Everything’s pink: How Barbiecore fashion has fueled a movie’s buzz

LOS ANGELES, July 20 (Reuters) – Head to any clothing retail store this summer and you are probably to be hit with an explosion of pink.

Barbiecore outfits, focused on the doll’s signature coloration, are dominating the trend scene for a next straight year, served by Mattel Inc’s (MAT.O) all-out internet marketing blitz to create excitement for the “Barbie” movie that debuts in theaters on Friday.

There are Barbie sneakers, Barbie backpacks, Barbie swimsuits, and Barbie hoodies for your puppy. There are rhinestone-studded water bottles, neon yellow roller blades with pink wheels – and a lot additional.

“There is not a corner of the world that has not turned pink,” Richard Dickson, Mattel’s president and main running officer, mentioned in an interview.

Couture designer Valentino kicked off the latest pink wave by dressing models in head-to-toe fuchsia for a March 2022 runway demonstrate. That sent movie star stylists scrambling to come across seems to be in the cannot-miss shade.

A handful of months later, shots showed Barbie film star Margot Robbie on established in a incredibly hot pink Western jumpsuit. The “campy style” went viral at a time when Western dress in and sparkly Y2K fashions were trending, explained Madeline Hirsch, news director for InStyle.

It also coincided with several men and women returning to workplaces right after COVID-19 lockdowns.

“Men and women have been craving pleasure, coloration and new garments to put on out once again, and the effervescent attractiveness of Barbie was easy to latch on to,” Hirsch claimed.

As the model took off, trend journals chronicled stars from Kim Kardashian to Harry Types in vivid Barbiecore outfits.

PINK GLITTER POPCORN

Barbie is one of Mattel’s major a few brand names. The toymaker trademarked the expression Barbiecore in 2022 and partnered with firms these kinds of as substantial-conclude French designer Balmain, jewelry maker Kendra Scott and loungewear business Barefoot Dreams.

All those attempts went into overdrive in 2023 with a lot more than 100 partnerships tied to the motion picture. Goods at the moment out there assortment from a $20 Barbie T-shirt at Old Navy to a $1,550 sweatshirt with the Balmain logo in the Barbie font.

Mattel also collaborated on several merchandise outside of vogue, this kind of as an Instagram-ideal pool float from Funboy and a pink Microsoft (MSFT.O) X-box gaming console that rests inside a three-story Barbie Dreamhouse.

Barbie-impressed foodstuff involve an ice cream flavor and a Barbie burger with pink sauce sold at Burger King in Brazil.

Robbie, who rotated by way of Barbie-influenced seems for the duration of the movie’s publicity tour, even rolled pink suitcases through the airport in Sydney.

Barbiecore encompasses more than just pink, Hirsch mentioned. “Feel extra is far more in terms of color pairings – aqua, purples and yellows,” she said. Ryan Gosling, who plays Ken, has sported appears to be in that coloration palette.

The Barbiecore frenzy seems to be boosting fascination in the “Barbie” movie from Warner Bros (WBD.O). Gals are arranging Barbie-impressed outfits to have on to screenings, and theaters are internet hosting unique functions to attract ticket buyers.

Maryland-based Warehouse Cinemas has offered out its Thursday evening “Malibu Beach front Social gathering” screenings showcasing pink cocktails served in flamingo floaties, reported president and CEO Abundant Daughtridge. Friends who carry a Barbie, or gown like Barbie or Ken, up grade their popcorn for no cost with strawberry powder and edible pink glitter.

Barbie is most likely to conquer its main box workplace competitors for the weekend, which is Christopher Nolan’s drama “Oppenheimer” about the man driving the producing of the atomic bomb, in accordance to box business office analysts.

Forecasters predict “Barbie” will haul in everywhere from $80 million to $150 million-plus at domestic theaters from Friday by means of Sunday. That would top rated the $55 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket product sales collected very last weekend by Tom Cruise’s most current “Mission: Impossible” film.

Filmgoers also are possible to put up their Barbiecore appears on social media, sparking extra desire in the movie, claimed Jeff Bock, senior box business analyst at Exhibitor Relations Co.

“This has the potential to split out in approaches that we are unable to fathom still,” Bock claimed.

Reporting by Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles Further reporting by Rollo Ross in Los Angeles and Sarah Mills in London
Modifying by Mary Milliken and Rosalba O’Brien

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