If you ever played with Barbie dolls as a kid, dressing her up in different outfits might have been one of your favorite things to do. But, for this teenager from Antwerp, Belgium, that wasn’t the case. You might have come across the Instagram account McCarbie wherein Barbie dolls are dressed in mini versions of runway looks.
This account was started by 17-year-old Caroline Helsen who started sewing clothes for the dolls when she was 13 years old. In an interview with Love Magazine, Caroline explained how these projects came about, “I started making doll clothes when I was 13 years old, at the time me and my sister still played with dolls. We really disliked all the pink, glittery outfits the Barbies wore, so I started making cooler outfits that reflected more what i wanted to wear, designer outfits.” I wish I had this much creativity and dedication when I was her age. Although these outfits are miniature-size, the process is still tedious. “Every outfit is a new challenge because of the differences in fabric, structure… but I love a little challenge. I choose a doll, make a pattern and sew along.”
Aside from solo shots, she also posts side-by-side photos so you can how accurate her tiny creations are. Some of the designers she’s featured include Gucci, Versace, Calvin Klein, and Chanel. Oh, and she recently posted some menswear too from Dior.
Although she has never considered becoming a fashion designer, we think she would do great. We also love how much creativity and resourcefulness goes into each look—she does use old clothes and jewelry after all.
Photo courtesy of McCarbie’s Instagram account
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