July 23, 2023
To pay honor to Barbie herself and how she’s shaped fashion for us over time and as of recently, as well as to help keep every Barbie like you (and Ken) in the know! You will find an extensive dive into the designs and thought processes of the stylists behind the Barbie press tour and movie premier looks, along with the history of the specific Barbie references made throughout including some of our personal favorites. note: this will have absolutely no movie spoilers for our friends who haven't seen it yet.
With the new Barbie movie that came out on July 21, 2023. We could not help but notice all the different nods to Barbie history dating all the way back to 1959. Starting with the press tour in particular we’ve taken a deep dive into the various fashion history archives touched upon and are tickled pink to share with you everything we’ve found!
With the dedicated hard work and help of her stylist Andrew Mukamal, Margot Robbie's influential "Barbie" style has included references that draw inspiration from pieces different Barbie dolls have worn over the years, to runway looks inspired by the Barbie brand. “While eagle-eyed fashion-lovers were keen on picking up the high-end designer cues from the duo, it was devotees of the iconic doll that the fashionable pair wanted to honor, alongside Barbie’s decades-spanning style history,” said Robbie, 33, for People magazine.
Andrew is a Fashion Stylist, Brand Consultant, and Web Personality.He is most known for his daily video blog “Today’s Look” where he streamlines the world of fashion into a conversation. He is 33 and was born in New York and studied at the University of Virginia. Mukamel spent months pulling from the archives of both Chanel and Versace. He also had brands like Valentino and Hérve Léger make custom replicas of iconic Barbie outfits dating back over 60 years.
To start with Margot Robbie’s press tour we will look at something a bit different from what everyone is now referring to as “Barbie core”. Robbie wore a black-and-whtie striped Hérve Léger bandage dress to pay homage to the Original 1959 Barbie’s swimsuit, a variation of the same swimsuit worn in the movie.
The look is styled with white framed sunglasses and a wavy ponytail to reference the Original Barbie. Hervé Léger, shared a sketch of the inspired design on social media, captioning it, "It’s Barbie's world, we just live in it."
Margot Robbie attended the "Barbie" London premiere in a custom Vivienne Westwood look inspired by the 1960 doll "Enchanted Evening" Barbie.
Wearing a light pink dress with a corseted bodice and long train by Vivienne Westwood Couture, paired with long satin gloves and matching white shawl, this is definitely one of our personal favorite Barbie references and arguably one of the most prominent design references on the tour in relation to how in sync Robbie was with Enchanted Evening Barbie herself.
Featuring a flower embellishment on the left side of the waist, above the train a small Easter egg can be found of Vivienne Westwood's classic planet Jupiter silver and diamond encrusted broach as a token to honor the late/great designer.
Robbie wore a floral skirt-and-jacket set, paired by a faux-fur purse and matching fur covered heels.
Among the many memorable moments in the Barbie movie trailer - her character stepping out of her pink, rhinestone Manolo sandals while maintaining the doll’s arched feet stuck out most with fans. As a result, Robbie has been wearing almost exclusively Manolo Blahnik heels on her press tour while promoting the film. On this day in London however, Robbie’s stylist switched things up with a pair of Vivienne Westwood platforms finished in fur and matching briefcase bag.
The Brocade skirt set had so many fine details from the floral embroidery, metallic piping and pink lace grommets, however it was her coordinated accessories that drew our attention. The heels’s bubblegum pink patent leather is pulled together with the fur to create something that nods towards the fluffy shoe moment in the trailer, but is more hefty and edgier. Another easter egg, a pearl anklet, complete with a rhinestone Jupiter Vivienne Westwood logo, completed the somewhat kitschy additions. The overall effect was effortlessly cool yet camp.
One of Robbie’s press looks for the London press events was inspired by the scarlet swimsuit from the "Bubble Cut" Barbie released in 1962.
Margot wore a custom red satin mini corset dress, featuring a flattering boned bodice and lace up back. A design by Dilaria Findikoglu, an emerging turkish-british designer.
The goal of this look was to recreate the strapless trumpet gown, peep-toe heels, gloves and diamond choker on the original “Solo in the Spotlight” doll from 1960.
The Solo in the Spotlight look was the first time on the red carpet side of the press tour that Margot wore something that was not all pink.
A black sequined Schiaparelli Haute Couture custom-made gown by designer Daniel Roseberry. The form-fitting, hand-beaded black dress featured a red rosette at the calf and a tulle hem that fanned straight out for maximum drama, paired with long black gloves and a pink chiffon handkerchief, just like the 1960 doll. However it was truly Lorraine Schwartz’ diamond necklace and accessories that solidified this look as a total showstopper.
