Barbie through the ages

The No. 1 Ponytail Barbie sold for $3 in 1959, when it debuted at the New York Toy Fair. Her full name, so you know, is Barbie Millicent Roberts. She's from Willows, Wisc.

Though Barbie's now one of the world's most famous blondes, back in these days she was available as a brunette, too. Here, Fashion Designer Barbie is clutching her portfolio of clothing sketches. Click through to see how her fashion sense takes an interesting turn, starting in the '70s...

This very Katharine Hepburn look suggests Barbie's about to take a ride in a convertible.

Starting in the '60s, Barbie girls had the choice of a new hair color -- "Titian" -- which was a term for red hair back then. Other jobs, aside from singer, that were available: nurse, ballerina and flight attendant.

Resembling the famous Pan Am stewardesses, this mod Barbie is reminiscent of a day when flying was glamorous.

Check out that swing coat! And that helmet of hair! Barbie's voluminous looks aren't such a far cry from today's runways.

With this headgear, Barbie looks a little like an escapee from King Tut's tomb. It was in the mid-'60s that the dolls, including Barbie Fashion Queen, started sporting more elaborate hairstyles. This one apparently didn't like her 'do.

Isn't this what everyone wears to work? Around this time, Barbie started emulating strong women of her era, from Grace Kelly to Jackie Kennedy.

Yeah, not sure about this cap. But who doesn't love a good ruffle suit? Miss Barbie was the first doll to feature bendable legs and eyes that open and close. She's also one of the early dolls to have molded hair and come with a variety of wigs.

Astronaut Barbie has made several comebacks over the years, but she debuted in the 60s.

This Barbie's hair came in two colors -- Golden Blonde and Midnight -- that changed to Scarlet Flame and Ruby Red, respectively. Also, her packaging converted into a closet. Mattel was really pulling out all the stops here.

Doesn't get much more mod than this! As the '60s progressed, so did Barbie's go-go style. Even Barbie looks shocked by this fashionable turn of events.

While everyone else was twisting and shouting, Barbie was actually twisting. Along with a new, younger face (she's had good work done, no?), new eyelashes and shinier hair, Barbie got the ability to actually spin at the waist.

The shirtdress, the jacket, the hat, the chain belt, the tights and the boots may be a little much when worn all together, but Barbie does her best to pull it off.

If Barbie wants to get noticed, a faux fur-collared shiny turquoise coat is the way to do it. And why not? The '70s have arrived, and things are about to get funky...

Mattel's Cher Barbie, designed in the 70s, is far out.

Need we even point out that it's 1971? This Cher-tastic Barbie takes hippie chic to new levels.

Oh, Malibu Barbie. Mattel credits "The Brady Bunch" for putting that easy, breezy California lifestyle on the map, providing the cultural inspiration for this L.A. girl's look. The first doll with an open smile that showed sparkling white teeth, Malibu Barbie also featured a serious tan.

So much to do, so little time! Let's see. There's that phone call to make, those records to listen to, TV to watch and that trip to take that's so short, I only need this tiny suitcase...

Scrubs have never looked so fashionable.

Look at her go! Her Olympic Ski Village was sold separately (as was Gold Medal Ken Skier).

The African-American Barbie doll debuted in 1980, at the same time as the first Hispanic Barbie.

Barbie was introduced in two new ethnicities during the 80s.

Just as the '70s were meeting the '80s, this Golden Girl captures the intersection of two fashion moments, mixing shiny and poufy into one awesome jumpsuit.

Who needs a helmet with hair like that? Roller Skating Barbie was ready to live out her own Xanadu dream. The weird thing is, Roller Skating Ken is wearing a similar outfit.

Brooke Shields had her Calvin Kleins, and Barbie had these fabulous jeans.

It's not the outfit most of us would choose for our first date. But have you SEEN Barbie's boyfriend? Maybe we should reconsider our strategies.

Every working girl needs an outfit like this: The coat came off to reveal an evening ensemble. No word on where she stashed the briefcase.

As women flooded the workforce, Mattel gave Barbie the ultimate job -- and sent her to space! It was one giant leap for dollkind.

The dawn of MTV gave music a new outlet, and a few years later, Barbie got her own band!

The T-shirt tie is one trend that hasn't resurfaced. So there's that to be grateful for.

In 1989, Barbie joined the Army in a uniform that was even approved by the Pentagon. Two years later, Air Force Pilot Barbie tried to contain her hair in that tiny hat, but failed.

With a jaunty cap and white gloves, Barbie was decked out for battle in a pair of black pumps.

So this happened. And in the same year that Barbie ran for president! Their outfits were very different.

The crimping alone must have taken her hours every morning. To date, she's the best-selling doll of all time, with locks measuring a record-breaking 10.5 inches.

This Barbie meant business...but she also liked to have fun. Her original packaging included a sparkly gold dress.

Add scuba diving to the long list of Barbie's myriad activities. Where did she find the time?

Part of Mattel's 'Dolls of the World' collection, Native American Barbie is complete with feathers and turquoise accessories.

Complete with a first aid kit, firefighter Barbie debuted in 1995.

Barbie's fashion took a funereal turn with this all-black number, at the height of '90s edginess.

"Puppy's hurt his leg; kitty's got the flu," said the commercial for this veterinarian Barbie, whose outfit also included pink leggings under that white coat.

Just give her a chopper and she's ready to ride!

Remember overalls and blue hair? Barbie does. She had a thumb ring, too.

Put them in the game, coach! These women are ready to play, even if they're on competing teams.

Ten years before Danica Patrick's historic Indy Car win in 2008, Mattel boasts, Barbie took to the racetrack in this top-heavy jumpsuit.

Check out the size of that cellphone! Working Woman Barbie had it all! And carried it all, from the looks of it, in that enormous shoulder bag.

What presidential candidate would be without a smart red pantsuit? Hillary Clinton could take a page from Barbie's book: She let her blond locks fly.

She's tough and she's not taking no for an answer. Though she looks more like a secret agent than a producer here.

In 2007, Mattel commemorated the May 5, 1862 victory of the Mexican army over the French army at the Battle of Puebla with Cinco de Mayo Barbie.

Look out, Rachael Ray. Barbie's in the kitchen and she's taking her cooking skills to TV! How's that for an upgrade from the toy kitchen of decades past?

In 1992, a talking Barbie doll made headlines by saying "Math class is tough." By 2010, however, Barbie was wearing a T-shirt printed with a binary code. How's that for coming a long way, baby?

This camera-ready Barbie debuted at the New York Toy Fair in 2010.

Part of Barbie's 'Dolls of the World' collection, China Barbie was packaged with a panda, a passport and gold jewelry.