The Barbie x Star Wars dolls are finally here, a beautiful celebration of Star Wars, fashion, and design. The collection includes three dolls, each wearing a couture outfit inspired by a Star Wars character – Princess Leia, R2-D2, and Darth Vader.
As soon as I saw the photos, I fell in love with the designs – and raced to snag a pre-order as quickly as I could! They have finally arrived direct from Amazon, and they more than live up to expectations. While I usually only talk about wearable items on this blog, these dolls are so closely related to the world of Star Wars fashion, I wanted to share them here.
The Star Wars x Barbie collaboration is an homage to Star Wars: A New Hope. This eponymous collection, inspired by the film’s original concept art, re-imagines iconic characters through a distinctive Barbie high-fashion filter.
The dolls are usually priced at US$100.00 each – the Darth Vader doll is currently on sale at time of writing. These items ship direct from Amazon.com with international shipping available.
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- Barbie Star Wars Princess Leia Doll – US$99.99 each
- Barbie Star Wars R2-D2 Doll – US$100.00 each
- Barbie Star Wars Darth Vader Doll US$87.79 each
When I first heard that Barbie was releasing a collection of Star Wars dolls, I expected something like the Forces Of Destiny toy range – dolls dressed up like Star Wars characters. As a collector, I was immediately excited. I already own many Star Wars dolls and 12″ figures made over the years by Kenner, Hasbro, Sideshow, and Hot Toys, and knew a Barbie collector doll would make a fine addition to my collection. (*General Grievous cough*)
I have long wished for more figures like the gorgeous Portrait Edition Queen Amidala dolls made by Hasbro for The Phantom Menace. Sadly the line only featured three Queen Amidala dolls, when there are so many more of her amazing costumes they could have released. I know I’m not the only fan who wished Hasbro had continued the line.
Barbie is known for releasing higher-end collectors dolls, including Disney characters, so I immediately started dreaming of more Padme’ dolls, Leia dolls, Rey dolls…. but as soon as I saw the photos, I was surprised – and delighted! Rather than simply recreating movie costumes, the dolls wore fashion designs inspired by Star Wars characters!
The Barbie x Star Wars doll collection is inspired by classic Star Wars characters from A New Hope – Princess Leia, R2-D2, and Darth Vader. Each doll is wearing a couture outfit, complete with matching hairstyle and accessories, all packaged in a fantastic display box.
While waiting for the dolls to arrive, I was really torn about whether I would keep the dolls in the box, or remove them. As soon as I held them in my hands, I knew I would keep them in the box. The presentation is just gorgeous, complete with strong plastic display box and artwork on the cardboard surround.
The dolls are secure in place, and protected from dust and marks. Each box has a plastic slip band that simply slides off to reveal the side panels that open up to display a backdrop of artwork. Now I’m wishing my Hot Toys 12″ figures came with a display box like this!
Each doll wears a full head-to-toe ensemble inspired by a character from A New Hope. The outfits not only reference the design of the character, but also the feel – it really shows that a lot of thought went into the design process. Princess Leia is elegant, confident, and stylish, R2-D2 is quirky, fun, and friendly, and Darth Vader is powerful, imposing, and severe.
Princess Leia looks like royalty, in a full length white ball gown with huge draped sleeves and stunning silver accessories. The outfit looks red carpet ready, the perfect fit for the Princess of Alderaan.
This collectible Star Wars x Barbie doll captures Princess Leia’s iconic look in an elegant white gown with dramatic, floor-length sleeves. Details include a silvery peplum belt, cuff jewelry and an up-do inspired by her signature bun hairstyle.
R2-D2 is portrayed as youthful and fun, a fashionable best friend. This is my daughter’s favourite design from the collection – the long blue ponytail gives the look a slightly more younger vibe compared to the other two designs.
This collectible Star Wars R2-D2 x Barbie doll captures the lovable droid’s look in a geometric ensemble with a dome skirt, bomber jacket and thigh-high boots over silvery tights. A vibrant blue ponytail and “radar eye” detail complete the look.
