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Photographer David Parise shows vintage Barbie and Ken in cheeky picture series

May 13, 2015 by  
Filed under Lingerie Events

Carly Stern For Dailymail.com

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What would Barbie’s little sister Skipper say? 

An entertaining photography series by artist David Parise shows much-loved children’s dolls Barbie and Ken like you’ve never seen them before – and these proactive pictures are certainly not fit for Mattel’s young target audience, either.

Mr. Parise snaps vintage versions of the dolls far away from the G-rated comfort of Barbie’s dream house, creating miniature scenes in which Barbie flashes the camera, Ken cooks in the nude, and both dolls take same-sex lovers.

Clothes sold separately: Ken seems to have lost his pants - and Barbie her bra - in a funny photo series by artist David Parise

Clothes sold separately: Ken seems to have lost his pants – and Barbie her bra – in a funny photo series by artist David Parise

Sultry snaps: These dolls take sexy pictures the old-fashioned way - with a real camera - in the vintage-inspired scene

Sultry snaps: These dolls take sexy pictures the old-fashioned way – with a real camera – in the vintage-inspired scene

Not all of the photos hold a spotlight up to Barbie’s secret behind-the-scenes debauchery, some are slightly more restrained. In fact, the series was actually inspired by the dolls’ original 1960′s outfits, and puts the old-school swimsuits, dresses, and accessories on full display. 

‘My project began in 2009 while living in Miami Beach after spotting vintage Barbie and Ken dolls in a book on Lincoln Road,’ Mr. Parise wrote on his website. ‘I thought how much fun it would be to photograph them with Miami Beach as their backdrop.’

But the New York-based artist said his sense of humor influenced the direction the series took, prompting him to show Barbie and the gang doing everything from innocently hanging at the beach to getting naughty at home.

Smoking hot: Not all of the dolls' outfits are revealing, but you'd never see this in a Barbie ad these days; in true '60s fashion, Mr. Parise posed these dolls with cigarettes

Smoking hot: Not all of the dolls’ outfits are revealing, but you’d never see this in a Barbie ad these days; in true ’60s fashion, Mr. Parise posed these dolls with cigarettes

Playful pictures: Mr. Parise said his sense of humor shines through in the series, which also shows dolls having fun on the beach and throwing parties

Playful pictures: Mr. Parise said his sense of humor shines through in the series, which also shows dolls having fun on the beach and throwing parties

In one series, both straight and gay doll couples are arranged in a miniature kitchen in varying states of undress. And while all the clothing Mr. Parise uses is in fact originally from the ’60s, it seems unlikely that Barbie was ever sold wearing just an apron – and nothing else.

In other shots, Barbie poses on a bed or couch in lingerie as a fully-dressed Ken takes pictures.

But Mr. Parise insisted in a recent interview with BuzzFeed that his racy snaps are actually pretty tame: ‘My images are hardly risqué comparing to other Barbie photographers. A little naked doll butt and late-night photography, but that’s the sum of it.’

Titillating toys: Though not all of the photos are raunchy, Barbie and her friends do show exhibitionist tendencies in several of the carefully-constructed scenes

Titillating toys: Though not all of the photos are raunchy, Barbie and her friends do show exhibitionist tendencies in several of the carefully-constructed scenes

Cute clothes: Mr. Parise said he was inspired by the vintage clothing, which is featured prominently in the photos

Cute clothes: Mr. Parise said he was inspired by the vintage clothing, which is featured prominently in the photos

He also admitted that the realistic beach scenes aren’t actually photographed on the beach; several of the dioramas are shot on mini models.

‘I have always wanted to photograph miniatures, and I love the ’60s styling, so it was a natural [process],’ he said.

Mr. Parise sells his photos online and on the street in New York City, and has found enough success to make it his full-time business.  


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