The high-heeled hallmark is on the way out, much to our relief

In a world where Barbie could be anything, her ankles still couldn't bend for over 30 years.

- Emma Kay

An analysis of more than 3,000 Barbies released over the course of 65 years discovered the high-heeled hallmark trait has finally been phased out in favour of flat-shoed forms.

Armed with a goniometer angle measuring device and a massive back catalogue of Mattel dolls and access to a personal collection, the foot angles of 2,750 Barbies released from 1959 to last June were measured and catalogued.

The older barbies had a 40-degree angle but, from 1990, flat-footed models arrived to accommodate functional flat shoes that went with the job.