Barbie vs Sindy: who wins the fashion race? | V&A

[@nimue325]

The original Barbie had a pair of cat’s eye sunglasses, too!

[@kristi9475]

Thank you, V&A and Trish for this delightful video. As an American I had never heard of Sindy and she's adorable. I got my first Barbie in 1963 and I still have her.

[@jeniallenby8389]

wonderful to finally see that Vivianne Westwood outfit and so pleased one of them is with you ❤

[@rachelsiler7610]

Barbie (her character was actually a Wisconsin girl, Barbara Millicent Roberts) was originally from Willows Wisconsin. I adored her British cousin, Francie, and her bubbly best friend, Midge.

[@isabellacarta1120]

I like old Barbie expecially her face expression But Sindy is really cool not to mention Vivianne Westwood dress...✌

[@kts8900]

Your enthusiasm and delight is contagious! Thank you!

[@slytheringingerwitch]

I am biased as I adored Sindy. Her furniture was realistic, her accessories were cool and I felt she looked more like a young girl of the time. I don't hate Barbie by any means but Sindy was my childhood.

[@Emma-ex8gx]

I was born in the 90s but always loved playing with my mum and aunties sindy dolls at my grandma's house

[@SilverDawnArrow]

I wish I could own the Vivienne Westwood Sindy! The Mini-Crini collection is so iconic, and in pink too!

[@vamuseum]

We can share 🫶

[@GeorgiaGeorgette]

​@@vamuseum That's so sweet 💝

[@bazilboyle8240]

'dont put that in...' love to see people get excited about things are passionate about

[@nkhmiel]

Sindy's furniture was far more superior to Barbies'. I had a creme colored china cabinet with all the silverware, plates and glasses, a matching dining table and Queen Anne chairs and a poster bed. I gave them all to a little girl on my street when I stopped playing with dolls. Had I known, I would have kept everything. Would have been worth a fortune now, and I have a mortgage to pay.

[@tweetyjl68]

This is a very interesting video for me because I’ve never heard of Sindy before, she’s cute, but I grew up with Barbie so she’s my favorite😊

[@augustinecerf3263]

THE CHARISMA. Best presenter I have ever seen. More of these pls!

[@a24-45]

OMG I had a Sindy doll! such happy memories! I was an 11 year old in Sydney. My parents thought that Barbie was too adult for a girl my age. I wasn't disappointed; Sindy's teenage vibe really appealed to me. I remember that I didnt connect emotionally with sex-bomb Barbie at the time; Barbie seemed like a woman in her twenties to me, which for me meant way OLD -- like my teachers! At 10, I wasnt yet wearing makeup or high heels; I was allowed my first pair of kitten heels -- just like Sindy's -- when I was 12. I had the really useful pink plastic Sindy wardrobe to keep all her clothes in, with tiny coathangers. I also kept the box 3:08 which Sindy came in. I adore the fashion illustrations on the outside, they totally capture the free and lively spirit of the early 'sixties. The Sindy doll experience was all about the fun and freedom that awaited a girl about to enter and become a part of youth culture. I couldn't wait to become, not a woman -- that was away off in the future -- but a teenager :).

[@JaneNewAuthor]

Yes, me too, but in Hobart.

[@ayamedia]

In the 197Os the American company, Marx had a contract to manufacture Sindy dolls. They had much better articulation than the Barbies of the time. Sindy also had a line of furniture that reflected the style of the times -- the kitchen was harvest gold and brown. Eventually some Black Sindy's were produced. I wish the video had included one of those.

[@DJDivaDee]

Thank you for this 🥰 made me cry 🥲 remembering my childhood ☺️ I loved my Sindy dolly so much & her 60s fashion 🥰 I love all the dolls

[@Immie-zn3ue]

Love this video, so fun and informative. Great presenter too! More please!

[@Terri_MacKay]

I'm Canadian, and was never a Barbie girl when I was young. Looking at both dolls as a 60 year old woman, my favourite is definitely Sindy. Her wardrobe is so quintessentially 60's Carnaby Street, which is one of my very favourite 20th century styles. And, hey, Vivienne Westwood thought that she was worth designing a dress for.

[@JL-jr9gk]

I would love to visit V & A and see the Sindy collection, I still have all my Sindy's and her clothes from the 1970's

[@vamuseum]

Our Barbies and Sindy clothes are at Young V&A in Bethnal Green. They'd love to see you! www.vam.ac.uk/young

[@agatadelacruz4258]

Such a huge fan of the V&A and your KZbin channel - really high quality content I always learn so much. I am in Houston but visit the V&A whenever we are in London. The Sindy doll is for sure way cooler than Barbie! Love all the real fashion designer collabs that doll received- so ahead of its time!

[@JaneNewAuthor]

I'm Australian. We had both. I never like Barbie, I thought she was too artificial. She didn’t resemble anyone I knew. I loved my Sindy, and made many clothes for her.

