THE BOUX GUIDE TO BARBIECORE: HOW TO WEAR THE TREND OF 2023
Barbie pink has been flashing up on catwalks and red carpets over the past year, but the Barbiecore aesthetic is about to get brighter still as the fashion world is abuzz over the new Barbie movie due to premiere on 21 July.
While a trip in the Dream Car aside Ryan Gosling as Ken sounds, well, dreamy, it’s Margot Robbie’s embodiment of the eponymous mattel doll that brings us new (and vintage) inspiration we can actually embrace this summer. Read on to give your swimwear, lingerie and everyday wardrobe a Barbie makeover that feels great, looks great and - like the doll itself - stands the test of time.
WHAT IS BARBIECORE?
No pink is too pink for Barbie, but Barbiecore is about more than cranking the brightness filter on our leading lady’s favourite colour. Over a near-65 year run (the first Barbie doll hit shelves in 1959), Barbie has grown up a lot. She’s seen six decades of fashion trends, from then-cool now-vintage flares, shoulder pads, pumped-up pumps, and fresher than Bel-Air neon, Barbie’s wardrobe has seen them all come and go.
Now, as Robbie breathes life into the doll, the world has permission to crack open Barbie’s closet and bring back all our favourites.
Fortunately we’ve also seen Barbie grow with the times; diversification has kept the doll as relevant as her iconic wardrobe. Across 176 dolls, Barbie now assumes 35 different skin tones, 94 hairstyles and nine different body styles. Plus trademark accessories - block heels, fluoro pop purses, patterned headbands and oversized bows - are joined by pro-inclusivity accessories like hearing aids and wheelchairs.
In 2023, Barbie feels a lot less plastic, and way more fantastic. We love that Barbiecore offers something for everyone. A little like Boux! Now, let’s make like Barbie and shop the Avenue…
PINK SWIMWEAR MALIBU BARBIE WOULD LOVE
The Malaga super push up bikini set is something straight out of Malibu Barbie’s suitcase. Its hot pink and tonal pink heart print is accessorised with metal hardware - move over plastic, this is 2023 - and the high-cut leg is a nod to the 80s that is dominating this year’s swimwear trends. A push up bikini we can’t wait to show off in the sun!
Barbie is all about the detail - sparkle, pattern, sparkle, print, sparkle. The Naxos towelling bikini top and coordinating briefs with their textured floral pattern would definitely catch her eye - and we think she’d love the upside down bikini trend too, it’s certainly one of our favourite ways to style triangle bikinis.
There’a textured floral-accented style that fits Barbie’s design brief beautifully in a one-piece swimsuit, too: meet the Azores textured daisy swimsuit.
The Barbie aesthetic is strong in the Monaco hotfix triangle bikini set too. For the girl who’s all about sparkle, that diamante butterfly detail is irresistible!
Our detail-oriented Barbie would also embrace two of our latest pink bikini sets; their bold prints on hot pink are Barbiecore incarnate.
Malibu Barbie owned the 70s, when beads were BIG! so we can definitely say that the Cali print bead triangle bikini top and matching Cali tie side bikini bottoms fully nail the barbie style swimwear vibe.
Its strappy waist-defining sister, the Grenada triangle bikini top and matching Grenada strappy bikini briefs are another dead-on-trend style ready for Barbiecore 2.0. West Coast, Caribbean or otherwise, you have our full permission to own these looks on any beach you like.
For a nod to Barbie that fits the demands of a fuller bust, we love the supportive Antigua balconette bikini set with yet another retro swirl print.
Increase the Barbie pink of your holiday outfit with our Sheer sarong, or get that poolside and beyond versatility Barbie loves with our Cut out knit mini beach dress.
BARBIE PINK LINGERIE PICKS
The Barbiecore look has definitely evolved from child’s play into a ubiquitous fashion style, right down to Barbie pink lingerie sets and iconic silhouettes spanning the doll’s most defining decades.
Our Camryn balconette lingerie set fits the bill on every front, from its hot pink fabric decorated in floral lace, to its 90s minidress inspired hip-hugging skirt suspender.
Barbie also branched out to other equally bold colours during the 90s, when today’s resurging neon trend initially took hold. Our sheer Gracey balconette lingerie set in neon green is as right now as it is retro Barbiecore, with its innovative support features including 3-piece cup design and power mesh wings alongside its vintage shade, high-cut leg and satin bow accents.
For a set with more coverage - perfect for the trend featuring colour pop underwear peeking through see-through outfits - the Jodie plunge lingerie set is very pretty in pink. We love the flattering padded shape, scallop edges and graphic lace pattern. There’s no denying Barbie would approve, too.
The sportiest Barbies would stop, drop and strut (or lounge) in the Chevron ribbed seamless matching set. It offers a softer take on Barbie pink, has an athletic aesthetic with its cross-back straps and chevron ribbed bralette, and seamless material that won’t show under clothing (but you’d be equally confident to wear solo). We love that, like Barbie, fashion has evolved - evidenced by the 25% recycled fibres that makes the soft seamless fabric as kind to the earth as it is to your body.
BARBIE SLEEPOVER PARTY INSPIRED NIGHTWEAR
Girl nights in are the stuff of Barbiecore dreams, and our Piping satin short pyjama set in neon pink is slumber party perfect. We think it would also get a pass from the Pink Ladies, who coincidentally made their premier in Grease the same year Barbie first hit shelves. Whether you’re camp Barbie or camp Sandy, the high-shine collared tee and coordinating side split shorts of this pyjama set will transport you simultaneously into another era and a deeper slumber.
Ruffles, bows and a heart print - everything about our Heart print satin frill chemise says Barbie. You can’t put a gloss on everything, but the high-shine satin will make every bedtime feel a whole lot sweeter. You can also get it in separates with our Heart print satin frill cami set - variety reigns in the Barbie World.
We’re here for Boho Barbie too, especially with the Floral keyhole cotton short pyjama set. The tie-up crop top, pink-on-pink florals and coordinating frill-hem shorts give festival sleepover vibes we definitely don’t reserve for sleeping. For more Boho Barbie feels in another shade, try the Flower broderie cotton cami pyjama set. The all-white top is equally versatile for cool summer evenings, or cosy beneath the covers in the matching shorts.
BARBIECORE FASHION ‘FITS
One thing we do know is that Barbie was not the type to hide away, so we’d be remiss not to include some Barbiecore outfits you’ll definitely want to bring to the fore of your summer wardrobe.
Like our Seamless body in teal - not pink, but very bright and very 90’s Barbiecore bodycon.
Or rewind another decade and sport a statement sleeve in a more muted Barbiecore take on green. The Ditsy satin tie top and shorts set deserve to be a summertime mainstay in high-shine satin, tie-up crop styling and coordinates straight out of the Barbiecore style book.
We know, we know. Barbie still loved to be seen in pink. So we saved one of our best for last. The Boux lounge mix and match set covers all the coordinating pink essentials with a cropped tank, lounge shorts, hoodie and joggers. Barbie never looked so cool, or so chilled. Barbiecore summer has arrived, and it has landed in your wardrobe.
We’ve given you over 20 ways to make the Barbiecore aesthetic your own. So don’t hold back now, show us your favourite Barbiecore looks on Insta using #myboux.