 50th birthday. In addition to getting her own tiny Louboutins, she's also getting her own book. The Ultimate Collection: Barbie book from Assouline is a Barbie-pink book which is assembled using the traditional anglaise technique and color-tipped by hand on art-quality paper. The book covers Barbie history, Barbie fashion and features pictures of vintage Barbies and Barbie accessories. The book is 14" x 17" and has 128 pages. It sells for $500.

[via View On Fashion]

Barbie gets all the good stuff: Ken, the Barbie Dreamhouse, any career she wants, and now a pair of Christian Louboutin designer pumps created just for her.

Barbie turns 50 next year and as part of the celebration Louboutin will be designing her a special pair of pumps in her signature color: Barbie Pantone 219 Pink. Mattel Inc. is planning a special runway fashion show next February that will feature 50 models all wearing Barbie-inspired outfits and, of course, the pink Barbie Louboutin pumps.

I wonder if they'll have little red plastic soles?


Via Fabsugar

The world's most expensive Barbie doll debuted her flashy self in Mexico City this week, sparkling from head to little plastic toes in diamonds and white gold, and honoring the release of her newest film "Barbie and the Diamond Castle."

Intended only as a publicity stunt (don't expect to see her sitting next to 'Surfs-Up Beach Barbie' on Walmart shelves this Christmas) she was adorned with 318 diamonds total, displayed on a tiny tiara, earrings, necklace, bracelet, ring, and slippers. She's valued at 1 million pesos, or about $94,000.

I think the best part of her outfit has be the diamond Barbie ring -- several things are out of realistic proportion when it comes to Barbie but imagine the relative size of that rock! I bet Ken is feeling a little inadequate about now...

Via Luxury Launches

We've seen jewelry lines that feature Hello Kitty and Tweety, now the childhood icon Barbie is getting in on the act with Barbie Rocks, a new collection by Layna and Alan Friedman. The new collection, which launches this month features pink diamonds, precious and semi-precious colored stones and rare metals. Both Mattel and Layna and Alan Friedman will donate a portion of the proceeds from each item in the Barbie™ Rocks by Layna and Alan Friedman collection to the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation.

The first collection is the Silhouette collection that shows the classic ponytail, long eyelashes and ski-jump nose profile. It features two necklace styles: the "Luxe" Barbie™ Pendant and Barbie™ DogTag, in 18K white, yellow or rose gold, with white or black diamonds or yellow or pink sapphires; and the "Classic," which is done in sterling silver. The Barbie bracelets are available in sterling silver with 18K rose gold charms. The jewelry collection is currently being sold at the Alan Friedman boutique in Beverly Hills and online with pieces ranging from $185 to $15,000.

Celebrated designer Monique Lhuillier, who has recently become the dress designer of choice for celebrity weddings, is doing a special-edition wedding Barbie for Mattel. This puts Lhuillier among the ranks of other famous designers who have dressed the doll, including Bob Mackie, Cynthia Rowley, Byron Lars, Nolan Miller, Calvin Klein, Versace, Christian Dior and Vera Wang. The brunette Barbie's gown has an off-white bodice, sable-colored sash and a full skirt. She comes with faux diamond studs and diamond ring and even a doll-sized garter belt. Price: $120.

FAO Schwarz has a blond version of the doll, with a blue sash to match her blue eyes for $140, as well as a Caroline Herrera designed Barbie bride.

Too bad Barbie doesn't actually have any wedding plans in the near future.