Why Is Everyone Dressing Like Barbie?
Matthew Sanders One quick scroll down your Instagram feed will have you spotting many of your favourite celebrities and fashion influencers cosplaying as Barbie in their hot pink ensembles.
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It’s not an elaborate campaign to promote Greta Garwig’s upcoming Barbie movie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, although some of the roots of the trend can be traced back to the viral leaked photos from the sets. The world is being taken over by the Barbiecore fashion trend and we’re not complaining.
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In case it wasn’t obvious, Barbiecore has been inspired by the iconic Mattel doll’s characteristic style, which is all about bright (think HOT) pinks and lots of sparkles. There are also playful accents like feathers, rhinestones, and chunky charms thrown into the mix for good measure.
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It has been reported that the search results for pink items have seen a dramatic increase in purchases in the last few months. Pinterest has also revealed that the site has seen a 75 percent search increase in the term ‘Barbie Outfit’.
Hot pink has been the colour on everyone’s mind ever since Pierpaolo Piccioli sent down models in hot pink ensembles down the runway at the Valentino F/W 2022 show. The ‘Valentino Pink’ has, since then, reigned supreme on red carpets all over the world.
Kim Kardashian has also been spotted adopting Barbiecore with her head-to-toe pink Balenciaga ensembles.
Other celebrities who have been championing the trend include Anne Hathaway, Lizzo, Dua Lipa, Khloe Kardashian, Megan Fox, and Hailey Bieber (to name a few!)
While Barbiecore as a trend has seen an emergence recently, Barbie has been inspiring designers for a long time. Think Moschino’s S/S 2015 collection or Kacey Musgrave at the 2019 Met Gala red carpet.
Ever since its introduction back in 1959, Barbie has gone through an evolution over the years and is now more diverse and inclusive than ever. Kim Culmone, SVP of Design for Barbie and Fashion Dolls, told InStyle that “Barbie is inspired by pop culture and fashion. And like many of us, her style evolves to be reflective of today’s trends and culture,“ she says. For 2022, as we head back to the office and regain our social lives, it’s Barbie’s authentic playfulness and bright, bold colour palette that people are trying to inject into their daily routines.”
So how can you embrace Barbiecore in your life?
The answer is right in front of you in all its hot pink glory. You can go big and adopt the full ‘Plastic and Fantastic’ fantasy with H-to-T pink, or start small by injecting small doses of the bold colour into your wardrobe. The key is to have fun with the colour and be confident.
“Pink has always been Barbie’s favourite colour—she even has her own signature ‘Barbie Pink’ Pantone shade, PMS 219,” said Culmone, “For Barbie, pink represents limitless potential and is a symbol of female empowerment, which is such a perfect fit with the brand’s purpose.”
If hot pink, however, is not your colour, then you can opt for different shades of the hue, like bubblegum or fuchsia.
So cue up the Aqua track on your playlists and have fun with Barbiecore!
