Skipper was Barbie’s younger sister doll introduced by Mattel in 1964.
Her arrival expanded Barbie’s fictional family and created new fashion stories centered on a younger character. Skipper’s clothing was generally designed for a youthful, school-age image rather than Barbie’s adult career and evening wardrobes.
Skipper is often confused with Francie, another Mattel doll from the 1960s. Francie was presented as Barbie’s cousin, while Skipper was explicitly established as her younger sister. Later family additions included Stacie and Chelsea.
The character’s importance to Barbie fashion history is not only her relationship to Barbie. Skipper gave Mattel a separate scale, age identity, and wardrobe market, allowing coordinated sister fashions and family-themed product lines.