You would have to be living under a rock not to have heard of Barbiecore.
Forget Tomato Girl Summer and the Vanilla Girl aesthetic, this millennial summer fashion trend is taking the world by storm (again), so get ready to see your nearest and dearest dressing like plastic Mattel dolls.
Inspired by next week's release of Greta Gerwig's Barbie, the retro trend is centred around the distinct "Barbie pink" hue.
And following the four Barbie trailers and viral snaps of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling kitted out as Barbie and Ken in neon athleisure, the trend has already extended to include Barbie-appropriate accessories too. We're talking giant phones, hairdryer handbags, high ponytails, rollerblades and retro shades.
According to data from Clearpay, the Barbiecore trend has massively affected trade, with sales of neon, fuchsia and denim clothing seeing a spike.
Sales of scrunchies (one of Barbie's signature accessories) have had the biggest surge, seeing an increase of 1099%. Other niche Barbie sales spikes were blonde hair dye, which increased by 47%, and leotards which have seen a 12% spike.
In short - women and men across the world are going mad for Barbiecore, and we are here for it.
As the trend reaches its peak, we're here to break it down for you. So, what is Barbiecore? Where did it come from? Who's following the trend? And how can we shop it?
What is Barbiecore?
Barbiecore is a retro aesthetic inspired by Mattel's fashion doll, Barbie. The nostalgic trend is a millennial and Gen Z throwback to the hyper-feminine Barbie aesthetic. Vibrant pink is the most distinctive feature of Barbiecore, but among other Barbie-appropriate accessories are visors, leg warmers, scrunchies and leotards. Essentially, anything your childhood Barbie doll would wear is in fashion this summer, so go wild.
Shop Barbiecore
Where did Barbiecore come from?
The upcoming Greta Gerwig film and its trailers have undoubtedly peaked interest around the Barbiecore trend. Who wouldn't want to look like Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling? But, some claim that the Barbie pink wave was actually on its way before this, with some early vibrant pink ensembles spotted at the Met Gala, among other 2022 fashion events this year.
Valentino's Fall/ Winter 2022 show earlier this month had a significant nod to the Barbie pink hue, and its attendees certainly seemed to get the memo. In fact, virtually the entire front row was wearing the shade.
Celebrities wearing Barbiecore
Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling have inevitably been at the helm of the Barbiecore trend, particularly given the string of Barbie premieres they have attended this week as the Mattel couple. But from the Met Gala to the Valentino Fall/ Winter 2022 front row, celebrities have been partaking en masse this whole past year.
Florence Pugh, Anne Hathaway, Ariana DeBose and Zendaya were among the A-listers to wear head-to-toe pink on the Valentino FROW, and special mention must be given to Sebastian Stan for his statement Barbiecore Met Gala look.
Other celebrities to have followed the trend include Sabrina Carpenter, Gigi Hadid, Dua Lipa, Vanessa Hudgens, Kim Kardashian, John Legend, Megan Fox, Hailey Bieber, Ashley Park and Lizzo.
Is it a feminist statement?
Actually, yes. Barbiecore is not only being followed as a fashion trend but as a statement too, challenging society's stereotypes of femininity and rejecting outdated beauty standards.
"I think we have changed the way we think about the stereotypical Barbie girl with blonde hair and the perfect body," explained 21-year-old LA-based blogger Chazlyn Yevonne Stunson, via Business Insider. "Nowadays, we are seeing all kinds of individuals, such as myself, partake in the aesthetic."
So yes, across the world, people are riding the vibrant pink wave to challenge stereotypes and reflect a more diverse image of Barbie.
We will continue to update this story.
