A uniquely vibrant, almost retina-searing shade of pink has been seen on celebrities, influencers and in stores recently, with the ‘trend’ dubbed Barbiecore – a reference to the enduring style influence of the famous doll, and her plastic fantastic world created by Mattel.
It also, coincidentally, ties in with all those paparazzi photos from the set of the upcoming Barbie film, with Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling (as Ken) wearing an array of pink and neon ‘80s costumes. I could hardly tear my eyes away from the joyful, nostalgia-tinged outfits; so is the power of pink when it’s done right.
So why hot pink, why Barbiecore, and why now? Let’s explore the trend…
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What is it?
It’d be easy to define ‘Barbiecore’ simply as “hot pink” but it’s more than just a colour. It’s pink, yes, but also a sort of saccharine more-is-more vibe.
As a trend, it’s also an amalgamation of the 1980s maximalist aesthetic and 2000s hyperrealism – an unapologetic rejection of the beige minimalism and overdone pastel millennial pink of recent years.
Local designer Juliette Hogan’s next collection, set to arrive in stores next month, features stunning hot pink, with one of the suits worn by prime minister Jacinda Ardern for an appearance on Stephen Colbert’s show earlier this year. “Hot pink brings so much joy and warmth and I feel like we all need a bit of that at the moment,” says the designer.
PM Jacinda Ardern appears on Stephen Colbert in New York on May 25, wearing a hot pink suit by NZ designer Juliette Hogan.
…okay but why?
It pops on a screen, and in real life. And from a fashion perspective, hot pink conveys optimism, confidence and fun.
If I were being over analytical about it (and I am), I would say that this is also a generation’s adult rejection of the feminist rejection of all things Barbie and the frivolity and ‘hyper femininity’ that the toy represented in the 70s, 80s and 90s.
Purely as an aesthetic, it’s also an extremely surface level, visual indicator of another pink-tinged cultural shift that’s been much talked about recently: bimbofication.
That is what i-D described last year as a reclamation of the misogynistic stereotype: “2021’s subversive bimbo defines themselves as a bimbo without adopting the original context, and as a result, they take away some of the misogynistic power with which the term was originally wielded by the patriarchy.”
I’m unconvinced that embracing and ‘reclaiming’ traditional stereotypes of ‘femininity’ is as progressive as some think (certainly not for those like me: cis, straight, blonde), though I can appreciate the layers of meaning around identity for LGBTQIA+ communities.
Courtesy Warner Bros.
Margot Robbie as Barbie in the first-look photo from the Barbie movie
Where did all this pink come from?
This shade has been around forever, but the recent resurgence can be tracked back to a few things. The excitement surrounding the Barbie film is just one of them.
Luxury brand Valentino is behind much of the hot pink we’re seeing on celebrities, the red carpet and social media, dressing a long and random list of well-known people in various fuchsia ensembles: Lizzo, Simone Ashley, Dua Lipa, Sebastian Stan, Zendaya, Billy Porter, Anne Hathaway, Glenn Close, Florence Pugh and many, many more.
In March the brand presented what it called the ‘Pink PP’ collection, which featured head-to-toe pink or black looks shown against a deep pink backdrop; a “pink-out” as they described it. The shade itself was a new one created especially for Valentino by the Pantone Colour Institute, and designed as a ‘visual shock’.
Designer Pierpaolo Piccioli told British Vogue that the shade was representative of all his hopes and dreams “and basically everything that makes me feel good”. For him pink can be delicate, sensual, hedonistic and irreverent – and a “perfect metaphor of poetry: gentleness and disruptiveness”.
“Anyone looks great in the colour, because it simply enlightens the inner power of the person wearing the look.”
The shade has a long history in high fashion, the most famous being in 1937 from the iconic surrealist designer Elsa Schiaparelli who became famous for her signature “shocking pink” shade.
She described the shade in similarly poetic terms as Valentino’s Piccioli: pink is “bright, impossible, impudent, becoming, life-giving, like all the light and the birds and the fish in the world put together”.
Who or what embodies Barbiecore?
There are certain people and things that really capture the spirit oof this aesthetic, and these are just a few of them…
Trixie Mattel
It’s in the name. The RuPaul’s Drag Race alumni is a legit Barbie collector (I highly recommend the video series of the US drag queen talking about her Barbie collection through the decades), and has released makeup collections with Barbie inspired packaging. She also just opened the pink tinged Trixie Motel in Palm Springs.
The sparkling heart emoji
Just look at it: 💖
Nicki Minaj
Her fans are called Barbz.
The Cadbury Pinky ad from the ‘80s
Elle Woods
The Legally Blonde legend explained it best when she said, “Whoever said orange was the new pink was seriously deranged.”
Expect to see and hear more from her and Reese Witherspoon, as the third film, written by Mindy Kaling, eventually makes its way to the big screen (still no word on dates for this).
Dame Joanna Lumley at her Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace
Frothy vintage cakes
This is a trend that’s been percolating overseas for a while, but has recently arrived here in New Zealand: kitschy cakes with decorative buttercream icing, that look like toys. Think of Zi Sweet, Baby Cakes and Coven Bakery.
I’m into this. How do I bring some into my life and wardrobe?
It’s very simple, doll: ditch your go-to black, and ty something in the boldest, brightest pink you can find. It might be a dress, or a pair of earrings or handbag for a subtle hint. The most important thing is to have fun, and not take it all too seriously.
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