It is a regular occurrence here at Homes & Gardens to find ourselves delighted by a new Joanna Gaines launch, but I can't say one has ever sparked as much joy as the announcement of the Joanna Gaines Barbie.
Swapping Fixer Uppers for a life in pink, the designer and TV star has joined a long list of iconic women with their own Barbie likeness. And alongside a retro outfit, the rollerskating Joanna Gaines Barbie comes with her own Target-exclusive 1970s townhouse.
Inspired by her own childhood Barbie DreamHouse, Joanna poured her signature warm, personal aesthetic and scaled it down into a Barbie-sized home that is just too good to miss. So, do you want the house tour?
Meet the Joanna Gaines Barbie
'If you would have asked six-year-old me what I loved to do most, I would have said “roller skating”,' says Joanna in a blog post about the collaboration. 'So, we created a look that resembles who I am today with a nod to who I was then.'
The result is a doll full of meaningful details. 'From a simple white tee that says “1978” (the year I was born) and my favorite turquoise earrings and plaid shirt, to of course, a pair of pink roller skates with green laces.'
It’s a playful yet nostalgic mini-me design that feels unmistakably Joanna, right down to the middle-parted brunette waves she’s best known (and envied) for.
Not only is the Joanna Gaines Barbie impossibly chic – complete with graphic tee, flares, sunglasses, and a plaid shirt – but she is also totally posable and fun for all future designers to play with.
But how does one translate the warm, layered world of Magnolia into a miniature, pink-packed fantasy?
The townhouse itself blends the TV star’s farmhouse-inspired aesthetic into a three-story playhouse, complete with more than 40 accessories in homage to the '70s.
'So we all got to work designing a 1970s townhouse,' Joanna explains. 'The first thing we did was track down as many dollhouses as we could that Barbie had distributed in the late '70s. We borrowed elements I remembered from my own, like the mid-century breezeblock on the exterior and the pink-and-white color scheme, and we added a few details that define me today, like my love of cozy spaces and baking at the kitchen island.'
'I was equally passionate about creating a house that kids could make their own, so we designed dozens of removable stickers that function as a styling toolkit, including potted plants, home decor, and kitchen essentials. This way, kids can tap into their own well of creativity and personal feeling of home as they build out these spaces.'
I don't know about you, but I'm ready to move in.
The Hearth & Hand with Magnolia townhouse opens up to chic spaces designed for Barbie to eat, sleep, and entertain. With 40 accessories (including bespoke decor and furniture pieces), there's an elevator, bedroom, retro bathroom, light blue kitchen, cozy living room, and even a sundeck.
The Joanna Gaines townhouse, available exclusively at Target, is packed with tiny Magnolia-style details you’d expect from Joanna's timeless design world.
'This collaboration is like nothing I’ve ever done,' Joanna says. 'It was so fun, and so nostalgic. It has been an absolute honor to partner with the iconic Barbie brand. A brand that has spent its 80-year history empowering young girls to dream big and believe that all of us can do or be anything we want.'
Like most Joanna Gaines collabs, this one isn’t likely to stay in stock for long, so I'd recommend getting yourself on the pre-order list now for the official drop on December 7. Your cart (and kids) will thank you come Christmas.
