Barbie celebrates 50 years at New York's Fashion Week

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. Barbie is celebrating five decades as a fashion icon and pop culture princess with a line-up of celebrations, including the first-ever Barbie Runway Show at Fashion Week in New York in February.

On Feb. 14, 50 fashion designers will come together to showcase real-size, Barbie-inspired looks at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in the Tent at Bryant Park. Designer names are expected to be announced in early February.

In addition, cosmetics brand Stila has been named the Official Prestige Makeup Partner for 2009. In celebration of all things Barbie, Stila will introduce beauty products, including a limited edition spring collection of beauty cans and talking palette. This will precede a larger collection and Barbie beauty program slated for fall 2009 (available at Sephora 5th Avenue store, Sephora International stores and Sephora.com beginning in late January; fall collection due in late summer). The beauty program will extend beyond cosmetics and into hair care with partner T3. The T3 Barbie Hair Dryer is coming this fall.

Additional celebrations and partnerships taking place throughout the year include a Barbie Boutique & Exhibit at colette in Paris; the Jonathan Adler Loves Barbie collection of home decor for grown ups; and the opening in March 2009 of the brand?s first-ever flagship store in Shanghai. The Shanghai flagship store will house 1,500 square meters and six stories of Barbie retail-tainment. Designed for girls of all ages, the store will be a place where girls can shop, dine, enjoy a day at the spa and become a fashion designer or runway supermodel.