My Personal (Black?) History: A L♥ve - Hate Relationship with Barbie

Barbie introduced me to fashion through play, but that body was a reinforcement of fascist body standards. The same kind of standards that led someone to believe he could comment on the First Lady's svelte frame as, somehow, deviant.

When I tried to cornrow my Black Barbie's hair it would just unravel, even if I packed it with Blue Magic Hair Grease (risking the wrath of my Mum).  But the clothes are what I loved the most.  If the Barbie Dolls of my generation had Afros like the ones I see now, maybe my collection of dolls wouldn't have ended up bald.

Blazer: American Eagle | Shirt: The Limited | T-Shirt: A Gift from the Mister | Skirt: Gap | Tights: Torrid 
Shoes: Jessica Simpson | Handbag: Kenneth Cole

But even so, Black Barbie is not all she's cracked up to be: