Whoa, Ken! Are those skinny jeans you’re sporting? Looking good, buddy.
Mattel announced Tuesday that Barbie’s main squeeze is, at long last, getting a makeover. The new Ken sports 15 new looks, and he’s a whole lot less “surfer dude” and a whole lot more “man bun.”
Of the launch, Barbie senior vice president and general manager Lisa McKnight said in a statement, “By continuing to expand our product line, we are redefining what a Barbie or Ken doll looks like to this generation.”
So, apparently the new generation believes Ken needs a man bun. Two of the 15 are in fact sporting this hairstyle—which has me wondering if the man-to-bun ratio seems a little skewed here?
In any event, the hip (or not) Kens will come in three body types—slim, broad and original—and are available online and in select stores now.
These dreamy dudes, hipster glasses and all, will be flooding a big-box store near you on July 8. One can be yours for $9.99.
Ken’s new look comes on the heels of Barbie’s very own makeover.
You may remember all the buzz when the iconic doll got her new look last year. Mattel rolled out its Fashionistas line of Barbies in every shape, size and skin tone. Gone are the days when Barbie is a one-size-fits all blonde with impossibly big boobs and a teeny-tiny waist. Well, she’s still there, but right next to her, little girls can find Barbies that look a lot more, how shall I say, realistic.
Much like Ken, the new Barbie line includes dolls with tall, petite and curvy bodies.
Similar to their gal pals, the 15 new Ken dolls feature seven skin tones, eight hair colors, nine hairstyles and modernized clothes—from business casual attire to athletic wear.
And it seems the Fashionistas line is catching on. The brand is expanding the line with 25 more diverse Barbie dolls, too.
Mattel stated the Barbie Fashionistas business segment continues to exceed expectations. That’s good news for the company, which has been trying to overcome a big sales slump in recent years. And having the chance to play with dolls of all shapes, sizes and colors is undoubtedly good for kids.
What do you think of Ken’s new look?