Mattel’s world-famous Barbie doll has held a fascination for young girls for over 50 years, with more than a billion sales since her introduction in 1959. But Brooklyn-based designer Margaux Lange has been bringing Barbie to an older generation over the last few years, with her ‘Plastic Body Series’ Barbie jewelry.

Margaux is a 29 year-old Brooklyn woman who has always been a Barbie fan, and her obsession has grown from merely playing with the dolls, to cutting them up, soldering them and incorporating them into her jewelry designs. She learned soldering and basic jewelry-making skills at high school, and continued her art studies at college in Maryland. With the dolls being constructed from soft rubber  they are relatively easy to cut body parts from and to manipulate. The pieces retail from around $100 to nearly $165, though one-off pieces can also be created to meet demand.

In fairness, many the purchasers of her latest designs are more than likely adult women who were once childhood Barbie owners, but the jewelry has also been attracting a new audience, with its extremely unique and creative designs.

The collection really does have to be seen to be believed. Barbie hands dangle from necklaces, ears give a new meaning to ‘earrings’ and even Ken - Barbie’s lifelong partner - makes an appearance on a ring. Unsurprisingly the collection has received the full spectrum of reactions, from ‘horrified’ to ‘amazed’. Margaux has been producing the items on a full-time basis for over a year now, however, so she must be doing something right.

Margaux Lange’s ‘Barbie Plastic Body Series’ jewelry can be seen at her website www.margauxlange.com. If you have a desire to make a statement and stand out in the crowd - or are simply a huge Barbie fan (whatever her form), take a look… there’s a strong chance you’ll find yourself making a purchase.