The Rise of Barbiecore
Pink! It’s been considered the color of the summer. But why is this color suddenly extremely popular again? It is all thanks to Barbiecore and Barbie the Movie coming out this summer.
There’s been a lot of excitement in the air for the movie of the summer. Releasing the same day as Oppenheimer, a much darker set-in-reality film, Barbie, with its fantasy world and lighter tone, is competing with the help of many childhood fans to stay on top as the movie of the summer. Based on social media trends, we can gander that Barbie will be the movie of the summer.
Sophie Mirotznik (23), a Barbie movie fan, says social media played a large role in why she is planning to watch the movie. According to her, “It was a huge influence. I probably wouldn’t even watch the movie in theaters if I hadn’t seen it online as much. The clips from the trailer that people post with their opinions on it, the ones I can remember are Barbie floating down from her house and being at the beach with Ken.”
The chatter among fans on social media is stirring up excitement and Barbiecore is what’s keeping fans intrigued.
The Barbiecore hashtag currently has over 385.5 million views on TikTok, with videos from “breaking down the Barbiecore trend” to “Barbiecore inspired outfits.”
With help from the movie’s lead, Margot Robbie, Barbiecore has taken off all over the internet. Margot’s iconic Barbie fashion has been seen both on and off screen. Fans knew to expect Barbie’s signature style in the movie but were pleasantly surprised to see Margot has taken a liken to wear her version of Barbiecore to red carpets and press activities.
But what is Barbiecore? Well, it takes direct inspiration from Barbie’s chic, fabulous, and pink world. There are a lot of nostalgic elements with over-the-top looks from the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s which is why Barbiecore is so popular now with most fashion trends today taking inspiration from the 90s and early 2000s.
Feminine silhouettes and monochromatic looks define the Barbie look. Matching pink accessories are a great way to connect with your inner Barbie. Think of matching bags with shoes and hair accessories.
Pink has also seen a resurgence in popularity. The trend, however, didn’t start this summer. It’s been on the rise since early 2022 with the Valentino Fall/Winter 2022 show in March, where the models dawned all pink looks showing off the signature Valentino hot pink. Celebrities from Lizzo to Sebastian Stan have rocked the red carpet in Valentino pink looks, increasing its popularity over the last year. Since then, there has been a steady increase in pink/Barbiecore looks from online to in-person.
Since the release of the Barbie trailer, we have seen many brand collaborations along with it. From official Barbie makeup collaborations with brands like NYX Professional Makeup to Barbie-themed Xbox consoles and controllers to hot pink Barbie luggage with the brand Beis Travel, new brand collaborations are being introduced every day leading up to the release of the movie.
The music collaborations have also been incredibly influential and exciting among fans. Barbie’s most anticipated collaboration has been with rapper, Nicki Minaj, who, since the beginning of her career, has referred to her fans as the “Barbz”, referring to Barbie herself.
Along with many other famous musicians, such as Dua Lipa, Charli XCX, and Karol G, to name a few, Nicki Minaj will be releasing a collaboration with Ice Spice and the original song’s creator, Aqua, for the official Barbie soundtrack. The song is titled Barbie World. This updated version is said to match perfectly with the live-action in Barbie.
According to Grace Kimmons, a fellow Barbie movie fan, “The song Barbie World by Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice is very catchy and includes samples of the original and well-known Barbie [Girl] World song from the late 90s. The combination of the popularity of the artist, as well as the familiarity of the song, make for a very successful marketing choice.”
As we get closer to the release date, expect to see more Barbie collaborations, as well as more Barbiecore-inspired looks and trends on social media.
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is set to release July 21, 2023, with a stacked cast, featuring Margot Robbie playing one of the many Barbies and Ryan Gosling playing one of many Kens.
