Doll Collectors: Vintage Barbies – The Original Skipper, Barbie’s Little Sister

The World of Barbie began with one simple Barbie doll in 1959. As her popularity grew, The Mattel Company began to branch out to include not only varieties of Barbies and other female friends, but dolls of different ages and sexes. In stepped Skipper in 1964. She was marketed and known as “Barbie’s Little Sister.

Unlike the oddly proportioned Barbie doll, with her oh so tiny disproportioned waist, and perfectly molded chest that stood to unnatural attention like Nurse Diesel in “Young Frankenstein”, Skipper reflected a much more realistic interpretation of a young teen or preteen.

The original Skipper had a flat chest and long straight hair. You could buy her with different colours of hair from titian to blonde to brunette. The hairstyle reflected the then current trend of hair. It was long and straight with bangs. The original Skipper was made with rooted hair.

Also unlike the more voluptuous and full figured older sister Barbie, Skipper did not have permanently oddly shaped feet that could only wear tiny high heels that were constantly falling off and getting lost. Barbie’s shoes were also a pain to put on. Skipper on the other hand had flat feet. Her shoes slipped on with ease.

Skipper’s popularity grew. When Mattel saw that Skipper was selling well too, they added more clothes to her clothing line. She soon became quite the fashion plate, much like her older sister Barbie.

Skipper’s clothes sometimes were junior versions of her older sister’s wardrobe, They looked pretty together dressed in complimentary outfits. One example was the 1964-1965 yellow and black masquerade costume. There was even a male complimentary one, created for the Ken doll.

Skipper had plenty of her own outfits too, that did not tie in with her older sister Barbie. She had everything from soft flannel red pyjamas to aqua coloured sweater and pants, to feminine, yet still innocent looking party dresses..

The very first Skipper was made in 1964. She was sold in a smaller version of the same type of trademark cardboard box, with a lid like big sister Barbie had. She came with a little enclosed paper booklet too. She also had her own wire stand for display like big sister Barbie.

In 1964, Skipper was straight legged. She was dressed in a somewhat old fashioned, poofy looking red and white striped bathing suit. The following year they aged up the bathing suit slightly, to a more fitted red, white and blue, one piece knit bathing suit.

In 1965 Skipper was made with bending knees. Then she didn’t have to sit at a doll table with her legs sticking straight out in front of her, baby doll fashion. She could be seated more realistically.

Much like her older sister Barbie, Skipper continued to change through the years, to fit the current styles and trends. The sweetest ones though, were the very earliest mid sixties versions of Skipper, Barbie’s little sister.