The diamond choker style necklace pictured was over 350 carats, with Robbies earrings being 19 carat and the accompanying ring sitting at 10-carats.
Robbie’s look for these stunning press photos was inspired by the “Earring Magic” Barbie from 1992. In this neon pink full sleeve minidress a boned corset matches the doll’s sculpted bodice made custom by Balmain, the look was matched with a chunky dangling chain belt and metallic star-shaped earrings. With a slightly different hairstyle making the look a bit more modern.
Margot channeled the “Totally Hair Barbie” from 1992 for press photos in Mexico City on July 7. Crimped hair that went almost to the floor was what this doll was known for and was the main calling card of this 1992 doll. A mass of crimped extensions by Robbie’s hair stylist Bryce Scarlett was paired with a multicolored retro printed dress designed by Emilio Pucci in honor of Totally Hair Barbie, a pair of pink Manolo Blahnik pumps, and a light pink Chanel bag with Taffin jewelry.
It’s in the name! This 2015 Pink and Fabulous Barbie doll was brought to life with a custom hot pink and polka-dot Valentino dress with a center cut-out and a yellow handbag that’s nearly identical to the doll version. Accessories included Pearl Assael jewelry, white Manolo Blahnik pumps and a sweet pink ride.
Margot’s custom Valentino dress was the designer's remake of one that Karen Mulder wore on the brand’s Spring/Summer 1993 runway.
Karen Mulder along with other legendary models Claudia Schiffer and Naomi Campbell both were given Barbie doll versions of themselves the following year in 1994 with only a limited batch produced.
At the South Korean premiere of "Barbie" in Seoul on July 2, Robbie channeled the Day to Night Barbie from 1985 in custom signature hot pink Versace looks. Robbie wore two looks in one night: First, a Versace white and pink blazer and skirt set with matching boater hat with polka dot hat belt, matching heels, handbag and a Judith Leiber Couture clutch shaped like a replica brick cell phone, just like the Day to Night Barbie.
The “night” look featured a prom-ready pink Versace dress with a sparkling bodice and tulle skirt tied at the waist with matching hot pink jeweled handbag.
In Sydney, Robbie wore a shimmering Versace mini dress. This Barbie was ready to party. German supermodel of the ’90s Claudia Schiffer was yet another dead ringer for Barbie, and this disco-esque chain mail look straight from the 1994 Versace archives, originally worn by Schiffer, had us seeing double. Margot Robbie wearing F/W ‘94 Gianni Versace, also worn by Claudia Schiffer.
Again in Seoul, Robbie referenced another Barbie from the past. At a press conference the actress paid homage to the 1964 'Sparkling Pink' version of the doll. In sartorial tribute, Robbie wore a matching structured jacket and mini skirt set, with a matching pillbox hat, all of which were embellished and bejewled.
The look was from the barbie inspired Moschino's SS15 Ready-to-wear collection, and the most important feature was her super nostalgic (and now trendy) heart-shaped bag.
Margot Robbie wore a Pink Barbie-esque tweed Blazer from Chanel’s Spring 1996 Collection
Margot was seen in Sydney airport on her way to the Barbie Vogue red carpet press release wearing a pink tweed blazer sourced from Chanel’s Spring/Summer 1996 collection.
The tweed garment was originally worn by Claudia Schiffer on the Chanel RTW runway, which then creative director Karl Lagerfeld styled with a cropped white T-shirt and beige trousers.
Robbie was the last Channel Ambassador to be named by karl before passing in 2019. Lagerfeld is known for having not liked pink, famously saying “Think pink, but don't wear it.” We think you should do both.
The jaw dropping look, which consisted of a cropped pink cable knit roll neck, a metallic pleated pink skirt, rolled-up lilac socks paired blue Versace loafer heels, was also famously worn by supermodel Cindy Crawford for a 90s Gianni Versace campaign. The shot of Cindy alongside fellow supermodels Claudia Schiffer and Christy Turlington is one of the most recognisable in the canon of fashion and a clear image on how stylists find their inspiration by pulling from various archives.
Robbie wore a pink gingham checked bralette top with a black scalloped ribbon draped across the top and a matching mini skirt, both from Prada. The set, as described on the Prada website, was “inspired by the aesthetics of vintage Tyrolean clothing in addition to a retro mood." On her feet were a pair of matching pink Christian Louboutin high-heel mules.
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