Costume Design in Barbie 2023
Unless you just woke up from a coma, then you must have experienced the hype around the film Barbie (2023). The film about the fabulous Barbie doll was always meant to be extremely glamorous and naturally, very, very pink.
In this article, we will break down the top outfits worn by the actors in the Barbie film and on the red carpet, along with some words on the film’s costume designer, and how the film overall inspired many fashion brands to release their own Barbie collections.
The Designer
Let’s start with the mastermind behind the gorgeous outfits we see in the film, namely Jacqueline Durran. Durran is a famous costume designer, having worked on films like Atonement, Spencer, and Anna Karenina, winning an Academy Award for the latter.
She’s previously collaborated with Barbie director Greta Gerwig on Little Women (2019), and it seems like they make a good team. Durran naturally drew inspiration from iconic Barbie dolls for the film, but she interpreted them in her own way, and also used clues from the eras they were manufactured for the materials and designs she created.
Film Outfits
If the trailer didn’t make you excited about costume design, we don’t know what will. Let’s break down some of the best outfits in the film.
The flashiest outfits are those worn by Barbie and Ken as they’re roller-skating in Venice Beach. The neon leotards feature a print which was directly taken from the doll Hot Skatin’ Barbie (1994). Durran said that she loved the retro design, and that she had to make Margot and Ryan stand out in Venice Beach, which is quite the task.
Durran also completely recreated two obscure outfits for the two intentionally obscured characters of Allan and Midge; a beach outfit for Allan from his first appearance in Mattel, and a purple pregnancy dress for Midge. Allan was meant to be Ken’s best friend, and then became Midge’s husband. Midge in her turn was discontinued because parents complained about having a pregnant Barbie-world doll.
Durran has also worked with actors on their costumes. A famous example is Issa Rae, who plays President Barbie, and the gorgeous ball gown we see her wear in the film, which combines light pink tulle and a corset embroidered with golden details.
Speaking about gold, we had to mention Barbie’s jumpsuit. While not inspired by a specific doll, Durran said that she found lots of gold in past Barbie dolls and mixed that in with classic disco jumpsuit designs from the 1960’s and 1970’s.
Ken’s jumpsuit was similarly fashioned after an outfit from the era, but Durran mentions how hard it was to find the proper fabric and make a dozen of these suits as all Kens in the scene wear one.
Outfits on the Red Carpet
Barbie came alive not only in the film, but also on the red carpet. Fans of the film were overjoyed to see Margot Robbie sport pink outfit after pink outfit while promoting the film around the world, so let’s break down the outfits that the public liked the best.
The top place, as shown by numerous reaction videos, goes to the baby pink dress Robbie wore for the London premiere. The dress was made in the studio of the late British designer Vivienne Westwood and represents a long pink satin gown with a train and tulle details, modelled after Enchanting Evening Barbie (1990).
Naturally, the film had to also pay homage to the best-selling Barbie ever, or Totally Hair Barbie (1992). Designer Emilio Pucci recreated the short print dress, while Margot donned Manolo Blahnik’s and a Chanel bag.
Another perfect translation from a Barbie doll was the dress Robbie wore for the LA premiere. Modelled after the 1960 Barbie ‘Solo in the Spotlight’, the black dress, created by Schiaparelli Haute Couture, was a dramatic look with its mermaid silhouette, opera gloves and handkerchief.
We can speak of Margot Robbie’s red carpet looks all day, but since we can’t describe each one, you can take a look at the collection here.
Barbie in the Real World
Barbie goes to the real world in the film, and also outside of it. There are now numerous brands which offer their own take on the iconic doll and the film, so we should discuss them.
First and foremost, comes Mattel which naturally offers Barbie dolls based on the highly-anticipated film. You can buy four different Margot Robbie’s Barbies, two different Ryan Gosling’s Kens, Issa Rae’s Barbie, Simu Liu’s Ken, and America Ferrara’s Gloria doll.
In terms of fashion, we have the Spanish powerhouse ZARA and their Barbie collection. You can find clothes really similar to those from the film such as Barbie’s white and pink checkered dress or her pink cowboy outfit.
Other fashion brands which have Barbie collections are Asos, Boohoo, Primark, and GAP. However, the clothes are not exactly based on those from the film, rather they feature the Barbie logo, along with pictures of Barbies, and they come in all variations of pink.
Aldo has also partnered with Barbie to bring you an unforgettable collection of shoes, handbags and accessories. The items are mainly inspired by iconic Barbie dolls and the early 2000’s, so get ready for a lot of bling!