Style on the Fly: Designing The Barbie Birthday Party

I was really inspired by all the amazing Barbie birthday parties documented. I created a Barbie Pinterest board of my favorites. All the pink and black is so graphically appealing. So it seemed like a no-brainer to replicate it for my 7 year old, who has demanded a Barbie theme.
The Barbie silhouette logo is easy and fun in black and pink.

Here are our party details:
Barbie Fashion Show Party Concept
• I've been sewing and gathering a plethora of costumes for them to model down a run way (with an emphasis on "fashionista" rather than princess, aka Barbie)
• My dining room table is drop leaf, making it easy to remove it for the runway path. The chairs can be lined up like a real fashion show.
• There will be 2 fashion shows. Half the girls will be hair/makeup stylists for the first show and half walking the catwalk; then they can switch. I'm hopeful this will let a dress that is sought after be worn twice without fighting.
• Take photographs of the girls before or after they walk the runway, against a step and repeat wall or
create the "barbie box" photo op.
• Start party with a necklace craft until all the girls arrive.
• End party with pinata and cake.
• Get husband to video girls on catwalk, burn a dvd after the party if I still feel obsessed after this is over.

Barbie Box Photo Op

But, I hit upon a design dilemma. The red carpet is a major clash with the pink and black concept and I already bought it. So, I am back to the drawing board for invites and design.


Party City Red Carpet, bought on ebay for cheap.

I think I made a plan! Instead of the pink and black, graphic barbie. I'm going to bright color, true photographic Barbie theme.
So, step one:

I found this 480" roll of wrapping paper from Hobby Lobby at 50% off. It is hot pink and red with greens and pale blue. This will serve as my new color palette.
I mocked up some party signage using this color scheme.

Barbie Logo gets a little bit funky for our party

This will work well with the other commercially available Barbie products, and my daughter will like it better because she is much more attached to photographic Barbie than the stylized logo.