Barbie is back. Whilst minimalist and maximalist trends have battled for this season’s crown, the emergence of Barbiecore has proved naysayers wrong; pink is in. In the contemporary fashion world, jewel toned shades have been consigned to fashion hell (in favour of pastels and varying shades of beige). However, this summer has seen an explosion of magenta, and the reemergence of Barbie as a fashion icon.
Celebrities including Lizzo, Anne Hathaway, Millie Mackintosh, and more have embraced ultra feminine, all-pink looks. In July, Florence Pugh donned a cerise pink gown at Valentino’s Haute Couture show. Princess Olympia of Greece, a longtime fan of the shade, has featured in pink-hued campaigns for Louis Vuitton.
Barbiecore is the latest “core” aesthetic, which refers to trends that are sensationalised by teenagers or young adults on TikTok or Instagram. On TikTok, the hashtag #barbiecore has received over seventeen million views. Instagram reels from high fashion influencers such as Leonne Hanne and Caroline Daur featured a medley of pink-hued outfits. While last summer’s cottagecore embraced rural simplicity, Barbiecore encapsulates vividity and independence. Since its conception in 1959, Barbie has defined what it means to be feminine, transforming into a staple brand and inspiring generations of fashion-forward women. Barbie’s slogan “girls can do anything” and her prevalence in pop culture has solidified the relevance the iconic brand. However, in recent decades, Barbie has become obsolete in an era of feminism, androgyny and neutral tones.
However, an immutable fact of fashion is that everything old can be made new again. From the nineties-inspired low waisted jeans to eighties tie dye trends; fashion is travelling back in time. The rise of Glossier and Scandinavian influencers like Matilda Djerf had relegated hot pink to the noughties; a relic often associated with Paris Hilton and peroxide blonde hair. However, TikTok has become a stream of neon and pink due to the highly anticipated 2023 Barbie remake, directed by Greta Gerwig. 2022 is the new 2002. In recent years, monochrome and neutrals have dominated the fashion industry; and as Y2K has made an unexpected comeback, it was only a matter of time before hot pink appeared on the runways. In March, during Paris Fashion Week, Valentino unveiled a host of dazzling pink designs. In fact, Mashable journalist Meera Navkhla theorised that Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Piccoli was responsible for the proliferation of Barbiecore. Prada and Versace have embraced pink in a similar fashion; with neon pink pieces sprinkled across their latest collections.
While the recent rise of Barbiecore has been well documented, not everyone wants to dive headfirst into all things pink. Incorporating feminine accessories, like bows, skirts and ballerina pumps into your outfits is an easier way to explore the trend. Millennial pink and watermelon hues have carved their way into most of our wardrobes, so don’t be afraid to play with colours. While Barbiecore has gained prominence due to its use of electrifying pink, and eclectic outfits; at its core (excuse the pun), it’s about feeling confident in your femininity. Since 2010, runways have been dominated by neutral tones and “business casual” has become the height of sophistication. Fashion has lost its playfulness, and the reemergence of Y2K colour palettes and Barbiecore may be the change we need.
