My Earliest Costume Memory

Pink Splendor Barbie - Limited Edition - 1996

I'm not a Barbie fan but
I did have a Barbie when I was 5 or 6 and I lost her almost immediately. She was a much yearned for present from Santa (thanks Mum!). I remember her having a hot pink, frilly ball gown with shimmery scratchy fabric, wide skirts and amazing jewellery. 

But perhaps I remember incorrectly, because I've never found the Barbie of my memories. 

Crystal Barbie 1983

I remember being awed by the frills on the gown displayed all around the box - much like Crystal Barbie.

Crystal Barbie has the right jewels and a shimmer to her fabric and the frilly stole around her shoulders that I remember, but I don't remember the fan and the skirt shape is not what I remember, not at all Scarlet O'Hara-ish enough. And of course there's the colour. I think she might be a little later then the one I remember too, perhaps she was my consolation barbie which I have vague recollections of being rather disappointed by.

Pink and Pretty 1981

I thought she was called 'Pretty in Pink', and whilst those jewels seem right in my memory the rest of the outfit doesn't - 1981 would be closest to the right date but she might have been earlier. (I bet your doing the math on how old I am right now.)

She certainly didn't have a microphone.

 So adored by Barbie fans Peaches 'n Cream was re-released in December 2009 

I remember Peaches 'n Cream being released in 1985 and that she was similar but her skirt wasn't as full and the necklace didn't have the drop pendant. Yes, I do remember making that comparison.

1990 Holiday Barbie

And this is pretty close to the shade of hot pink I remember, perhaps a shade or two darker. This Barbie is so much later and whilst the fullness of the skirt is close to what I remember it's just not right at all and about 10 years too late.

I remember loving my pink Barbie dress - it was the dress not the Barbie I was in love with and that mattered to me - I was devastated when I lost her and cried and sulked for ages. Years later when Peaches 'n Cream came out a part of me still had pangs over my lost Barbie even though I felt I was 'too old for Barbie' by then.

The funny thing is though that I had completely forgotten about this whole Barbie thing until recently when I was trying to recall my earliest costume memory so I could blog about it.

I don't like Barbie and I don't like pink. Obviously this early experience impacted upon my tastes from there on in. I never stopped loving amazing dresses though!

My best friend thinks I need to get over my dislike of pink. Remembering my Barbie story has helped me to feel less repulsion toward pinks - especially 'Barbie' pinks (as I quite like mushroom shades). So I'm dedicating this post to my oldest and bestest friend, an amazing woman with the wisdom of a Greek Goddess.

And that is the story of my earliest memory of falling in love with a costume. Do you remember your first costume romance?

*All images in this post have been sourced from Pinterest or Google search. I have no association with the makers of Barbie and this is not an affiliate link.