Barbie Richards

Barbie Richards

The Emmy award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series went to Julianna Margulies this year.  She made a speech that the media played up in its coverage of the awards ceremony. 
"What a wonderful time for women on television!" she said.  There have been other wonderful times.  In the past, television has presented strong women like Carla and Diane in Cheers;  Laverne and Shirley in their eponymous sitcom and Laura Holt in Remington Steele to name a few of my favourites.  Okay, I didn't like the show, Laverne and Shirley, but they were doing their best to survive and thrive and I liked that.  Mary Tyler Moore played a character named Mary Richards in a show that was another example of a program about an independent woman.  The theme song ended with the refrain "You're gonna make it after all".

Mary Richards' sister, Barbie Richards, has an independent streak too.  Here she is dressed for success in an outfit made from a pattern, Simplicity 5807.  The cotton wrap dress has a fabric flower in the same fabric and the short, red jacket is trimmed in the same black braid as the dress.