Barbie collectors, get psyched for December: Mattel is launching their “Ladies of the ‘80s” line, complete with mini interpretations of the great Joan Jett, Debbie Harry, and Cyndi Lauper. Joan is dressed in not only leather pants but also hot pink high tops, while Cyndi flashes her fishnets, and Debbie shows off a pink body-conscious strappy dress that could easily be worn today. One thing that would make these dolls even better? They should come with their own personal soundtracks. [Jezebel]

Mattel recently released a line of black Barbie dolls that is supposed to be more authentic. The So In Style by Barbie dolls, developed by Stacy McBride-Irby, have fuller lips, curlier hair, and three distinct skin tones. Some have criticized these dolls for not being authentic enough and having long brown hair, while others have praised them, saying they’re a step towards changing beauty ideals and giving black girls a positive representation of themselves. But this isn’t the first time Mattel has released a line of dolls to represent black women specifically.

As far as I was concerned when I was a little girl, there was only one proper use for my Barbie dolls—simulating sex acts. But Barbie and Ken humping (without privates mind you) got old after a while. Now I know that sex is not always a Barbie and Ken doin’ it missionary style event. That’s why I’m lovin’ BuzzFeed’s collection of alternative and lesbian Barbie art. Let’s give little girls some options for their future, puh-lease. Not everyone marries Ken, gets a pink Corvette, and lives in a Dream House. After the jump, some more of my favorite Barbies gone wild. [BuzzFeed]

Do you look like Barbie? Have you been graced with her odd proportions and doll-like looks? Or maybe you have a lingering obsession from childhood that has yet to go away?

Well, Dubai Fashion Week wants you. While the blond bombshell took over New York Fashion Week in February, she’s making her way across the globe, and the next stop is the UAE. 7Days, a newspaper from the United Arab Emirates, is even holding a contest, calling for any real-life Barbie dolls. Simply email them with a description of your Barbie-ness and the winning entry will not only receive tickets to the Barbie fashion show but a feature in the newspaper. Maybe the woman who went through 100 plastic surgeries to look like Barbie should enter.

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are reportedly donezo. Though nothing has been officially confirmed and the couple was seen together earlier this week, it would be a slightly shocking breakup, mostly for the alleged claim that Rihanna is JT’s other woman. After three years of on-again, off-again for Jessica and Justin, all it took was some sightings with the feisty singer to launch a truckload of rumors. [Terra] Though they might not be over IRL, it reminded us of some other shocking celebrity breakups!

Get ready to roll your eyes. Universal Studios announced today that they’ve reached an agreement with toy giant Mattel to make a live-action Barbie movie. I repeat: Universal will cast an actress to portray a doll that feminists argue would be unable to walk upright due to her proportions. But anatomical incorrectness is only one of the reasons that Barbie has remained in the realm of plastic and cartoons until now. Producer Laurence Mark is canvassing writers to find that perfect family-friendly storyline that goes beyond the drama I remember of spending 90 minutes trying to yank those @#$* knee boots on and off over those flippin’ plastic heels. Once the problems of casting and inflating the actress with a superhuman ability to balance have been solved, here are our predictions for what will happen in this movie. [Variety]

The latest Japanese edition of Harper’s Bazaar presents an interesting take on first lady fashion by dressing up a blond-haired, blue-eyed Barbie-like doll in a number of outfits and plopping her into scenes with various presidents. The animal print-wearing Michelle Obama stand-in is especially curious (take a look at it after the jump). Is this story trying to make some sort of political statement, or is this just someone’s ingenious way to show off new clothes gone terribly wrong? And considering Mobama is already a style icon, is she offended?

“Barbie” and “makeup” aren’t words grown women use in the same sentence, but I’ll start by gushing over these cute Barbie Loves Stila eye makeup pots. The shimmery colors—Little Black Dress (a sexy charcoal), Cobalt Clutch (a bright royal blue) and Purple Pumps (violet like an orchid)—look just like grown-up versions of the ones found on Barbie’s eyes. And $20 seems like a bargain for Stila eye makeup that can be worn brightly, as an attention-grabbing liner or sexily as a muted eyeshadow. [Stila]

Jonathan Adler brought his “happy chic” style to Barbie‘s Malibu Dream House earlier this year. Now you can add some of that glamour to your own home with these hand-painted canisters that instantly increase the sophistication of any bathroom or boudoir. The mod black and white stripes will coordinate with just about any decor, and the canisters’ playful design screams HAPPY! The only word of caution: Be careful what you store in them because the cheeky labels will make friends curious enough to snoop. [$28 - $135, Barbie Collector]

