The Best Barbie Fashion Collaborations and Barbiecore Style 2023 – The Hollywood Reporter

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Think pink! Though Greta Gerwig’s live-action Barbie film hits theaters today, fuchsia styles inspired by the fashion-forward Mattel doll were already surging in the summer of 2022. It comes as no surprise that playful looks in the hot pink hue were an instant pick-me-up during times of pandemic and recession. (No doubt we can also thank the Barbie industrial marketing machine for that.)

London-based fast fashion brand Boohoo (which will restock its own sold-out Barbie collab on July 24) crunched the numbers and found that online searches for “Barbie-inspired outfit” has increased by 615 percent worldwide, with the hashtag #barbieoutfits on TikTok surpassing more than 56.5 million views.

Starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, the film also features Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Simu Liu, Dua Lipa, Ritu Arya, Michael Cera and Emerald Fennel as Mattel dolls in the flesh and America Ferrera, Helen Mirren, Will Ferrell and others as humans. During the Barbie press tour in Los Angeles, Sydney, Seoul, Mexico City and London, the director and her stars sported their best beyond-Barbie Land looks on the pink carpet. On set, Robbie enacted a weekly “pink day” where she would collect fines (which were donated to charity) from those who failed to follow the assignment.

The uplifting color was showcased on fashion runways, as seen in Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli’s Fall/Winter 2022 Pink PP collection that was worn by Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lizzo, Lana Condor, Drew Barrymore, Glenn Close, Tommy Dorfman and other stars. Balmain’s official Barbie collection channeled the toy icon’s spirit in doll box-esque handbags, tweed co-ord pieces, bold-shouldered monogram dresses and more. In the sports world, Lionel Messi’s new team, Inter Miami, adopted pink as their official color in 2022 after fans (and David Beckham) clamored for the fashionable flamingo hue.

Mattel has been keeping busy with no shortage of collaborations leading up to the film, as seen in collections with Aldo (which is nearly sold out), Bloomingdale’s, Béis, Gap, Forever 21, PJ Salvage, Barefoot Dreams, Emu Australia, Funboy, Joybird and Ruggable, and many, many others, with even more expected to roll out through summer. Even retailers including Saks, Zappos has rolled out a “secret” Barbie-inspired curation of shoes, handbags, jewelry and accessories.

The trick is to flip any doll stereotypes on their head and turn Barbie style into a power play. Ease into the trend by swapping a wardrobe essential (a dress, trousers, handbag, sunglasses, sandals) in the eye-popping hue and style with neutral staples. Or go all in: flaunt a glam fuchsia dress for a Malibu pool party or matchy-match all your accessories in haute pink. Because in Barbie’s world, more is infinitely more.

Sleeper Party Pajamas with Detachable Feathers

Pieces with flirty feathers are part of the Barbie aesthetic, as proven by President Barbie (Issa Rae), who wore Sleeper’s Party Pajamas in the film. Get tickled pink in this bedroom-and-beyond set with mother-of-pearl buttons and detachable trim.

Jonathan Simkhai Noemi Dress

Jonathan Simkhai’s embroidered sequin Noemi dress — from his Pre-Fall 2023 ready-to-wear collection — is unapologetically sparkly in this eye-popping bougainvillea hue.

Circus NY Avery Heels

Teetering platform sandals with exaggerated proportions are a Barbie go-to, and these sculptural Avery heels by Circus NY are a fun plus-one for summer soirées.

Impala x Barbie Lightspeed Inline Skates

Robbie and Gosling (as Barbie and Ken) sport Impala’s flue yellow inline skates while cruising through Venice Beach. The eye-popping pair is mostly sold out, but we’ve tracked down a handful of sizes at active lifestyle retailer TiIlys. (Alternatively, Impala’s pink roller skates also tap into Barbie’s playful roll-with-it vibe.)

Jacquemus Le Grand Chiquito Leather Top-Handle Bag

Got too much baggage for an itty-bitty carryall? Opt for Jacquemus’ Le Grand Chiquito top-handle bag, which comes in an array of sizes carried over the years by Rihanna, the Kardashian clan, Dua Lipa, Priyanka Chopra and Selena Gomez.

PJ Salvage x Barbie Reloved Boy-Short Set

PJ Salvage’s collaboration with Barbie includes this relaxed tank and boy shorts set spun from eco-conscious Repreve jersey (a blend of recycled polyester, rayon and elastane).

Swarovski Florere Cocktail Ring

Finger bling gets a Barbiecore upgrade in Swarovski’s Florere cocktail ring set in gold-tone plating. Stack it with other statement accessories for a maximalist look or keep it minimalist.

Saint Laurent LouLou Sunglasses

Iconic rose-colored, heart-shaped sunglasses by Yves Saint Laurent are always a bright style move to channel Barbie.

This story was originally published on Oct. 27, 2022.