It is an undeniable fact that Barbie is still astounding. Changing her clothes at least 4,000 times a year, she's the biggest quick-change artist in the world and the doll with the highest sales figures. For this very reason, fashion's most prominent stylists were each invited to drape this very special "Top Model" in one of their own inimitable original designs. It may sound like a lot of fun, and you can bet it was, but there was a serious side -- the fashion show was a charity fund-raiser to benefit a breast cancer awareness initiative!

Barbie's benefit appearance
Barbie and prêt-à-porter arrived on the scene simultaneously. Since then, she's been a hard -working clotheshorse and dedicated follower of fashion, always maintaining a good working relationship with prominent designers. From time to time, Barbie goes from being a much-desired, if controversial, plaything (for many a symbol of crass consumerism) to being a socially responsible entity, making a glad-hearted and useful contribution to social welfare. The most recent of these occasions was last winter, when Barbie figured prominently in an unusual benefit event held at Spazio Krizia. Vogue Italia, Mattel, Italua, and Christie's auction house sponsored the fashionable fund-raiser to benefit Europa Donna, an international initiative aimed at raising public awareness of the dangers of breast cancer.

First Place goes to Barbie Prada
Some 80 Barbies were auctioned off, 30 of which were part of Mattel's private collection, while the remaining 50 were all one-of-a-kind dolls, dressed by some of the biggest names in contemporary fashion design. The Barbies were valued at a combined total of over $95,000.
The highest value was awarded #38, the Prada Barbie, dressed in a tiny, baguette-beaded coat, which sold for $4,000.00
The Krizia Barbie went for $3,500.00, wearing a shimmering crinkled organza dress, followed by the Barbie bride, dressed in Mikado silk by Lorenzo Riva and sold for $2,700.00.
$2.500.00 was paid for the Moschino Barbie, decked out in a red strapless taffeta gown with an enormous cow appliqué dominating its full skirt; 4.300.000 was paid for the Versace Barbie in a violet-hued shearling two-piece with zip-jacket; the Barbie dressed by Gucci in stretch wool-jersey with a black patent halter went for $2.200.00.

Barbie off Limits!
Despite critics, the song "Barbie Girl" performed by the group Aqua has remained high on the singles charts. Grumbles were recently heard emanating from the upper floors at Mattel Inc., who sued to have the record taken off the market on grounds of trademark infringement, false description, wrongful use of a registered mark and unfair competition. Particularly infuriating was singer Lene Grawford Nystrom (as "Barbie") singing to her "Ken" (Rene Dif): "Kiss me here, touch me there, you can touch me anywhere". The message from the toy maker is clear: Keep your hands off Barbie!