Pint-Size Fashionistas, Barbie Is Back And Better Than Ever

It is an established fact that kids just don't understand what a recession is, nor would they care if they did. Trust me, scientists have proven it. Little girls, in particular, love their knick-knacks, and dolls are no exception.

The New York Times recently noted the influx of fashion-"minded" dolls. The Moxie Girlz, along with four Liv dolls and the Barbie Fashionistas, were all introduced this past August. Barbie and her accessories still took in about $3 billion last year. The Liv and Moxie lines are each expected to generate $30 to $40 million this year, according to Jim Silver, editor of industry journal Timetoplaymag.com. Not too shabby for a pile of plastic, wouldn't you say?

“These girls remain immersed in a world obsessed primarily with looks and clothes,” said Susan Linn, a child psychologist in Boston and the director of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. “The purpose of their marketers is not to sell the dolls so much as to sell the stuff that goes with them.”

Hoping to attract the budding mini-fashionista, Liv dolls feature clothing that would be similar to what a trendy female might purchase at Forever 21 or TJ Maxx. They cost a relatively affordable $20. Some Moxie Girlz come complete with clothes girls can hand-color and shear. Garrick Johnson, a toy industry analyst with BMO Capital Markets, explained that “in some respects, these girls are designing the clothes themselves, and that’s a strong part of the dolls’ appeal.” Perhaps it is merely practice for a younger generation of Project Runway contestants.