After releasing three one-of-a-kind dolls sharing the supermodel’s likeness, the first Claudia Schiffer Barbie is available for purchase starting Wednesday. Mattel’s latest celebrity lookalike, retailing for $85, sports one of Schiffer’s iconic runway looks: a pleated teal gown from Versace‘s fall 1994 couture show.
“Wearing that gown for the first time was a moment I will never forget,” Schiffer told WWD. “Versace, at the time, was really pioneering a new form of fashion presentation. I remember walking down the runway to a Prince track, with Prince sitting front row; it was electric.”
Schiffer originally partnered with Mattel in 2017, when the toy manufacturer debuted another Versace-clad doll inspired by a 1994 Vogue Italia photo shoot. Three years later, in celebration of her 50th birthday, Mattel released two more Schiffer Barbies: one wearing the aforementioned blue gown, and another dressed in a Balmain design similar to one worn by Schiffer in the label’s spring 2016 campaign.
“When Claudia first stepped into the runaway, with her blonde, long hair and the angelic face, the whole world immediately saw her as the personification of Barbie,” Donatella Versace said in a 2020 press release.
The cerulean gown’s replica, similar to its life-size original, features a glittering skirt and intricate bodice stitching. A pair of miniature metallic platforms are included as an accessory.
Schiffer began her modeling career as a teenager, becoming a household name after starring in a 1989 Guess campaign. This eventually led her to high fashion superstardom: by the ’90s, Schiffer was a favorite of Chanel and Versace, fronting numerous advertisements and walking the runway for both brands.
Schiffer’s fashion legacy took on a new life during the “Barbie” press tour, when star Margot Robbie sported vintage designer looks previously worn by Schiffer, including a metallic minidress from Versace’s fall 1994 couture collection. Additionally, one of Robbie’s costumes in the blockbuster — a pink Chanel skirt suit — was debuted by Schiffer during the label’s spring 1995 show.
“Just as Barbie has transcended from a doll to a cultural phenomenon, Versace and Chanel have done the same in the fashion world,” Schiffer added. “These vintage looks represent an era that celebrated individuality, bold expression and craftsmanship — all values reflected through the Barbie brand now.”
The Claudia Schiffer Barbie is available to purchase now on creations.mattel.com.