February 09, 2006

I thought I'd seen everything, but then I ran across a special collectible Barbie set themed after Jude Deveraux's novel, The Raider. Apparantly, the male barbie is modeled after Fabio, which I find a bit disturbing, although even I have to admit, he looks a hell of a lot better than plastic-hair Ken.

The Raider was the eight novel in her Montgomery saga. Set in colonial New England in 1766, a masked patriot, known only as the Raider, is being hunted by the British. Beautiful Jessica Taggert is thrilled by the attentions of her gallant hero, even has she is disgusted by his alter-ego, the drunken Alexander Montgomery.

The Barbie set is actually quite elaborate, what with long tousled, windswept hair and all that:

Barbie® doll wears a violet blue dress that falls off her shoulders with a neckline trimmed in white lace and the violet blue taffeta bodice is boned and fitted. It laces up the front in lilac satin ribbon to finish in a bow just under the bust. An overskirt of periwinkle chiffon is pulled up at the left hip to reveal a very full underskirt of violet blue floral jacquard. A sash of teal iridescent chiffon falls around the edge of the overskirt. A small bouquet of lilac and white flowers covers the area where the two chiffon fabrics come together. She has long blond tousled hair. Ken® doll has long brown windswept hair. He is wearing a sheer white cotton shirt and tight black pants accented with a black belt. Black knee high cuffed and buckled boots complete his ruggedly handsome look.

More At: Jude Deveraux The Raider Barbie & Ken Giftset

Perhaps it was Fabio-Ken, or maybe it was the more recent Legolas-Ken that made the plain old generic Ken, you know, Barbie's boy toy, feel like he needed a makeover of his own...

Barbie has gone through a number of changes over the past half-century. But Ken, with his shiny pecs and glassy eyes, has been just about the same for the longest time.

But over time, his look has gotten, for lack of a better word - old. He's faced competition from other men, some with real, brushable hair.

But now his agents have announced that he's turning over a new leaf, to make him more of a hottie for his blonde bombshell, Barbie.

More At: Barbie's Boy Toy Gets Makeover