Punk Rock Barbie Starts Trouble

Princess Blair, the Princess Charm School Barbie better hold on to her tiara because there is new fierce girl in town. Tokidoki Barbie has platinum pink hair, sky high silver stilettos, and tattoos running down her neck, chest, and arm. She was designed by Italian artist Simone Legno, the head of Tokidoki, a fashion house that is inspired by Japanese art and anime.

The on-trend doll, a limited edition that retails for $50, has many parents worried that the ink-covered Barbie will be a bad influence on little girls. The Blogosphere has been buzzing with media coverage of outraged parents from the Huffington Post to Parents.com. Television coverage of parents' concerns about the doll include the "Today" show, "Good Morning America" and even CNN.

Mattel insists that the doll was not designed for children. "Barbie has been dressed by more than 70 fashion designers over the years," Mattel said in a statement. "Many of Barbie's most pop-culture couture outfits have been designed for the adult doll collector."

The chances of a little girl getting her hands on a Tokidoki Barbie seem slim as she was only offered on Mattel's website and select stores. So, parents really don't have to worry about leaving the toy aisle with their daughters begging to stop at a tattoo parlor on their way home. The doll has already sold out on-line can be now be seen on E-bay fetching bids as high as $500.

This isn't the only doll in the Barbie Collector collection that would be inappropriate for children. The Barbie by Christian Louboutin Doll, which is designed by the luxury french shoe and bag designer, wears a sleek black catsuit that would make any little girl blush. No one is up in arms about the slinky doll.

Another questionable doll in the collection is the Alfred Hitchcock The Birds Barbie Doll, who is wildly inappropriate as she is covered "with the unpredictable birds". Why aren't these parents protesting a Barbie being attacked by birds? Because very few parents would buy that doll for their daughter. These dolls are clearly designed with collectors in mind.

Better yet, I would speculate that the same parents who are outraged by the Tokidoki Barbie would have no problem with any of the Princess Barbies, who could arguably set little girls up for disappointment when they learn that they will never be a princess or as thin and pretty as any of the jewel crowned dolls.

Which is the lesser of two evils, a Barbie with a rebellious streak or one who is waiting for a Prince to sweep her off her plastic feet?

While we're on the topic, I have a confession to make: I like Barbie. I've liked her since I was a little girl and found my head stuck in my Barbie Dream House because I was trying to squeeze my little body inside and move in with the sassy gals.

I remember my girlhood days with the iconic toy and I smile. We had some good times, my posse of dolls and I. I have a feeling that a pink haired, tattoo-covered Barbie would have been the baddest girl in the Dream House.

Do you think that a Barbie covered in tattoos is a bad influence on little girls? Do you find Barbie offensive, in general, or do you love her? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.