Image credits: Warner Bros
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Whether it’s the Princess of Wales in a blush pink suit or Hailey Bieber in vertiginous plastic mules and a pink sparkly mini-dress, there’s no doubt ‘Barbie-core’ is still well and truly kicking.
The trend, first debuted in 2022 and amplified by Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli’s famous ‘PP pink’ collection has been attributed to everything from all-pink ensembles to the trend for matching your handbag to your outfit, sugary sherbet skirt suits worn by the likes of Dua Lipa and Sydney Sweeney and bedazzled high heels.
The trend is set to move into overdrive when the hotly anticipated Barbie film finally arrives in cinemas in July. Starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken (“just Ken”), the publicity for the film has sparked practically blanket enthusiastic coverage for all things Barbie. It makes sense. Barbie has, after-all, long been a style icon and Ryan Gosling on rollerblades is a gift from the heavens.
Libby Page, market director at Net-a-Porter says the luxury retailer has seen the Barbie effect.
"Following the release of the Barbie trailer, we have seen a 125 per cent increase in searches for ‘Barbie’ and ‘Barbiecore’, so we anticipate there will be a spike in popularity for pink following the film’s release in July," she says.
So what is Barbie-core? It’s pieces that embody what the film’s writer and director Greta Gerwig calls “Barbie energy”. Yes, it's pink and fantastic and coordinated and ideal for a life swanning about a Dream House. But it’s also just something that you know when you see it.
As Page notes, there's plenty of ways to tap the Barbiecore trend too.
"As pink has transitioned from pretty to powerful, our customers’ confidence in wearing bright pops of colour has also grown. If you’re not quite ready to embrace a head-to-toe Barbie look, add touches of pink through accessories such as Christian Louboutin’s ultra-high satin sandals or Jacquemus' Le Bambidou shearling shoulder bag,
she says.
Want in on the plastic, fantastic life? Scroll on for five pieces that promise to keep the Barbie energy running high.
