A Barbie Collection Built on Memories and Friendships
Photo by Jamie Plain
More than 30 years after leaving her childhood Barbie Dreamhouse behind, Lachelle Early got an unexpected chance to bring it home again.
When her family sold their home in the early 1990s, the Dreamhouse was too large to take with them. Instead, it was left behind for the new homeowner’s daughter. Early had received the Dreamhouse more than 40 years ago, and for decades, it remained a part of her childhood memories.
Then, during a recent encounter with the woman who purchased her family’s former home, Early learned the Dreamhouse was still around.
“She asked if I’d like to have it back, and I couldn’t say yes fast enough,” Early said.
The woman returned the Dreamhouse with a note describing the joy it had brought over the years. After decades apart, Early was reunited with one of her childhood toys.
The reunion was especially meaningful for someone whose love of Barbie has grown into a collection of hundreds of dolls, filling an entire room and several closets in her home.
Early’s interest in Barbie began when she was a young child. She remembers receiving Western Barbie and Kissing Barbie for Christmas when she was around 3 or 4 years old. Western Barbie had a button on its back that made the doll wink, while Kissing Barbie featured a button that tilted its head forward to give a kiss. Those dolls were among her earliest memories of Barbie, and she still has them today.
Although they show signs of years of play, Early has since purchased new, boxed versions of some of her childhood favorites.
Her interest eventually grew beyond the dolls she played with as a child.
Early began collecting in the 1990s, when excitement surrounding Barbie’s 35th anniversary and the release of vintage reproductions sparked her curiosity about the doll’s history.
As she learned more about the different styles and eras, she began adding more dolls to her collection. A few Barbies eventually grew into hundreds, although Early has never counted the exact number.
“Let’s just say they have their own room and also occupy plenty of closet space at the house,” she said.
The collection includes vintage dolls, convention exclusives, and one-of-a-kind Barbies created by custom artists. Early has also become friends with people who specialize in restoring and customizing the dolls, adding another connection to the hobby.
Although she owns several rare and hard-to-find Barbies, Early said choosing a single favorite would be difficult. Her favorite eras include the Twist ‘N Turn and Superstar collections, particularly the styles associated with the late 1970s and 1980s.
She enjoys how Barbie has changed over the years, from the carefully tailored clothing of earlier dolls to the fashion trends and careers represented in later collections.
As the number of dolls continued to grow, Early eventually needed a space dedicated entirely to her collection. When her family remodeled and expanded their home, she made sure a Barbie room was part of the plans.
“The collection has its own room, painted bright Barbie pink,” Early said.
Even with the dedicated space, Early said there is still room for the collection to grow.
“I suppose I should have insisted on a bigger room. I could easily fill another,” she said.
While the dolls have taken over a significant amount of space in her home, Early said she primarily buys Barbies she plans to keep. Occasionally, when she purchases a larger collection, she finds duplicates of dolls she already owns. She sells those extras to help pay for future additions.
For Early, however, collecting is about much more than finding the next doll.
“Personally, the collection is a way for me to enjoy the fashions and nostalgia from a simpler time and from my own childhood,” she said.
That connection to her childhood is reflected throughout the collection, from the dolls she received as a little girl to the Dreamhouse that unexpectedly made its way back to her.
But some of the most meaningful things Early has gained through collecting have nothing to do with the dolls themselves. Over the years, the hobby has introduced her to people from different places and backgrounds who share her interest in Barbie.
While living in Georgia and Florida, Early joined Barbie collector clubs, where she met others who shared her enthusiasm for the dolls. In 2003, she attended her first Barbie convention, opening the door to an even larger community of collectors. The annual event brings together more than 800 collectors from around the world, with a different city hosting each year.
For Early, the conventions offer an opportunity to spend time with people who share her interests, discover new dolls, and reconnect with friends. She also appreciates the charitable work associated with the event. According to Early, last year’s convention raised more than $140,000 for its selected charities.
Although there is no Barbie collector club in the Owensboro area, Early has met a couple of local collectors and continues to keep in touch with friends from her Florida club.
Those relationships have become one of her favorite parts of collecting.
“People who may not otherwise have much at all in common become fast and lifelong friends,” Early said.
For Early, the collection is more than a room full of dolls. It is a connection to her childhood, a way to appreciate decades of fashion, and a hobby that has brought lasting friendships into her life.
And with her childhood Dreamhouse finally back where it started, one of the most memorable pieces of her collection has come full circle. OL