[@josephstoll8685]

As a Barbie collector, it's disappointing seeing that the vintage ponytail Barbie's poor ears have not been treated for the rust transfer caused from her earrings, also known as "green ear". I hope the V&A chooses to do some restoration work on her.

[@lglanzer23]

I noticed that too. I’m only a “casual” collector and have had moderate success removing green ear using a product called remove-zit. I’ve heard CLR will work too, but it may dissolve the doll in the long-term, yikes.

[@jeannemara1600]

The biggest thing I notice is that "Sindy" has a child's or young teen's face. Barbie is, no doubt about it, an adult.

[@susanpilling8849]

I can remember desperately wanting a Sindy doll when I was little in the 1960's. I never got one 😢.

[@sarahbowman7566]

I still have my Barbie and Sindy dolls from the early 80's as well as a bunch of their clothes. Sindy has always been my favourite but I think it's because I had her amazing Sindy House. I even had a horse and retro carriage, moped type thing and a Land Rover though I don't recall which belonged to which doll.

[@RIXRADvidz]

might as well be comparing Twiggy to Shrimpton two completely different statements in fashion but still giving the world super models to emulate, Barbie and Sindy are two different statements in fashion dolls but still giving the world beauty and play to stimulate the imagination. why compare? why not just appreciate.

[@donnamaciver2093]

I was never allowed a barbie as a child. I was told sindy was so much more wholesome. To me barbie is so much more glamorous. Cutting up small pieces of fabric and making outfits for sindy was pure joy for me as a child and probably where your first fashion ideas come from. But I still wanted a barbie 😅

[@Jo-yp8wy]

The original Sindy was much prettier than Barbie. My Mum knitted us a maxi, hooded cloak and a maxi skirt each for the Sindy's. Very very thin knitting needles, must have taken her forever.

[@vamuseum]

Best mum ever!!!!!

[@defaultuser7777]

I love this! Thank you ❤

[@GenerationJonesi]

Wow! This brings back memories!

[@nessifair]

I loved Sindy growing up, much more than Barbie. Didn't realise I'd inherited from a cousin some of Sindy's original wardrobe though!!!!

[@Sisi-vk6pn]

Borned in 1992, raised by Barbie, I would love to have a Sindy! So cool and elegant!

[@sandramclean7647]

Now I’m nostalgic for my Sindy!

[@08andylee]

What about Tammy by Ideal? Where is Tammy at? You know the one who inspired Sindy!

[@carolinegreenwell9086]

I always preferred Sindy and bought her for my daughter - Barbie (to me) always had a mean catty look about her

[@4deazulu]

I didn't know about Sindy but I absolutely love her outfits!

[@FernVert]

I had an Equestrian Sindy as a very young girl. Useless as the horse was an immovable plastic. Outfit wasn't bad though. Wasted on me sadly as I was more interested in my brother's fantastic Dinky cars and Lego I could architecture great houses out of!😄

[@nintendy]

GREAT CHOICE YOU MADE! I always preferred Sindy - the original Sindy when I was growing up; not just because she was British like me, but the two Dolls (Sindy and Barbie) were very different back then; I mean Sindy looked very pure and innocent which is better for kids - Barbie in contrast looked (and still does!) as if she 'puts it about a bit'! Also; Sindy had a boyfriend called 'Paul' in the early days who looked as pure and as innocent as Sindy did - whereas Barbie had 'Ken'. Paul looked really nice and looked the kind of boy that would take Sindy out for the evening perhaps holding hands, take her round the corner on the way home, give her a nice cuddle and peck on the cheek; in contrast,. Ken always looked like he would take Barbie into the bushes and give her a good roddin! I mean you’ve only got to watch the Barbie movie to see that all Ken wanted to do was to give Barbie one... So for me, especially when you think these Dolls are toys (though there are now many adult collectors) Sindy and Paul were far healthier - Barbie not so... She’d encourage little girls to grow up too fast - I mean a pregnant Barbie!??? Okay, so they withdrew her, but what the f**k was that all about!??

[@mcgrindah1]

Great video and presenter!

[@rosiejohnson1684]

I had an original Sindy(Christmas 63 or 64) I loved her so much but her fingers fell off 😢

[@vamuseum]

Only the best-loved dolls have no fingers left 💘

[@rewghob]

Handler saw Bild Lilli, the German pinup in doll version on a trip to Europe and took one back to the US as inspiration for the Barbie doll. Not sure why this wasn't mentioned.

[@lianefehrle9921]

I had the first Barbie and her outfits. Then every year I would get a new Barbie and Ken dolls. With clothes that came out for them. Also, all the suitcases that housed these wardrobes for them. Then when I got to the age of thirteen I went to Germany to visit family and left my dolls and everything else that went with them. When I came back home to the United States I cried because I found out that my cousin was gifted to her all all my Barbie collection. I asked her if she still had those. She told me my aunt threw them away when she became 16. I just said to myself that that was my aunt. She always threw away the old to get new

[@Fiobo823]

I would argue that Daisy had by far the best outfits, given that they were designed by Mary Quant.

