Barbie Turns 50 Vegas Style

Most leggy blondes don't openly share their birthdates, but Barbie is an exception. Much like Oprah, Barbie is celebrating her 50th birthday in style for an entire year. She's walking the walk at charity events for Save the Children, walking the catwalk at Fashion Week and walking the red carpet at awards shows. She's even rubbing elbows with Playboy Bunnies, if only in the elevator, at the brand-new Barbie Suite at the Las Vegas Palms Casino Resort.

Celebrity designer Jonathan Adler designed the 2,300-square-foot suite, where up to 50 people can throw a house party "Barbie-Dream-House-style." It has the expected Jacuzzi tub and plasma TVs and it's drenched in pink, with corseted chairs and a mirror framed by 65 reproduction 1959 Barbies.

Barbie is one of those girls I'd love to hate, but I just can't. While we all know her measurements are unrealistic, her shoes always fall off, and absolutely nothing about her (including her boyfriend) ever ages, she still captivates millions of girls. Who can blame them? She's got more than good looks. She's got the clothes, the cars, the houses and even the man, but she's more than a material girl. Over the years she's been a career girl with stints as an astronaut, a veterinarian and a McDonald's employee.

Barbie has taken her share of guff from the critics, who pounced like hungry cougars (but who said 'cougar?') when she complained, "Math is hard!" But she's bounced back and, according to "her people" at Mattel, she's just getting started. She's not even afraid of technology. At Toy Fair we saw a prototype of a digital printer that adorns girls' fingernails with Barbie flair.

You've gotta give the girl credit. The times, they are a-changin', but Barbie never misses a beat.

Photo © Palms Casino Resort