This summer’s hottest style trend is literally ahead of its time. Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Barbie film, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken, isn’t slated for release until 2023 and yet bright pink Barbiecore fashion has already been hailed as the Gen-Z trend for 2022.
And what exactly is Barbiecore, you might ask? It’s a sugary rush of fuchsia pink clothing and Barbie doll-appropriate accessories (think retro sunglasses, rollerblades, sun visors and top-handled handbags), inspired by the teaser images of Robbie and Gosling in their neon costumes which went viral earlier this season. This also includes hot pink (and often oversized) jewels, which channel all the hyper-feminine allure of Mattel’s bestselling toy.
Film aside, it’s easy to see why Barbiecore’s cheerful aesthetic feels so relevant right now. Its potent nod to childhood nostalgia perfectly aligns with the current vogue for all things 80s-related which is sweeping the fashion, film and music industries (hello Kate Bush, we never stopped loving you). Plus, this bright and optimistic hue feels especially welcome at a moment when world history seems particularly dark and complicated, and the memories of the global pandemic have yet to fully fade.
Barbie-watchers and Tik Tok users aren’t the only ones to have embraced the trend. Valentino‘s Autumn/Winter 2022 ready-to-wear show earlier this year was dedicated to pink (models who weren’t swathed in pink were instead draped in black, which is essentially no colour at all), a vibrant shade dubbed ‘Pink PP’ by the house’s creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli. Even the catwalk was painted in the cheery bubblegum shade. There was more Pink PP to be seen at the label’s Autumn/Winter 2022 couture show in Rome, too, with celebrities like Anne Hathaway, Florence Pugh and Leonie Hanne all mirroring the rose-tinted trend, with plenty of sparkles thrown in for good measure.
Fancy trying a bit of Barbiecore for yourself? We’ve rounded up an edit of the best bright pink jewellery to help you channel your own inner Barbie Girl.
Origin 31
Robinson Pelham
Bowen NYC
Lily Gabriella
Alice Van Cal
Jacquie Aiche
Larkspur & Hawk
Bleue Burnham
Tasaki
Ruth Tomlinson
Yvonne Léon
Like this? Check out the best neon jewellery for summer
