22 July 2023, Mumbai: Costume designer Jacqueline Durran finds herself amazed by the overwhelming success of Greta Gerwig’s film “Barbie.” Among the viral sensations spawned by the movie is Barbie Core, a fashion homage to the iconic Mattel doll characterized by an abundance of pink. Embracing the trend, Durran partners with Thred
Up to promote sustainable fashion and encourage Barbie core fans to create their unique looks using thrifted vintage pieces.
Barbie Core: Beyond Pink
While the Barbie Core trend centers around the allure of pink, Jacqueline Durran emphasizes the essence lies in the creative combination of colors and concrete outfits. For Durran, it’s all about dressing up and having fun, pushing the boundaries of fashion. In her collaboration with Thred
Up, she showcases various colors, including pink, yellow, and blue, encouraging people to experiment and find their own distinct style.
Vintage Treasures for “Barbie” Stars
In “Barbie,” Jacqueline Durran showcases her love for vintage pieces, incorporating them into the wardrobe of stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. For the character Kens, vintage sportswear sourced from America adorned the beach scenes. When the supply fell short, Durran recreated the old styles in London. To build the looks for the wider Barbieland world, she drew inspiration from as far back as 1969, utilizing vintage items like jackets for pink jumpsuits.
Creating Ken-Dom Ken’s Look
In “Barbie,” the character Ken undergoes a transformation into Ken-Dom, where patriarchy reigns. To build this not-so-perfect version of Ken, Durran takes inspiration from a photo of Arnold Schwarzenegger donning a fur coat in the ’80s. The look embodies exuberance and fashion, and Ryan Gosling fully embraced the vision. Though the “fur” coat was fake, it bore a horse print lining, acknowledging Ken’s fascination with horses after visiting California.
The Spectrum of Pink in “Barbie”
Amid the abundance of pink in “Barbie,” Durran artfully balances various shades and hues. Working closely with production designer Sarah Greenwood, they matched the pinks to the environments they adorned. Whether it was the interior of a car or the set of the house, meticulous attention was paid to ensure the perfect harmony of color. The film celebrates the versatility of pink without strict adherence to a specific shade.