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In her 50 years, Barbie managed to accumulate 1 billion pairs of shoes. When it came to picking her next pair, the iconic doll wanted to go to one of the hottest shoe designers around, so she chose Christian Louboutin.

Mattel, the maker of Barbie, has partnered with Louboutin for a multifaceted program under which the shoe designer will serve as a yearlong godfather to Barbie, not just rethinking her fashion wardrobe and physical attributes, but also art directing her in different lifelike situations.

The project includes the Barbie-pink, red-soled Louboutin shoes that premiered in Barbie’s birthday runway show during New York Fashion Week in February, a Barbie doll and accessories collection customized by the designer and a diary filled with images of Louboutin and Barbie as they explore the cobbler’s favorite things.

“Barbie has a long history of working with various designers and artists who use Barbie as a muse,” said Stephanie Cota, senior vice president of marketing of Barbie brands at Mattel. “It was a natural for Barbie, not only with her fashion heritage, but also because of her passion for shoes. She has a billion shoes and we needed to do something special for her shoe collection.”

Louboutin knew there were certain changes he wanted to make to his three customized dolls, which are inspired by Nefertiti and Marilyn Monroe.

“She needed great shoes, a thinner ankle and, to me, as I’m obsessed with feet, a foot more curved,” the designer said.

His views on Barbie’s ankles, expressed through a spokeswoman in a WWD Fashion Scoop on Monday, caused something of a media and blogosphere frenzy. Clarifying his point, Louboutin said he was thinking of the technical aspects of shoemaking.

“Barbie’s foot has always been shaped less ‘curvy’ than the rest of her perfect body,” he said. “I just added my little science to Barbie and I’ve been proud to serve her. But fat ankles she didn’t have, she just could have had thinner ankles. That’s all.

“My God, what a story,” he said, reacting to the controversy. “I apologize to my goddaughter [Barbie]. There has been a bit of confusion there, but it’s just the proof that Barbie has real serious fans.”

The three dolls, packaged in Louboutin shoe boxes, each come with four pairs of Barbie-size Louboutin heels. In December, Mattel will unveil Louboutin’s jewel thief-themed Barbie; in February, it will add a safari-themed Barbie, and for May, Louboutin designed a Barbie that goes to the Cannes Film Festival. The $150 dolls will be sold through BarbieCollector.com and at Net-a-porter.com, which is Mattel’s exclusive partner for this project and will be selling dolls for the first time. In September, both sites also will offer a Christian Louboutin Barbie shoe collection of 12 pairs for $40 a set.

The diary, which comes with the jewel thief Barbie and is also sold separately for $40, is titled “My Year in Paris With Christian Louboutin.” Launching in December, it features photos of the doll shopping with Louboutin in his boutique, on a journey down the Nile, performing at the Moulin Rouge and in a cafe with a male doll that is decidedly not Ken.

“I will have to go with no comment,” Cota said of the non-Ken. “He is a boy who is a friend and not necessarily a boyfriend. As a rule, we don’t comment on Barbie and Ken’s personal life, but I can tell you they are definitely talking and they’re friendly.”

Marchesa has realized what most fashion watchers already know: handbags are one of the most profitable categories of products that a brand can make. They don’t take the sizing and fit of a dress, they’re seen as useful and more worthy of expenditure by consumers, and they can be sold in a larger variety of stores than a ball gown. They provide an introduction to the brand for new customers and increase awareness and familiarity among potential clients. Any high-end designer would be crazy not to make bags.

Georgina Chapman and the fine folks at Marchesa are decidedly non-crazy, so the bags are on their way and will debut for Spring 2010 at the forthcoming New York Fashion Week. Since their line is made up almost exclusively of ultra-detailed evening wear, it’s not surprising that they chose clutches and evening bags to make up their inaugural accessories collection. They show much of the detailing that has become Marchesa’s signature – intricate beading, rosettes, and a limited color palette. My favorite touch, though, is the jagged crystal wrapped in stone-encrusted metal that forms the closure on many of the bags. A little bit of a hard edge to set off an evening bag’s demure nature.

The designers insist that all of the bags were designed specifically to be large enough to fit a Blackberry, keys, and makeup for touch-ups. If that’s the case, then hallelujah, it’s a common concern that they’ve chosen to address. They will be made in silk, metal, and exotic leathers and will retail from $995-$5000. Since the collection has yet to be presented, store availability is unknown, but the designers say that they will be sold in the same types of stores that sell their dresses, both in the evening wear department and on the main floor with the rest of the accessories.

OH BEAUTIFUL: After 28 years of living in the U.S., Carolina Herrera became an American citizen on Friday. Shortly after her naturalization oath ceremony, the Venezuelan-born designer said, “I have been here for many years, and I love this country very much. I love New York and everything about America. It was very emotional for me.” Moving as it was, the scene at the U.S. District Court Southern District was not quite what she had envisioned. “I thought there would be people there waving little American flags and at the end everyone would sing ‘America the Beautiful,’ but it was very businesslike,” she said. For the past month, Herrera brushed up on her American history in preparation for the mandatory naturalization exam. During the seemingly round-the-clock work weeks that go hand-in-hand with show season, Herrera had plenty of time to quiz staffers. “I was constantly testing people in my office [who often fell short with their knowledge]. I told them, ‘With this test, you would never become a citizen,’” she said. “Now I know more than they do.”

The Barneys New York flagship at Madison Avenue and 61st Street will turn into a fashion fun house on Thursday.

Some 40-odd events — emphasis on odd — will take place throughout the store, from the lower-level beauty area to the Co-op and men’s store. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen of The Row will be tending bar, Poppy King will do “lip readings” and there will be pizza-making lessons at Fred’s restaurants.

A New Age bent will run through the evening, with Unearthen designer Gia Bahm helping shoppers choose healing crystals, and Vogue fashion director Tonne Goodman curating sustainable items from the Barneys assortment. For city slickers with a hankering for farming, Organic by John Patrick will give seed-growing and composting seminars.

Narciso Rodriguez, Manolo Blahnik and Amanda Brooks will be on hand; Coco Rocha will screen her music video, “Fashionista,” and, the retailer promises, Rocha will dance with shoppers as the paparazzi click away. Revelers will get a flipbook of photos as a memento of the evening.

Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte will host a musical performance by Justin Bond; Adam Kimmel will host Gerard Malanga’s “Screentest,” and DJ Kiss will have the men’s fourth floor grooving.

Dior Homme artistic director Kris Van Assche, in his first official U.S. press visit, will sign his signature Dior Homme sneakers.

There will be opportunities for quiet time with Richard Chai, and Barneys’ resident bard Simon Doonan, who’ll hold forth in the shoe salon-cum-Parisian salon. On the fifth floor, there will be movies and popcorn with Brian Reyes.

Fashion’s Night Out at Barneys also will have a made-by-hand quality with Wool and the Gang’s knitting class, Alabama founder Natalie Chanin’s sewing circle, Loomstate customizing T-shirts and VPL designer Victoria Bartlett helping shoppers create a wearable piece of art with photographer David Armstrong at the DIY VPL underwear project.

Another how-to will be supplied by Alexander Wang, who’ll give a tutorial on walking like a model.

Beauty also will play a large role for both men and women. At John Allan’s on the sixth floor, men can line up for free haircuts, manicures and shoe shines, and Acqua di Parma will provide free traditional Italian shaves. For women, there will be complementary mini facials and hand massages by Olivia Chantecaille and her staff.

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