[@doctorgravel8572]

Only Sindy could see through Cliff Warrick's disguise.

[@kirstenpaff8946]

That 90s Sindy looks like she is desperately trying to be Barbie, the pink outfit, the blonde hair, even the face mold looks like the Barbie dolls at the time.

[@israelalcantara2389]

I didn’t know that a doll called Cindy existed, I like the pink Vivienne Outfit though. But in my opinion there isn’t a better doll then Barbie

[@EchosNarcissis]

Sindy all day

[@ceebeedub177]

My sisters had Barbies. I had Cindy. I was always the different one

[@missmalibumattel]

Why does a museum leave the original earrings in on a vintage barbie, it will ruin the doll by turning the head green!

[@susanpolastaples9688]

When did Sindy change her look body and face?

[@Paul_Denton]

Thank you for the video and your nice positive emotions! But! 1. Edit the titles after the video. Ruth Handler can't be noticed as a Barbie doll only one creator. Many people of "Mattel", including Jack Ryan and Westmore brothers, worked on Barbie. Then, Barbie doll was presented in 1959 but was created and patented in 1958. This date you can find on the body. 2. Your Barbie doll is not number one - this is Barbie number 4 of 5. She has a different eyes and earrings than the number one has. 3. Where is her sunglasses? If you don't have them - it means that you can't compare her with a complete Sindy. 4. It is very strange and incorrect to analyze basic Barbie in suimsuit and not to show her haute couture outfits of 1959! If you are talking about FASHION - you should tell about Charlotte Johnson, Carol Spencer and their connection with real high fashion from the runways that they visited in Paris! 5. So, it would be interesting to compare Sindy with not just Barbie but also Madame Alexander's fashion dolls fo 1950s. I hope that you will make such videos not only emotional but also correct in facts. With best wishes.

[@julieelvin7639]

Can someone help me. I don't know if it's my memory at fault, but I'm sure there was one of these dolls that could ' grow it's hair' there was a mechanism where the hair could be longer or shorter.

[@hopetikvah4906]

My mum had one of those! I think it was called Tootsie or something similar

[@hopetikvah4906]

Tressy! That was it

[@rosiejohnson1684]

Tressy's got a secret. She's the one who knows. You can style Tressy's hair to match the lovely clothes she'll wear. Her hair grows. I was obsessed. But never got given one sadly 😢

[@HouseMouse01]

Personally I preferred 'Action Girl'.

[@Siansonea]

That is a lovely 1961 Ponytail Barbie with titian hair. Those earrings need to be removed, and the existing green residue carefully removed with a gentle solvent. This deterioration of the metal and reaction with the vinyl of the head WILL continue unless the offending material is removed. Also, the 1960s vintage Sindy doll appears to be missing both index fingers. That seems like a pretty major flaw for a museum example of a doll.

[@Unsweetened8618]

Barbie is better... She has a billion dollar movie...

[@teresapaskell5459]

Sindy is a girl whereas Barbie is all woman 😂

[@broadbent2001]

Barbie was designed to be a late teen fashion model with the requisite body type and high fashion wardrobe...circa 1959. Sindi had the look of an early 60's young teen with a cherubic face and traces of baby fat. The video is clearly skewed to a British audience, which is understandable, but is there any reason why the only outfit shown of Barbie's was the swimsuit? While it's a cute little video, Barbie is clearly the more fashionable when examined next to Sindi's sweet teen wardrobe.

[@mawmawd627]

Barbie has an incredible wardrobe and fantastic accessories. Sindy is adorable.

[@julieletford5695]

I think Barbie gad better clothes and Sindy had better furniture.

[@Unsweetened8618]

You fail to say that Barbie was ripoff from Bild Lili.

[@itsbeyondme5560]

Lili isn't a toy doll dum dum

[@Unsweetened8618]

@@itsbeyondme5560 It was a Toy doll, stupid.

[@felicitytoad]

👼🫅

[@Proriin]

Sindy is really cool but that face on her I really don’t like.

[@petrasouth1133]

Please remove the earrings. She develops green spots under the earrings and these spots get larger.

[@rinofthemill]

I'm sure the Victoria & Albert Museum have taken steps to preserve her ears

[@Siansonea]

@@rinofthemill they have not. Those earrings need to be removed. They are probably prioritizing 'originality' over the potential for further damage. These earrings are already causing a reaction to the vinyl which is clearly visible, that process _will_ continue. Those earrings need to come.

[@ArtistDisney]

Your video was very bias twards Sindy you didnt even show Barbies original outfits sindy is no were near as beautiful as Barbie! Sindy represents the Frumpy Girl! However I do like some of Sindys playsets!

[@letresordubarbie8616]

Sindy 😂😂😂😂😂 please…