The event showcased fashions contributed by fifty well-known haute couturiers including Diane von Fürstenberg, Vera Wang, Calvin Klein, Bob Mackie, and Christian Louboutin. The exhibit featured 700 Barbie dolls over two floors as well as works by contemporary artists and documents (newspapers, photos, video) that contextualize Barbie.

Barbie syndrome" is a term that has been used to depict the desire to have a physical appearance and lifestyle representative of the Barbie doll.In 2005, figures showed that sales of Barbie dolls had fallen by 30% in the United States, and by 18% worldwide, with much of the drop being attributed to the popularity of Bratz dolls.

Mattel has sold over a billion Barbie dolls, making it the company's largest and most profitable line. Representation and inclusivity are important to us and we create dolls with a wide range of skin tones, body types, hairstyles, varying disabilities, and fashions to reflect the world kids see today. Ryden has also created a line of lithographs that feature a 2D version of the doll en scene, at the center of an ornately decorated town, her pink-hued hair twisted into a beehive. The case hinged on the question of whether Forsythe’s photographs constituted fair use, as Barbie and her image were being invoked in the service of cultural critique.

a b "The Barbie Doll Syndrome: Why Girls Are Becoming Obsessed with Unrealistic Curvy Bodies | Women's".