Darth Vader looks ready to march into a board room and take control. While her black hairstyle and glasses were intended to represent Darth Vader’s helmet, I can’t help but see a reference to Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue Magazine for over 30 years and a powerful figure in the fashion world.
This collectible Star Wars x Barbie doll captures Darth Vader’s Sith armor silhouette in a head-to-toe shiny-black ensemble. Metallic details at her collar and waist, dark glasses and an emblematic black cape finish the look.
Of course no high fashion outfit would be complete without a matching makeup look and hairstyle. The Princess Leia doll features a new take on her classic bun hairstyle, the R2-D2 doll has long blue hair and an asymmetrical blue eye shadow look, and the Darth Vader doll has a short black bob, dark sunglasses and red lipstick. I just love the attention to detail in this collection.
Fans have long been drawing fashion outfits inspired by their favourite fictional characters from Disney Princesses to Marvel superheroes and more. There are so many amazing fans using their creativity to combine fashion and fandom in their artwork. This concept has gone from the page to the wardrobe, with both fans and companies now making costume-inspired fashion to wear.
It’s really neat that Barbie has highlighted this trend with fabulous original designs of their own. As well as the finished outfit, the box display includes artwork of the original character/costume, together with artwork of the couture outfit version. I would totally buy art prints of the outfit sketches!
Disney has long been releasing collectible dolls of Disney characters (especially the Disney Princesses) in designer fashion versions of their classic costumes. I’ve often wanted to collect them myself, but my wallet belongs to Star Wars. Finally I have my very own designer dolls, and they’re gorgeous!
Star Wars is still often seen by many as a typically male interest – the Star Wars toys are still in the ‘boys’ aisle at my local store, even the Forces Of Destiny Rey and Leia dolls. Barbie is a brand that lives firmly in the ‘girls’ aisle, and Star Wars deserves to be there too.
For me, this collection recognises the female Star Wars fan. Not just creating female Star Wars character dolls, or even dolls marketed to women, but these dolls are female Star Wars fans. They represent the women who wear Star Wars fashion to celebrate the saga – and look amazing.
This is a beautiful example for generations of girls – Barbie dolls dressed up in Star Wars clothes, just like the women who love Star Wars and wear it proudly. It may just be a cash-grab from a toy company in the midst of Star Wars media hype, but to me it means so much that these dolls are wearing fashion, not costumes – it turns the idea into something completely different.
The Barbie brand is founded on dolls wearing fashion, so this concept was the perfect approach for a Star Wars collaboration, with more thought behind the design than a lot of film release-tie in collections. I just sigh when I see a Star Wars brand deal and it’s just the logo on top of a regular product. This collection feels thoughtful, evident that the designers really wanted to create outfits that represented the characters and that fans would really appreciate.
Seeing a predominately female-market brand like Barbie collaborate with Star Wars really makes me so happy. Female Star Wars fans have been around as long as there has been Star Wars, but the merchandise market has taken a bit too long to realise that, or at the very least, cater to them appropriately. Of course boys and girls, men and women, and every gender identity in between can buy and love Star Wars toys and clothes, but the intent behind manufacturing and advertising matters.
I still can’t believe that I now have high-end Star Wars fashion dolls sitting on my shelf, proudly displayed alongside ‘classic’ Star Wars collectibles like Sideshow statues and vintage Kenner figures. This may be a one-time collaboration, but I really do hope Barbie make more Star Wars dolls like these – R2-D2 needs her C-3PO, gold is a fabulous colour for a couture outfit. The collection was inspired by A New Hope, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see if there will be more original trilogy designs to follow.
One last note – I just adore the outfits themselves! Honestly, I want these outfits for my own wardrobe. I can’t think of places I would really wear these outfits (not a lot of red carpet events in the life of a stay-at-home mom), but sometimes fashion is just a wonderful exploration of fantasy and creativity, not practicality – I’m not sure anyone would describe stiletto high heels as ‘practical’ but I love them and wear them all the same.
This collection is a really neat example of just how amazing Star Wars fashion can be, and I’m so happy to have these dolls on my shelf to admire every day.
Did you buy any of the Barbie x Star Wars dolls? Would you wear the designs? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
