For one summer, the whole world wore pink. Greta Gerwig’s Barbie (2023) didn’t just become the biggest film of the year, it started a fashion movement: “Barbiecore” took over the shops, the red carpets and every cinema queue. Margot Robbie’s Barbie changed outfits in almost every scene, and the Kens, the other Barbies and Gloria had looks worth copying too. Here are 21 of the best.
What made the Barbie style work
Costume designer Jacqueline Durran, who was nominated for an Oscar for the film, based many of Barbie’s looks on real vintage Barbie dolls, then made them for a human body. In Barbieland, everything is bright, perfect and matching, from the shoes to the headband. When Barbie goes to the real world, her clothes become a little more confused, and by the end she is wearing jeans and Birkenstocks. The film also used real fashion, including Chanel, to tie the fantasy to the present day.
The signatures:
- Pink in every shade
- Gingham, stripes and polka dots
- Outfits copied from classic Barbie dolls
- Matching accessories, always
- Western, disco and 60s references
- For Ken: denim, stripes and fringe
The 21 best outfits from Barbie
1. Barbie’s pink gingham dress
The first look of the film, and a perfect Barbieland morning.
Image: Pinterest · Barbie, Warner Bros. Pictures
2. Barbie’s striped swimsuit
A tribute to the very first Barbie doll from 1959.
Image: Pinterest · Barbie, Warner Bros. Pictures
3. Barbie at home in the Dreamhouse
Image: Pinterest · Barbie, Warner Bros. Pictures
4. Barbie in pink tweed and pearls
Image: Pinterest · Barbie, Warner Bros. Pictures
5. Barbie poolside with a quilted bag
Image: Pinterest · Barbie, Warner Bros. Pictures
6. Barbie in red
Image: Pinterest · Barbie, Warner Bros. Pictures
7. Barbie’s silver disco jumpsuit
Image: Pinterest · Barbie, Warner Bros. Pictures
8. Barbie sets off for the real world
Image: Pinterest · Barbie, Warner Bros. Pictures
9. Barbie’s pink western look
A pink vest, flared trousers and a cowboy hat. Ken wore the matching version.
Image: Pinterest · Barbie, Warner Bros. Pictures
10. Barbie in a pink jumpsuit at Mattel
Image: Pinterest · Barbie, Warner Bros. Pictures
11. Barbie at the bus stop
Image: Pinterest · Barbie, Warner Bros. Pictures
12. The ending: jeans and pink Birkenstocks
The film’s final outfit, and its message: the perfect Barbie heel is replaced by a comfortable sandal.
Image: Pinterest · Barbie, Warner Bros. Pictures
13. The Barbies of Barbieland
Image: Pinterest · Barbie, Warner Bros. Pictures
14. President Barbie at the disco
Image: Pinterest · Barbie, Warner Bros. Pictures
15. President Barbie in pink sparkle
Image: Pinterest · Barbie, Warner Bros. Pictures
16. Weird Barbie
Played too hard with, and dressed like it. Kate McKinnon’s cut hair, marker-pen face and clashing prints are a highlight of the film.
Image: Pinterest · Barbie, Warner Bros. Pictures
17. Ken in double denim
Image: Pinterest · Barbie, Warner Bros. Pictures
18. Ken at the beach
Image: Pinterest · Barbie, Warner Bros. Pictures
19. Ken’s black fringe cowboy shirt
Image: Pinterest · Barbie, Warner Bros. Pictures
20. Gloria’s lilac suit
Image: Pinterest · Barbie, Warner Bros. Pictures
21. Gloria’s floral blouse
Image: Pinterest · Barbie, Warner Bros. Pictures
How to wear Barbiecore today
Pick one shade of pink and go head to toe, or keep it to a single piece, like a gingham dress or a pink blazer, with white or denim. Add matching accessories, because in Barbieland nothing is accidental. For a grown-up take, finish like Barbie does at the end of the film: jeans, a blazer and comfortable shoes.
Frequently asked questions
Who designed the costumes in Barbie?
Jacqueline Durran, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for the film.
What is Barbiecore?
A trend for bright pink, playful, doll-like clothes and accessories that peaked with the release of the film in 2023.
Who plays Barbie and Ken?
Margot Robbie plays Barbie and Ryan Gosling plays Ken. America Ferrera plays Gloria, Issa Rae plays President Barbie and Kate McKinnon plays Weird Barbie.
Images are embedded from Pinterest and remain the property of their owners. Barbie © Warner Bros. Pictures / Mattel.
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