Pink to Make Ken Wink

On this day in 1959 Barbie was launched at the International Toy Fair in New York.

She didn't feature in my childhood though.

I was a Sindy girl, not a Barbie Girl, cue annoying song by Aqua to begin playing in your head now.

I would play with my Sindys for hours, sometimes on my own and sometimes with my sisters.

Although I do remember going to our next door neighbours house and playing a game on the stairs with their son Terry who was a couple of years older than me. The game involved his Action Men kidnapping all my Sindy dolls.

I got them all back.

 

Whilst looking in my wardrobe today for something to wear in honour of the Priestess of Pink I remembered two pink items I loved wearing when I was 16.

I owned a pale pink knee length culotte skirt.

I have never been particularly confident about my legs and although this style of skirt wasn't the most flattering I still wore it because I liked the way it made me feel.

 I felt confident when I wore it.

I used to wear it with a white blouse which had a lace panel and on my feet I wore white moccasin shoes.

I can picture myself in that outfit so clearly.

The other item was a bright pink strapless dress, cinched in at the waist and then billowing out into a circular skirt.

I LOVED IT.

And even though I may say so myself I looked pretty darn good in it too.

 

I also wanted to be a Pink Lady.

I wanted to be Marty, she of the impossibly tight pencil skirt and always sporting a scarf tied round her neck.

 

But back to the present day.

Or more precisely to the end of this evening's meal when we all tucked into a slice of this pink sponge made in Barbie's honour

I'll never get into a pencil skirt now.

 

And just in case you think he may be feeling left out this Friday is Ken day, the date he was launched in 1961.