Barbie in Red

Barbie in Red

Listen to some of the synonyms for red:  scarlet, claret, burgundy, vermilion, carmine, crimson, maroon, garnet, russet, cerise.  

And listen to the names of the substances used to produce the colour red:  cinnabar, cochineal, fuchsine, ruddle, madder, annatto, realgar, red lead.

And think about the colour red, vibrant, alive and imbued with the concept of the strength of muscle and blood.  It is associated with freedom in Jenny Joseph’s poem Warning, the siren song of  the feisty Red Hat Society.   We see red when we are angry.  We blush red when we are embarrassed.  Women paint their nails and lips red to attract the attention of men.

Red beacons, red warning signals, red sky at night, red as a beet, roses are red, red is the colour of my true love’s hair.  Scarlet O’Hara, Will Scarlet, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Red-Headed League and of course,  red-haired Anne of Green Gables were all part of my youthful reading.  

I have a red car.  It is old and faded now but the colour blinded me when I went to the dealership to pick it up.  The next day, I drove it to work and got my first and only speeding ticket.  I know the police officer pulled me over because of  the screaming red paint.

Red demands your attention and Barbie revels in it.

Hundreds of Barbies

Right now at Cours Montreal on Peel Street you can see 1000 haute-couture Barbies in an amazing display.  There are Barbies dressed like television characters, movie stars and the roles they played. Some Barbies are dressed in clothing representing  commercial products including a very popular soft drink. 

There are Barbies walking the runway of a very posh fashion show while other impeccably garbed Barbies take photos.  Barbies of many skin tones and hair colours pose in a rainbow of colourful gowns.  Barbie is shown in traditional clothing from 6 continents.  Barbie is  displayed in groups with backdrops and props or more simply in long wall cases. 

I was very impressed by the  exquisite gowns made with  beautiful details from top-notch designers of real-people clothes.  I stand in awe of their vision and in the skill of the people who sewed the tiny garments.

The event is a fund-raiser for the Quebec Make-a-Wish Foundation and there is a very discrete donation box.  Go if you can.  You might see me.

Vow Renewal Barbie

The national divorce rate in Canada is about 40%.  Conversely, and rather obviously, 60% of marriages in Canada last a lifetime. 

  

June is the traditional month for a wedding.   The month of June was named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage.  Couples married in June will be showered with blessings. I know this is true because I was a June bride and we have been blissfully happy together for 37 years.

June is over now and Barbie has decided to renew her vows publicly.  It will not be an elaborate event.  Family and a few close friends will gather to witness the ceremony and to join the happy couple for a sumptuous feast.   

Oh, and they will get to see Barbie’s new dress with the darling lace jacket and intricate beading on the bodice and self-fabric belt.