Impossible to escape this summer, the Barbiecore trend has taken over stores and social media. From fashion to decoration, music, and of course, cinema, it represents an entire lifestyle. Let’s take a look back at this phenomenon, whose success in 2022 has been confirmed in the summer of 2023.

One of the most anticipated films of the year, “Barbie,” was released in theaters on Wednesday, July 19th. Fully immersed in their characters, actors Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, who play Barbie and Ken, stole the show during premieres worldwide, donning increasingly original outfits, perfectly embodying the Barbiecore spirit. While the film significantly contributed to the trend’s success, it was not the triggering factor.

“The fashion phenomenon gained momentum since Valentino’s Fall 2022 runway show, presented in March. Nicknamed ‘Valentino Pink PP’ after the creative director of the fashion house, Pierpaolo Piccioli, stars have been seen wearing it everywhere, from red carpets to festival stages,” explains People magazine. Valentino, a pioneer of this trend, is also affirmed by Vogue France: “While Barbie pink may be everywhere right now, the perfect shade belongs to Pierpaolo Piccioli, as far as the fashion world is concerned. Valentino’s artistic director dedicated his entire Fall-Winter 2022-2023 collection to bright pink, developed in collaboration with Pantone. From coats to pants and shoes… Everything was pink (…) It’s the perfect pink for the #Barbiecore look, as proven by the countless stars who wore pieces from the collection.”

A symbol of optimism in a gloomy period, the trend emerged just after the health crisis, at that moment when the world was bidding farewell to confinement. After months of prioritizing the comfort of homewear, it was necessary to rethink one’s wardrobe. With its colorful and vintage touches, the Barbiecore trend presents itself as a glimmer of hope and optimism, a way to believe in a better future. The Russo-Ukrainian conflict and the energy crisis haven’t really improved the situation, so this trend endures.

Pink, but not only, Barbie is above all a committed figure.

The new trend is also an opportunity to delve into the origins of Barbie, the real one. In an interview with 20Minutes, Richard Dickson, Vice President of Mattel and in charge of Barbie‘s global development, explains the company’s vision behind the famous doll: “At Mattel, we believe it’s much more than just a trend. As you may have noticed, Barbie has evolved over the years to become an icon of pop culture that truly represents the message of empowerment we want to convey to little girls, inspiring them to become fulfilled and accomplished women.” It is a rather feminist commitment, as confirmed by an investigation by Time Magazine: “With Barbie, Handler* created a doll that allowed little girls to embody their dreams of the future, whether it be becoming an astronaut, doctor, or model. And she had the clothes to go with it. (…) The Barbiecore as we know it was born with the rise of celebrities (…) such as Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, and Britney Spears, whose outfits, meticulously covered by tabloids, were hyper-feminine and often pink or sparkly (…) Pop stars have contributed to the rise of this trend, from the hyper-feminine style of Ariana Grande, which can be attributed to Barbie, to rapper Nicki Minaj, who has embodied the doll since 2010.”

Nicki Minaj, whose collaboration with Ice Spice on a revamped version of Aqua’s iconic song “Barbie World” has amassed 33 million views on Youtube currently. Meanwhile, the hashtag #Barbiecore has gathered over 600 million views on Tiktok.

Many brands have also capitalized on the comeback of the trend: Zara, H&M, Boohoo, and Balmain, among others.

*Ruth Handler, the creator of Barbie.