#24: Barbie’s Dream Kitchen

Gender roles and expectations have changed since the 1960s, but there’s no denying that this vintage Barbie toy is amazingly cool. This Reading Deluxe Dream Kitchen from 1961 definitely has a certain appeal. The colors, the retro-glam appliances, the compact design– it’s definitely a dream kitchen. Little girls might not dream of the perfect kitchen as often these days, but this is a cool blast from the past.

The miniature kitchen toy shows a top-of-the-line kitchen by 1960s standards. There’s a fancy fridge, an oven, and what we’re assuming is a dishwasher on the side. Imagine if your kitchen was this colorful in real life. Pretty neat, right? This toy is such a cool vintage piece because of the attention to detail. The metal handles and miniature recreations are something we just don’t see anymore.