What is Barbiecore? Celeb stylists explain the fashion trend and share their favorite pieces

Arguably the world’s most popular doll, Barbie transcends the realm of your typical boxed toys played with as a kid. From Mattel’s childhood-defining animated film series to Aqua’s smash hit song, Barbie’s luscious blond locks and pink wardrobe have graced every corner of pop culture for decades. Unsurprisingly, an entirely new aesthetic made in the iconic figurine’s image has been circulating the fashion world online and on runways for the past year now: Barbiecore.

With Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated “Barbie” film set to hit theaters in just a few days, Barbiecore has resurged in popularity, eclipsing the typical lifespan of a fleeting microtrend or brief internet fad. But in addition to the film’s imminent release, stylists and influencers alike attribute Barbiecore’s extended reign to themes of nostalgia and, not coincidentally, Barbie’s own timeless motto: “You can be anything.”

What is Barbiecore?

Visually, the epitome of the Barbiecore fashion trend is none other than the color pink. Whether a soft, dusty-rose tint or a vibrant fuchsia hue, variations of the color paint in feminine silhouettes, matching sets, accessories galore, bedazzled embellishments and playful, flirty patterns.

“Barbiecore to me is all about having fun with prints, textures, accessories, not being afraid of a monochromatic look and bright colors,” describes stylist Maher Jridi, who frequently styles Nicki Minaj, a modern-day Barbie herself.

But Barbiecore’s unapologetically feminine style also evokes a crucial element of empowerment and authenticity when it comes to expressing oneself through clothing.

Influencer Dove Clarke embodies the ethos of Barbiecore. Her signature ultra-femme style that has captivated her 154.4K fans on TikTok is heavily inspired by the iconic blond bombshell’s shamelessly bold style and has even led to the creation of her own clothing line, Entinge.

“I can be wearing feminine clothing and be as masculine as I want to. It doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, this is me. I am more than just the clothes that I’m in. There is more to me as a person, and Barbiecore is a fun invitation into that world,” says Clarke.

Stylist and The Face magazine junior fashion editor Borys Korban agrees: “Barbiecore to me is not so much about the hot pink but more so about being feminine and embracing your feminine features — whether you have them or not,” he says. “It’s just like owning that and feeling sexy in whatever you wear.”

Where did Barbiecore come from?

Barbiecore’s explosion of pink and sparkly details directly mirror the resurgence of Y2K style that has taken fashion by storm in recent years. Think bleach-blond Paris Hilton circa 2006 frolicking from club to club in a pink party top, Elle Woods arriving at Harvard in her pink leather pantsuit or the infamous Regina George in “Mean Girls” strutting her high school’s halls boasting a matching pink skirt and top set.

“I think the whole Y2K trend has very much to do with Barbiecore, just in its own way. Whether it’s the miniskirt or the minidresses, wearing big sunglasses — I think that was basically Barbiecore,” says Korban.

Fashion trends often employ nostalgia for certain decades such as the early aughts to emote a collective yearning for the past, perhaps “simpler times.” Like a pendulum, “fashion trends are cyclical,” says Jridi. And it looks as though the direction fashion has swung in 2023 is toward the youthful lightheartedness of Barbiecore — a reaction to the past few years’ distressing international events.

“Recent events such as the pandemic, lockdowns, social and economical crisis had a huge impact on the population,” continues Jridi, “and I feel like people now want to get out of that dark phase and have fun with their looks, dress up more, wear more vibrant colors and go a little further with their accessories and beauty choices.”

Of course, it’s impossible to trace Barbiecore’s origins without mentioning Valentino’s Pink PP collection, which skyrocketed Barbiecore into high fashion territory. For the fashion house’s Fall/Winter 2022 show, creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli sent models down the runway decked out in monochrome, hot pink looks. Celebrities like Florence Pugh, Anne Hathaway and Lizzo subsequently donned coveted pieces from the influential collection to their respective 2022 red-carpet events, further catalyzing the nostalgia-coated Barbiecore craze.

Barbiecore today

As of summer 2023, Barbiecore has blossomed into a pretty-in-pink synthesis of nostalgic references to the past and echoes of Barbie’s own “You can be anything” philosophy. From Margot Robbie’s viral modern-day takes of archival Barbie doll looks worn throughout the film’s press tour to the sneak peeks of the cast clad in historical Barbie references that millions have glimpsed in the trailers, it’s clear that Gerwig’s film is already generating ample Barbiecore inspiration for anyone who wants to take a stab at authentically emulating Barbie’s bold style.

“Ultimately, the question is if you feel hot, and it doesn’t matter whether you’re wearing a pink bra or whether you’re wearing a long dress — as long as you feel good. To me, that’s Barbiecore,” says Korban.

Stylist Marissa Pelly, along with Jridi, shared the same sentiments as Korban when they styled Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj, respectively, for the “Barbie World” music video. The video was a sea of pink couture pieces and glitzy designer accessories that accommodated each musician’s distinct sense of style, yet maintained Barbiecore’s inherent flamboyance.

“I wanted to envision Ice as a Barbie and what her doll might wear. It was super important to me to check every box with custom pieces — we had our classic matching set moment, our luxury archival moment, our high-cut one-piece moment — all with Ice’s Y2K twist,” says Pelly.

See below for our experts’ top Barbiecore pieces and our own top picks, too.

Barbiecore dresses

Barbiecore tops and bottoms

Barbiecore shoes

Barbiecore accessories