Vera Wang

A native New Yorker, Vera Wang grew up surrounded by fashion, often accompanying her mother to the world's most stylish boutiques. At age 23, she became Vogue magazine's youngest fashion editor ever.

It was her own marriage, however, that ultimately inspired her to start her own business. In 1990, she founded a design company that celebrates the romance, sensuality, and spirit of modern young women. She introduced style and modernity to wedding gowns, creating the foundation for a luxury fashion brand that has since expanded into various related categories.

Vera Wang resides in New York City with her husband and two daughters.

Vera's Barbie® Confessions

"Barbie® is an inspiration in every way. She speaks to girls of all ethnicities and has been everything from a model to a race car driver to a fairy princess. She has survived political, social, and cultural changes while remaining relevant to the times. Barbie® is always evolving to mirror the changing times and inspiring young women to follow their dreams."

"The mermaid-style bridal dress that I designed for Barbie® was created using luxe fabrics and details to exude glamour, elegance, and femininity. On her special day, she should be the belle of the ball and feel like a true princess."

"I truly hope that Barbie®Shanghai will be a place where girls can come to live out their fantasies… to let their imaginations run wild. Allow girls to be girls. Let them dream, believe, and create."

Richard Dickson

Senior Vice President
Marketing, Media, Entertainment-Worldwide
Mattel Brands

"Richard Dickson is to Mattel what Tom Ford was to Gucci." Such are the words of an industry magazine describing Richard Dickson's success in growing Mattel's venerable Barbie® brand into a hugely successful lifestyle property.

As Barbie's leader, Mr. Dickson creates and oversees the creative design, development and production of all aspects of the incredibly powerful Barbie® Brand. Best-known for his innovative, multi-faceted marketing programs, strategic alliances and global licensing development, Dickson is turning heads worldwide with the launch of Barbie's 50th Anniversary in 2009. In addition, Dickson is launching the first-ever flagship Barbie store in Shanghai in spring 2009, combining over four decades of Brand history into a single experience for Chinese girls and their mothers. Never before has the Brand been brought to life through experiences that allow little girls to see all the facets of the Brand personality – from careers to glamour, girls will see why Barbie remains the number one fashion doll in the world.

During Mr. Dickson's seven-year tenure at Mattel, he has successfully extended Barbie® into new categories worldwide, always making headlines. From entertainment (including 9 No. 1 Barbie movies and a first-ever live stage show under Mr. Dickson's helm)…to online (today, Barbie-branded websites receive more than 64 million visits each month)… to a much celebrated adult apparel program (with 20+ high-end Barbie Couture stores in Asia and numerous co-branded initiatives with the fashion world's boldest face names – Julien MacDonald, Anna Sui, Cynthia Rowley and Tarina Tarantino). Mr. Dickson also oversaw the hugely successful campaign with MAC cosmetics called Barbie^TM Loves MAC.

Most recently, Dickson was Mattel Brands' Senior Vice President of Marketing, Media and Entertainment, Worldwide where he extended Mattel's leading brands worldwide through media, marketing and entertainment. He led Mattel's marketing and media functions globally, including advertising and media planning, agency relations, promotions, licensing, web/online, content development and retail development. Mr. Dickson also led Mattel Brands' brand image and creative service functions and Mattel's highly successful entertainment franchise and online initiatives.

Mr. Dickson's aggressive exploration of new categories and creative pursuit of partnerships have not gone unnoticed. Dickson has been recognized by the industry's most respected consumer and trade associations for his break-frame brand extension strategies and unmatched success in transitioning Mattel Brands' top toy brands – Barbie®, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price – into lifestyle properties. Among the honors, Mr. Dickson was named one of the "Top 10 Marketers of the Year" by Brandweek Magazine and one of the "Top 40 Licensing Leaders" by Variety Magazine.

Additionally, Mr. Dickson's entrepreneurial spirit and outstanding leadership skills, coupled with his retail experience and track record of partnering with world-renowned names – including the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), Harrods, New York City Ballet, Universal Studios and Istituto Marangoni – have resulted in top market share in several of Mattel Brands' consumer products categories and continued business growth year after year.

Prior to joining Mattel, Mr. Dickson's extensive experience focused primarily in the areas of fashion, beauty and retail. He was appointed Vice President of brand management and merchandising for the Estee Lauder Companies online when Gloss.com, the e-commerce site he helped create and launch in 1999, was acquired by the Estee Lauder Companies. Before launching Gloss.com, Mr. Dickson spent a decade at Bloomingdale's where he received numerous accolades, including buyer of the year.

David Laris

Entrepreneur chef David Laris is the creator of Laris, the award-wining restaurant at Three on the Bund, Shanghai. Noted for his talent for mixing fresh ideas and classic dishes, David now brings his culinary genius to the Barbie® Café and The Pink Room & Chocolate Bar at Barbie® Shanghai.

