FAO Schwarz Opens Styled By Me Barbie Boutique: Whining By Tweens Already Starting
Posted on July 5, 2007
FAO Schwarz has just opened a paradise for Barbie doll lovers. The new 1500 square foot retail experience is called Styled By Me Barbie Doll and it's located at the toy store's Fifth Avenue location in New York City. So what happens inside this Ode to Barbie?
The store features two large Barbie doll styling stations with eight interactive touch screens. The screens guide girls through a step-by-step design process. Girls get to personally select a doll as well as the fashions, accessories, a doll case and more.
After styling their Barbie girls can debut their newly styled doll in a mini fashion show. Styled by Me Barbie dolls will be available for an average retail price starting at $65.
FAO Schwarz CEO Ed Schmults says in a statement, "For nearly 150 years, FAO Schwarz has provided families with memorable, enchanting shopping experiences, and we're thrilled to open the styled by me Barbie boutique, designed specifically for today's generation of girls. Styled By Me is the ultimate celebration of our long-standing relationship with Mattel and Barbie and a prime example of our joint commitment to bring fresh, new ways to bring children's dreams to life."
Those sneaky marketers at Mattel -- now they've done it. We are going to have to head to Manhattan to see this. It's just too exciting an idea for a Barbie fan. The fashion show alone makes it worth it! And what do you want to bet that FAO Schwarz will -- for a small fee -- rent out the space for the best Barbie Birthday Bash Ever?? Bob Mackie better watch out, because we are ready to style a specialty Barbie that will make his Cher doll look like Plain Jane.
Update: Sadly, this store and its Style By Me Barbie offering are no longer available. You can view some images of what the specialty store section looked like here.
Mattel also once had a Styled by Me Barbie offering online. Take a look: