When Barbie Takes Over: The Return of Pink Fashion Trends Thanks to the Blockbuster Movie
Greta Gerwig’s new movie, Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, has caused the fashion world to embrace pink more than it has since the reign of Paris Hilton in the early aughts. Barbie has always been an icon as one of the most successful toys throughout generations. However, Gerwig’s new movie has taken Barbie from a cute kid’s toy to a global aesthetic taking over the internet and fashion world.
Barbie is far from the only movie to use the color pink as a theme and staple. Pink is practically a leading character in films like Legally Blonde, Steel Magnolias, and Pretty in Pink. However, none of these movies set the internet ablaze in a bright, pink glow like the Barbie movie. The cheerful color is also seeping into the real world. The Barbie movie was nothing but a rumor until the final weeks of 2022 when the official announcement was made.
Waking Up to a Pink Internet
Many people online across multiple social platforms, including Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, and TikTok, are rifling through their closets to find any scraps of pink they can, and others are running to their favorite stores to pick up stunning new pink clothes.
In 2023, Robbie stepped out in her first all-pink outfit to promote the movie, sparking a 416% increase in searches for pink clothing on TikTok. Searches for pink mini dresses increased by 970% and pink swimsuits by 682% following the Barbie trailer release. Needless to say, this movie is more than a blockbuster film; it has become a massive influence on the world of fashion in 2023.
All of this is to celebrate and embrace “Barbie Summer,” which is the fun label given to the summer of 2023 because of the obsession with the movie. In 2019, we had “Hot Girl Summer,” thanks to Megan Thee Stallion. Now, we get “Barbie Summer!” The internet is now painted in Barbie Pink, from handbag subreddits to fashion forums to recipe blogs to interior design posts to car fanatic spaces.
Paint Every Corner of the World Pink
Three of the five fastest-rising colors at the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 were a shade of pink, according to Catwalk Analytics: Print & Colour, including bright pink, medium pink, and pastel pink, showing the movie’s immediate impact.
Upscale fashion designers are also embracing the color on the catwalk, infusing the industry with this extravagant but playful shade. Most notably, Valentino’s latest collection for Fall and Winter 2022 and 2023 is unapologetically hot pink. Even the runway and the entire room for the collection’s show was a supremely punchy shade of bright pink that overwhelms but also tickles the senses. The luxury brand has taken it a step further, washing its website in hot pink.
Top designers Eckhaus Latta, Lanvin, Dolce & Gabbana, Loewe, Molly Goddard, Emilia Wickstead, Eudon Choi, GCDS, Michael Kors, and Richard Quinn also boarded the pink train for some 2023 runway shows. This joyful color is inescapable in the fashion world right now.
Even Apple seems to be making use of the trend, as rumors swirl surrounding the possibility of their next-gen phone being available in the hot Barbie pink shade everyone loves.
High schoolers are opting for hot pink prom dresses, people are sporting vivacious pink scrunchies, and fuchsia is one of the most popular nail colors right now. The most successful categories for hyper pink include jumpsuits, trousers, and sleepwear.
The love for pink has trickled down from high-end designers to the fast fashion brands like Shein, Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, and more, as pink crop tops, mini dresses, bags, heels, and everything in between pop up on the front page of their sites.
All Dolled Up for the Barbiecore Aesthetic
One of the most impressive examples of the hold the aesthetic has on people and its direct connection to Gerwig’s film is how everyone is dressing to the nines for the world premiere of the movie. Many are heading to the theaters, Barbie tickets in hand, dressed in hot pink from head to toe. These movie theater premiere outfits take the aesthetic from something playful to look at online to a real-world trend.
The rise of the Barbiecore aesthetic began with Margot Robbie’s first appearance after being cast as Barbie in the movie. Moreover, every time the beautiful Australian steps out in a new Barbie-inspired outfit, the aesthetic only becomes more popular.
The immense popularity of pink and the Barbiecore aesthetic can be traced back to the clever and calculated efforts of the Barbie marketing and press team. The Barbiecore tag on TikTok has more than 500 million views, with people seeking inspiration for their own Barbie looks or just admiring other people’s creativity with pink.
The Pink Fever Can’t Last Forever, Can It?
The color pink has always represented a significant percentage of women’s clothing, but the hyper-pink associated with Barbie is a different story. This intense shade of pink had its moment due to all the excitement surrounding the movie, but trends suggest that retailers should pivot away from this bright color and utilize softer, more accessible pinks.
The hype surrounding the Barbie movie has been monumental, from the vague teaser trailers to the stunning pink carpet looks to the major names starring in the movie. But how long will the love for hot pink last? Of the many hyper-pink products retailers released to capitalize on the movie’s influence, only 9% are going out of stock at full price, meaning they are being put on sale.
These downward trends suggest that pink fever will presumably die down quickly following the movie’s release. Pink outfits and aesthetics will likely remain popular throughout the summer of 2023 but fade away as fall hits. We’ll miss this pretty pink moment, but can always fondly remember the summer of ‘24 as a pink-drenched season of iconic cinema.
This article was originally produced for Wealth of Geeks.