Designers Christophe Decarnin of Balmain, Proenza Schouler, Christopher Kane, Rick Ownes, and Alber Elbaz of Lanvin, along with 295 others, have dressed Jason Wu dolls for a charity auction to benefit AIDS and breast cancer charities. The auction will take place at Jeffrey’s during New York Fashion Week. It’s true that these dolls were “created” by some of fashion’s heavy-hitters and are for charity, but I don’t see why they’re expected to fetch upwards of $250. The doll clothing and props aren’t remarkable. In fact, the dolls look like rejects from the Barbie collections actually created by Byron Lars. Designer dolls are no longer a novelty, so it’s time for this fundraising ploy to be retired. I say designers shouldn’t attempt to create or dress a doll unless they have the time and resources to make her as fabulous as she should be. [LuisaAviaRoma.com]

Vogue Italia certainly knows how to increase sales:

1. Drum up media coverage by launching an all black issue that features only African-American models.
2. Follow up a year later, only replace the models with inanimate black objects and simply drum up controversy.

In its second go-around, the magazine has named Barbie its cover girl of the now annual Black issue. Says editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani, “Barbie has been an icon for whole generations which is why I really wanted to give a strong sign in step with the times, and dedicate the anniversary issue to Black Barbie.” Huh. Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

• Is “So In Style” Barbie on the right path towards a more “authentic” Black Barbie, with its fuller lips, noses and curly hair? [The Root]
• Michael Jackson’s kids reportedly want to live with neither their Grandmother, nor Debbie Rowe, but with their aunt Janet.[OK!]—She does have the fiercest dance moves.
• Politicians aren’t the only ones with infidelity problems, rumor has it that athletes are pretty horrible at monogamous relationships as well.[Lemondrop] – Pro-athletes cheat in 80-90% of relationships…so stay far, far away.

What’s worse than getting dumped right before your birthday? Getting dumped right before your Ken and Barbie-themed birthday party!!! This is exactly what happened to Jessica Simpson when Tony Romo broke it off with her. Obvs, Jess canceled the fiesta because, without Ken, Barbie just can’t go on. [People] — We think the spilit might’ve happened when Tony realized he was dating a five-year-old? After the jump, our predictions for what this party could’ve been.

Returning to his couture doll clothing roots, fashion darling Jason Wu has designed a doll and clothed it in one of his Fall ‘09 runway looks. Reminiscent of Barbie way back before she became so fond of hot pink and boobs, this bleached blond little number is a classy alternative to those slutty Bratz dolls. The marabou feather and spike-heeled wonder in plastic is available starting this week at Collette in Paris for 215 euros (that’s about $300). Get yours today! (Once they sell out, we predict serious Ebay value.) Or just stare at it on your computer screen and wonder if it’s weird that you’re jealous of a doll. [Style.com]

Heidi Klum was immortalized as part of Barbie’s Blonde Ambition Collection, but the doll just looks like a regular Barbie doll to me. Now I wonder why Mattel even bothered with this collection. [7/8/09]

It’s hard to be a Barbie girl in a Barbie world when your surroundings average an inch in size. Now you can play the my-size version at the Palms Resort in Las Vegas in the newly added Barbie Suite. Created for her 50th birthday, the super-pink pad is an all out homage to the doll with huge Barbie portraits, “B” insignia pillows, and magenta furniture. Other sexy details in the Jonathan Adler-designed space include a two-way fireplace and jacuzzi. Knowing that you probably made your Barbie and Ken dolls have sex when you were a kid (come now, don’t deny it), getting it on in this fantasy land could be a real adventure. [Luxist]

Have I seen too many vaginas, or does this pink-hued escalator in the world’s first ever Barbie flagship store in Shanghai look a hell of a lot like a hooha? I mean, really. The recently completed Barbie-themed Mattel store in Shanghai, China, was designed by Slade Architecture. At a whopping 35,000 square feet, the Barbie palace “holds the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of Barbie dolls and licensed Barbie products, as well as a range of services and activities for Barbie fans and their families,” in which, per Mattel’s request, “Barbie is hero.” Um, you go, girl? The exterior is minimalist futurist, and the interior is slick pop with its Barbie-embedded walls, spaceship cosmetics counter, and a high-tech area where you can design your own Barbie doll. Still, that escalator is its most striking feature, IMO. What do you think of it: pretty people mover or totes cooter? [ArchDaily]