What color was the swimsuit of the first Barbie doll?

The first Barbie doll wore a black-and-white swimsuit. Introduced by Mattel in 1959, the original Barbie was dressed in a black-and-white striped, zebra-patterned swimsuit that became one of the most recognizable looks in toy history.

The debut doll was sold as Barbie Teenage Fashion Model and had a high ponytail, arched eyebrows, black open-toe shoes, white sunglasses, and gold hoop earrings. She was available with either blonde or brunette hair, but both versions wore the same monochrome swimsuit. The outfit’s graphic pattern reflected mid-century fashion photography and made the doll visually striking in store displays.

The answer is sometimes misremembered as pink because pink later became strongly associated with Barbie branding. Pink clothing, packaging, and accessories became increasingly prominent over the decades, but they were not part of the first doll’s signature outfit. Barbie debuted on March 9, 1959, at the American International Toy Fair in New York.