What Is Barbiecore?

Pink will be the hottest colour this season. In fact, it already is. Ever since the live action Barbie movie was announced to be in the works, a collective nostalgia for the Mattel franchise has catalysed the rise of a new fashion phenomenon: Barbiecore. The key to perfecting this style lies in the art of matching: think pink for everything, even when it comes to accessorising, shoewear and makeup. The best thing about this maximalist trend? You can never be wearing too much pink!

As we await Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Barbie film with bated breath, let’s take a glimpse at the history of our dreamhouse doll and the role of the colour pink in pop culture, fashion and beyond.

Barbie History 101

It all started when the first Barbie doll hit the shelves in 1959. Pink became an inextricable part of the mini fashionista’s identity once it started to be primarily advertised to younger girls in the ‘70s. While the Mattel doll was treasured by millions of young girls across the globe, Barbie has not always been representative of those who loved them. The first Asian Barbie doll was only released in 1981, more than ten years after the launch of the first Barbie. Today, the once exclusively blonde, white and thin plastic toy has come a long way and is now representative of different sizes, hair types and more. The globally adored figurine is not only diverse in-store but on screen too: Greta Gerwig’s Barbie features a heterogeneous cast, with actors such as Issa Rae and Simu Liu.

 

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How Pink Rose In Fashion

While the blush hue has always been stereotyped as soft and girlish, it has become a bold, empowering shade that allows us to reclaim our femininity and identity. Valentino’s AW22 show is evidence of just that. The fashion house’s maestro Pierpaolo Piccioli (of which the Pantone Pink PP colour is named after) wished to accentuate the individuality of his models through the uniformity in the colour of his garments. The viewer’s focus is naturally honed in on the features of each model as a result of the primarily monochromatic catwalk.

Piccioli was not the first designer to make pink his own. In the ‘30s, Schiaparelli discovered the hot pink that we associate with the Barbie franchise today by mixing magenta and white together. The iconic pink outfit worn by Zsa Zsa Gabor’s in Moulin Rouge was designed by the Italian couturier herself. 

Pinking Back To The Good Times

The colour pink has played a huge role in crowd-favourite chick flicks that have left a lasting impact in fashion. In Mean Girls, the famous line, “On Wednesdays we wear pink”, is the sartorial law that Regina George and her Plastics swear by. The colour was arguably the main character of the film, permeating every aspect of the Plastics’ lives, from the infamous Burn Book to Regina’s flip phone. 

Another pinking good throwback is Elle Woods’s wardrobe in the cult classic: Legally Blonde. Anyone who wants to hop on the Barbiecore trend can take a page out of Elle’s legal books and recreate her fuschia-coloured looks, from her courthouse dress to her pink leather two-piece. 

Go Pink Or Go Home

The approach to Barbiecore is always go pink or go home. If you’re not all decked out in pink, you’re not committed enough. Celebrities left right and centre have embraced their inner dolls in playful shades of pink this past year.  

Our very own human Barbie, Margot Robbie, showcases this stunningly in a tailored fuchsia blazer and midi skirt ensemble. Her look was further elevated by a Judith Leiber Couture retro phone embellished with pink rhinestones, a pink Versace La Medusa handbag, Manolo Blahnik two-tone stilettos and a white fedora adorned with a pink ribbon, of course.

Countless other celebrities have shown us that life really is your creation when you have the imagination. From Sebastian Stan’s PP pink Valentino suit at this year’s Met Gala to Kim Kardashian’s pink catsuit with matching feathers, Barbiecore is not just another trend. These looks have proven that it is here to stay.