Barbie’s 1962 Dream House® — is back. I just found out. And I just ordered mine, via Amazon. Hey: It ALSO includes the Barbie! Note: Links in this story are Amazon affiliate links, meaning, if ya click and buy I earn a small commission (currently all going toward weebit’s law school fund — Mom so proud!)
I visited my longtime friend Pat Henry, publisher of Fashion Doll Quarterly, this past weekend, and she told me about this product revival — and, she also had one in hand for us to play with.
As longtime readers may know, Barbie was quite a figure in my life. I loved the dolls and played with Barbie, Skipper, Midge — and all their houses an cars — avidly ’til I was like… 13. Oh. Ken, too. But frankly: Ken was always … an afterthought.
- I’ve written lots of stories about Barbie.
Topping on the cake: I was born same year as Barbie — I am 17 days older — and we have marked every major birthday together since.
The 1962 Dream House is a cardboard marvel genius product. It is completely self-contained and portable…. It includes “Slim-line” midcentury modern furniture, also cardboard-engineered, that you put together … And you get a Barbie. But not just any Barbies: She’s also a 1960s design, including a 1960s dress.
On Mattel’s Barbie blog, Barbie® Signature Principal Designer Bill Greening provided some history on the House and on the project:
Barbie® debuted in 1959, but she didn’t move into her first Dream House until three years later, in 1962….
They were only able to find one sample in their archives with the furniture still unassembled, but that was enough. They scanned the “sheets” with the furniture and sent them out for development….
[The doll that comes with the house is] a vintage blonde ponytail Barbie, wearing a floral PAK sheath dress collectors know as ‘On the Go’ from that original Dream House era…. That makes the reproduction of the Dream House even more special, since the doll was sold separately back in the 1960s.
I am pretty darned excited to get my own 1962 Dream House.
- You can get yours, too, on Amazon here.
More Barbie love:
- Pat Henry on Barbie Turning 50 — and answers my question: Has Barbie Used Her Power for Good or Evil?
- Reader Sumac Sue shares: Judi and Joni: Rulers of their Barbie Universe.
- Maryann Roy designs midcentury modern miniature furniture for Barbie and her clan.
Alicia Gray says
I loved Barbie and still collect some Barbie’s that have special meaning – “Barbie Loves Elvis”, Barbie as Scarlett OHara, Star Trek Barbie, Barbie as Goldie Hawk on Laugh In complete with the body tattoos, and others.
I, too, was born the same year as Barbie but she is 5 days older than me. I remember a friend’s mother helped us make a whole wardrobe of clothes for our dolls when we were about 9 or 10 because Barbie accessories and Barbie houses weren’t in the cards for us but that never limited our imagination as shoe boxes became homes for the dolls and smaller boxes worked for beds and other furniture. Lol!
Thanks for sharing!
Karen KLine says
I had the 1968 Barbie Dream House! Plus, I had the Barbie Camper! My grandmother and mom made lots of incredible clothes for my Barbies, too. Such great memories!
Mary says
I just finished putting together the furniture and setting up my new Barbie Dream House! I love it!
Mary Elizabeth says
Very nice reproduction. My younger sister and my daughters played with Barbie. I was just on the cusp of the Barbie generation myself. I played with a Ginny doll, which had many clothes and accessories, but was depicted as a little girl. My 8″ Ginny had wood furniture, such as a bed and wardrobe, but no house. The furniture was set up on one shelf in my book/toy shelves, right under my 1 inch to 1 foot gauge doll house.
ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ginny-Vogue-Dolls-with-clothes/192491057582?hash=item2cd15c71ae:g:O-IAAOSwzwxaqUGb
hannah says
And, I bought it. Found it through the Mid Century Fashion FB page. ARRIVING TOMORROW!!!!
(guess what Mr. Wonderful will be helping me do over the weekend??)
🙂
HeidiAnn says
I was lucky enough to find an original one a couple of years ago, so I don’t suppose I need the new one, but it’s pretty fabulous!
I do wish I could buy the doll alone, though!
My older sister had the original one back in the 60’s, or we got it from an older neighbor girl, I can’t remember which.
I still haven’t been able to take photos and write a blog post about my vintage Dream House, but I’ll get around to it one of these days!
Way to go Mattel!
I love that they’re doing this!
Karin says
Does this ever bring back memories. When I was little, my best friend across the street had the house. I was terribly jealous, but consoled myself with bouffant Barbie, Ken and Midge. I too had Barbie with a stewardess outfit complete with a teensy TWA bag. I dreamed of travelling the world like her. Great post Pam!
Elizabeth from Texas says
I ordered one! For my granddaughters, see, that’s why!! Haha! But seriously, I was going to put ONE 1962 dreamhouse in my grandgirls’ bedroom for when they visit, but I could really use TWO 1962 Barbies for them to each have one to play with together. I didn’t see an extra 1962 Barbie available. Any tips out there? I guess I could give them my “Pillow Talk” collectors Barbie & Ken to play with in there…
PS I was just told our 1963 house restoration won’t be ready until July now!
tammyCA says
Cool! I bought an original used one about 20 yrs ago that someone wanted to get rid of. Ha, I still “play with Barbies”..I love making little clothes & vignettes..always takes me back to a happy place. I highly recommend finding used, tattered barbies in need of restoration or makeovers..there’s lots of tutorials..I even gave some ink dyed aqua and pink hair. 🙂
Rick G says
Right on Tammy !!! – my wife has 3 rooms full of them & yes, she still plays with them as well !!! – Have fun ; that’s what it’s all about !
Debbie in Portland says
My birthday is April 7, 1959. I still have almost all of my childhood dolls, including Baby First Step, Tubsy, and Pat-a-burp, Liddle Kiddles, Hi Heidy and Jan, Thumbelina, Midge, Skipper, and Barbie. I saved them to give to the daughter than I never had, so now my excuse is that someday I might have a granddaughter. I think Future Granddaughter NEEDS this Barbie house!