David became well-known in Britain, where he made numerous television appearances while heading Mezzo in London, earning Sir Terence Conran's flagship restaurant countless accolades for innovative and exciting dining.

Now in Shanghai, David continues to create the best contemporary fine dining concepts, with influences from all over the world.

David's Barbie® Confessions

"I was approached by the Barbie® team nearly two years ago now and learned of the food and beverage plan and operations for Barbie® Shanghai. Whilst at the time it seemed an unlikely match between an international chef-restaurateur, such as myself, and Barbie®, I have come to realize the things that Barbie® stands for as a brand, such as striving for the best, having fun, staying positive, enjoying life and inspiring those around us, are qualities that I also strive towards and feel that we all should.

Barbie® inspires one to believe that anything is possible. Barbie® demonstrates the importance of friendship and an ability to constantly evolve. These are all important characteristics.

Having a nine year-old daughter was an added bonus to help me understand and identify all things girl! Although in my younger years I may not have found myself playing with Barbie® dolls, surrounded by pink Barbie® paraphernalia, and watching all the Barbie® films, it is ironic that I do now!"

Layna and Alan Friedman

Barbie^TM Rocks by Layna and Alan Friedman is the first Barbie® luxury jewelry collection. The collection represents Barbie® doll's panache, with a modern sophistication that is reflective of Barbie® glamour and style.

Designed for all ages, Barbie^TM Rocks by Layna and Alan Friedman is the first jewelry line that grandmothers, mothers, and daughters can wear and love together. Whether it's the dazzling White Diamond Silhouette Pendant, the Pink Gold Love Toggle Bracelet, or the 925 Sterling Silver Pendant, there's something beautiful for girls of all ages.

Layna's Barbie® Confessions

"Barbie® has played a large role in my life. Some of my fondest childhood memories were playing with Barbie® and her friends. One day my Barbie®was an actress and the next she was the President of the United States. There was nothing my Barbie® could not do.

Later I was able to re-live my fond memories and share those experiences with my daughter Nicole-Juliet. This is when I realized how powerful Barbie® really was. She brings girls and women of all ages together by stretching our imagination as kids and bringing back our innocence as adults.

Barbie® is such an inspiration to me because she has touched the hearts of girls and women for nearly five decades. Barbie® inspires imaginations, encourages "girl power" and is a continuous symbol of style. I use these inspirations from Barbie® not only in my jewelry collection but in my everyday life. I see Barbie® as an incredibly strong, timeless, worldwide icon and now I am able to share my love for Barbie® with the whole world through my jewelry collection!"

Slade Architecture

With six floors and 40,000 square feet of shopping and dining space, the Barbie® Shanghai store would be a demanding project for any architect. When Mattel selected Slade Architecture, an award-winning, New York City design firm founded in 2002 by James Slade and Hayes Slade, it knew it had found the perfect partner.

Having three daughters, the Slades bring a unique understanding of all things girl, and infuse it throughout the design of Barbie® Shanghai. The store is a mixture of the familiar and comfortable, and the outright dazzling, including touches like the giant multi-drawer jewelry box where girls can climb inside and hide, and a central spiral staircase featuring hundreds of clear tubes with modern and vintage Barbie® dolls encased within.

James Slade is an internationally celebrated architect who has also taught design at several universities across the country and in Italy. Hayes Slade comes from a structural engineering and strategy consulting background. In collaboration with their clients, Slade Architecture designs spaces that merge concept and functionality. Their approach is at once structured and unique to the situation; creating the design paradigm for a specific context and need.

Robert Best

Ask any Barbie® collector, and they're bound to be familiar with the name Robert Best. As principal designer of the Barbie® Collector line, he has designed literally hundreds of dolls in his 14 years with Mattel.

Robert applied his unique design perspective to the beautiful Barbie® Shanghai dolls that he crafted exclusively for the Barbie® Shanghai store. "They represent the essence of Barbie® from a doll perspective and allow girls the opportunity to experience the brand through a doll execution."

Robert was also recently featured as one of 15 designers in the third season of Bravo's hit reality TV series "Project Runway."

Robert's Barbie® Confessions

"Barbie® inspires me because of the joy and happiness associated with her, and this goes back to being a kid. Barbie® was my first exposure to the whole idea of fashion and that sticks with you as an adult. Additionally, she represents what makes fashion fun. It can be escapist and pure fantasy, or timeless, classic couture. Of course, Barbie® is all these things and more, and always done with panache.

When I was in school studying fashion design and illustration, my illustration teachers would tell me that my sketches reminded them of Barbie®. I guess somewhere in my subconscious, Barbie® has always been a source of inspiration, even before I came to work at Mattel.

My wish for Barbie® Shanghai is that it will welcome people from all over the world to bask in the bright pink glow of everything and anything Barbie® for years to come!"