‘Megawatt starpower’: How Margot Robbie has nailed Barbie-inspired style, with an eye-watering price-tag

From bombshell minis to bubblegum pink blazers, Margot Robbie has been stepping out in style on her Barbie world tour – with a mega price tag. See the photos.

Margot or Barbie? Picture: AFP

From bombshell minis to bubblegum pink blazers, Margot Robbie has been stepping out in style on her Barbie world tour.

The Australian actor – who plays the iconic Mattel doll in the much-hyped Hollywood movie – has turned heads in gobsmacking outfits, channelling iconic looks sported by Barbie dolls over the years.

Such is the ilk of design — from fashion houses spanning Versace to Vivienne Westwood — barely anything is off-the-rack, and most of the looks are custom-made, meaning their eye-watering price-tags are undisclosed.

This week alone, Robbie turned heads in a custom baby pink Vivienne Westwood gown, based on the “Enchanted Evening Barbie” from 1996, at the film’s London screening.

Margot Robbie in Vivienne Westwood at the European Premiere of Barbie in London. Picture: MATRIX

Legally blonde! Margot Robbie has nailed the Barbie-inspired style. Picture: Getty Images

Tickled pink! Picture: Getty Images

At the world premiere in Los Angeles, the 33-year-old wore a strapless black Schiaparelli gown based on 1961 Barbie, “Solo In The Spotlight”.

Schiaparelli creative director Daniel Roseberry dubbed the made-for-Margot outfit as “Barbie couture”, describing it as a “bustier dress fully embroidered with sequins”, “multiple layers of black tulle” and a “single, handpainted embroidered rose”.

Last month in Sydney, Robbie’s ensembles spanned a glittering Versace mini and yet another Versace outfit – a metallic pink mini skirt and rollneck knit – based on an outfit OG supermodel Claudia Schiffer wore in 1994.

Robbie and her new stylist, Andrew Nukamal, have nailed her outfits for the Barbie tour, with style experts branding them “perfect replicas” with a modern edge.

She’s red-y! Margot in London. Picture: Getty Images

A Barbie girl, in a Barbie world! Picture: Getty Images

“Tapping archival Barbies, Margot has been deploying her megawatt starpower to secure the kind of custom looks and vintage grails many of us can only dream about owning – from her Hervé Legér black and white bandage dress at Bondi’s icebergs to the vintage 90s Versace moment at Vogue’s Sydney party for the movie,” Vogue Australia fashion features director Alice Birrell said.

“Yes, some of her looks are such cookie-cutter perfect replicas of the originals, but with Robbie and [Barbie director] Greta Gerwig’s brilliant minds behind Barbie, in which she ventures into the real world, I suspect there’s a brilliant message around artificiality and authenticity encoded in her outfit choices.

“Gerwig and Robbie are making our girlhood dreams come true with the magic of fashion.”

Shannon Thomas, founder of Australian fashion retailer désordre – known for its Barbie-core aesthetic even before the movie started influencing trends – described Robbie’s style on the Barbie tour as “truly impeccable”.

“It’s no small task to embody the essence of Barbie without appearing forced or overly artificial. Margot has reimagined the modern Barbie aesthetic in a way that feels fresh and relevant in 2023,” Thomas said.

She said there had been a “surge” in demand for Barbie-esque outfits since the trailer was released earlier this year, noting brands like Magda Butrym, Fannie Schiavoni, Paris Texas and Australia’s Alex Perry had been heavily influenced by Robbie’s Barbie.

So much so that désordre’s boutique in Sydney’s Bondi has a decal with the store’s name in Barbie-like font in its window, overlooking Campbell Parade.

“The appreciation for [Barbie-inspired] looks on social media has skyrocketed, with fans eagerly sharing their own “change room chronicles” of Barbie-inspired sparkles,” Thomas said.

And Thomas foresees Robbie’s Barbie having a fashion impact well into the Australian spring/summer season. “It’s already transitioning. I foresee a very Barbie Australian summer by the beach.”

Though there was one look that Thomas didn’t see coming – and it was the black gown Robbie wore in Hollywood this week.

”That moment with the red lip, diamond encrusted black dress, paired back with gloves is absolutely iconic. As someone who has always been a Barbie girl, I can envision this outfit perfectly on the original barbie. This look will be inspiring new designer collections, and silhouettes. I don’t think this is the end, this is the beginning. Bring back that fishtail hem.

And as Robbie herself has said of the role: “I definitely didn’t want to portray Barbie as being vapid in anyway

“The thing about how our story is constructed is that Barbie can be anything – Barbie can be president, Barbie can be a Nobel prize winner, you see all this stuff at the beginning of the movie that sets up how intelligent Barbie is”

And certainly, her outfits reflect that.

Barbie is in cinemas in Australia on July 20.

LONDON

Dilara Findikoglu red mini dress and Maison Ernest mules, Assael Pearls white gold clip earrings

Vivienne Westwood baby pink custom gown and Christian Louboutin ‘Degramule’ PVC heels ($US1195, $A1747)

Margot Robbie in baby pink Vivienne Westwood. Picture: Getty Images

MEXICO

Balmain hot pink mini and Manolo Blahnik stilettos.

In Balmain, in Naucalpan de Juarez, Mexico. Picture: Getty Images

Pucci multi-coloured printed dress and Chanel bag.

A Pucci moment. Picture: Getty Images

SEOUL

Versace suit (price on application), Versace ‘La Medusa’ mini bag, Judith Leiber brick phone ‘text me’ clutch ($US6195 – for bag, $A9056)

Suited up! Picture: AFP

Barbie business. Picture: Getty Images

Versace dress (hot pink tulle skirt), Versace ‘La Medusa’ mini bag ($US3350, $A4897), Taffin Himalaya Tourmaline ‘Ring Pop’ ($US2000, $A2923) and custom Manolo Blahnik mules

A very Versace Barbie. Picture: Getty Images

LOS ANGELES

Schiaparelli custom black gown, Lorraine Schwartz diamond necklace and earrings, and Manolo Blahnik mules.

Back to black at the world premiere in Hollywood. Picture: Getty Images

Margot Robbie at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Picture: AFP

SYDNEY

Vogue party: Versace mini dress, Versace ‘Crystal Repeat’ mini hobo bag, Manolo Blahnik ‘Jadifa’ PVC sandals

All that glitters! Margot Robbie wearing Versace in Sydney. Picture: Getty Images

Fan event: Versace skirt, knit, Versace ‘Medusa’ leather white box bag, Jessica McCormack earrings and heart-shaped ring.

Even more Versace Down Under. Picture: Getty Images

Originally published as ‘Megawatt starpower’: How Margot Robbie has nailed Barbie-inspired style, with an eye-watering price-tag