strawberry shortcake 30The coolest item in my kid's closet stands up today as totally of the moment -- it's a two-colored sweatshirt, white with yellow sleeves and a yellow hood. Emblazoned across the front is Strawberry Shortcake as she used to look.

As she looked when the sweatshirt was made in 1982 or so. With her stereotype-busting crew that was decades ahead of its time.

It's vintage and totally cool. And I'm totally old. Which was confirmed when I got a notice from the folks at Hasbro the other day. Strawberry Shortcake has a new 30th anniversary toy set out this fall.

Did you read that one ladies? The berry girl and pals are 30.

I remember her from when she still looked like the country girl in the 30th Anniversary Collection Hasbro sent to The Stir last week (she's packaged with the original Orange Blossom and Raspberry Tart too -- my husband was moaning the lack of Lemon Meringue, who he picked up in Toys R Us last week just to smell and wanted to take with him everywhere).

Memory is a funny thing -- I recognized them all instantly, although I didn't know (but the box revealed) that these were the three original dolls. As a white girl growing up in the '80s, they were simply part of the landscape to me. Favorites, for sure, but there was nothing to mark them as "super special to me."

Looking back now, I'm pleased to see they offered options to girls who weren't blond-haired, blue-eyed children faced with the typical '80s toys.

Strawberry was a redhead! Orange Blossom was a girl of color! In the '80s! When all my dollies looked like me: White. With blue eyes. And blond hair.

They looked like my daughter to be honest, which is why I'm always happy to oblige her Strawberry Shortcake love. I was even happy to see a Strawberry Shortcake remote control car in the new line -- because god forbid girls play with toy cars.

Is the multicultural, real girl approach the reason Strawberry's still going strong at 30?

 

Image via Amazon