Barbiecore and the hot pink that the doll loves is taking over fashion and pop culture. We ask the ones who wear it and those who know fashion to tell us why like Aerosmith in 1997, we are obsessed with pink again
Siddharth Batra
When acclaimed director Greta Gerwig, known for her delicate yet strong portrayal of women in movies such as Lady Bird and Frances Ha, gives her nod to that doll we all had and loved—Barbie—then you know the world is changing.
It could be the attention generated by the upcoming movie—with Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling playing Ken—that spotlights Barbiecore; Or that in 2022, embracing pink in all its glory is a sign of true wokeness.
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The Barbiecore aesthetic—described as bodycon silhouettes, cropped tops, miniskirts, statement platforms and dopamine-boosting colours and prints, primarily in hot pink—is making itself felt. With collaborations such as Balmain x Barbie and Zara x Barbie, Valentino leading with its monochrome collection for A/W 22/23, and with other taste-making brands such as Balenciaga, Jacquemus, and Loewe’s odes to it, the trend is seeping into mainstream narrative. Celebrities ranging from Kim Kardashian, Zendaya and Lizzo to Florence Pugh, Lil Nas X and Harry Styles, and closer home, Ranveer Singh, have shown how to do it right.
It’s also about nostalgia and Y2K fashion made popular by movies such as Clueless and made endearing by characters such as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. As trend forecasting site WGSN said in a blog post, “For young women, it’s about flipping the male gaze on its head, reclaiming and challenging the bimbo aesthetic, and showing that intellect and sensuality can go hand in hand. It challenges victim-blaming culture, reinforcing the message that the problem with unwanted sexual advances isn’t what someone wears; it’s the harassers. It’s seen by many as a new form of feminism and an unapologetic way of being ‘feminine’, rewriting the rules and shifting biases. For young men, it’s about self expression, embracing their true selves even if it goes against societal norms. It taps into the soft masculinity aesthetic made more mainstream by the likes of Harry Styles.”
Two hard-core Barbiecore lovers tell us why pink is a way of life.
‘It’s a very fluid approach to fashion’
Siddharth Batra, Fashion influencer
Batra, who gives all the feels in his flowy, colourful, gender-fluid outfits on Instagram, could be India’s answer to Harry Styles. He is unafraid, and unapologetic, and it’s truly a treat to watch him.
On Barbiecore: I’m honestly not big on brackets or trends, but I love that Barbiecore follows a very fluid approach to fashion, with respect to colours and energy. And that’s what I resonate most with. Anything frantic, dramatic, eccentric and fun is my style, so Barbiecore feels close to home.
On following its principles: I’m Libran, I enjoy change; I easily get bored. Menswear in India is very limited, so I began experimenting and shopping from the women’s section. That was my first tryst with fluid dressing, and the more fun side of fashion.
There has been no looking back. I’ve always known no rules, whether pink, prints or “feminine styles”… I see it all as one spectrum. I don’t follow Barbiecore because it’s a trend, I follow what comes naturally to me—fluid, fun fashion. And that’s the essence of Barbiecore anyway. Pink, in particular, makes me happy. It best defines my current state.
On using it as a tool to express his sensitivity: What I wear is less a medium of self-expression and more a state of mind. On some days, I tuck my shirt in to feel more confident; on other days, it’s half-tucked to feel better about a work argument. I colour-block pop tones to hide my emotions, or contrast crazy prints to accompany my burning anxiety. There’s no one reason why my fashion is crazy; it has different meanings on different days. But all aim to make me feel better about myself every day.
On why it speaks to men: We’re in a time where everyone wants something unique… something that takes your mind off mundane life. We’ve all dealt with a lot of gloom in the past two to three years, and everyone wants to have some fun. More importantly, more and more public figures and brands are accepting eccentricity and pretty-in-pink dressing as normalcy. It had to trickle down to everyone!
‘It amplifies my personality’
Pics/Satej Shinde
Sakshi Rawte, Beauty writer
Rawte, who was a tomboy in school, has realised that pink and Barbiecore goes best with her personality. She’s all about putting herself out there.
On Barbiecore: I didn’t even know it existed until a few months ago. Now, it’s a way to express myself in a way I wasn’t able to do while growing up. I was a tomboy, so I didn’t like to dress in Y2k fashion; I didn’t own a single pink item. I am going back to my childhood, and dealing with it as a 24-year-old, and it’s not a phase. It’s like having my personality amplified, and assigning a colour to it.
On how it started: My idol Megan Fox wore an asymmetrical pink top with a bright pink latex skirt. This was even before the Valentino pink. I decided to do something risky—I went to Zara, and bought a pink dress. And I realised it looked great on me—pink makes you stand out.
How it helps self-expression: It tells everyone I am okay with putting myself out there. I am vibrant, and an extrovert. My clothes have become conversation starters.
The fashion brigade speaks
Charu Gaur, Editor, Runway Square
Barbiecore is giving into our childhood obsession, and being absolutely shameless and owning pink. It echoes the gaudiness of the dolls, and looks great editorially or on the red carpet. I don’t know what I would say if everyone on the street wore it, though.
Eka Lekhani, who styled Ranveer Singh in pink
I feel Barbiecore is a very fantastical and liberating aesthetic. It’s vibrant, it’s bright, it’s happy, an instant mood booster, a statement. It’s about embracing vibrant hues to match a vibrant energy. Hot pink, specifically, helps embrace femininity with confidence in the most empowering way. Pink is not a colour, it’s an emotion... and there’s nothing sexier and more attractive than a man showcasing his emotion head to toe. Ranveer owned it, ruled it and slayed!
Sujata Assomull, Journalist and author
I think it’s trending because of the movie, but Barbiecore has also captured the spirit of the moment. It holds a lot of nostalgia, and we want to feel comfortable. It’s also an interesting time where we are all questioning gender, and what being a woman or man is. It has come at a time when women are challenging what being feminine is. It could be seen as anti-feminist but we are embracing it. The colour has come back, and like always, it packs shock value, and people want to be noticed. It’s bold, it’s very friendly to pictures and social media... if you wear pink, you’re part of this tribe.
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