With the recent influx of all-pink style, fashion doll influence is at the forefront. The
Barbie movie, grossing $337 million in box offices globally, contributed to a pop-culture
phenomenon. Nostalgic fashion doll icons have impacted the mainstream throughout decades of
the 21st century, including those like Barbie, Bratz, and now Monster High.
A style recently coined “Barbiecore” has made its appearance all over social platforms.
Despite “Barbiecore” disguising itself as a current fashion fad, its mainstream beginnings can be
dated back to celebrity fashion in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Celebrities like Britney Spears
and Paris Hilton were frequently seen sporting many pink, hyper-feminine looks. Similar styles
were also seen in movies like Legally Blonde, Clueless, and Mean Girls. Later, beginning in
2010, this style was most notably present in rapper, Nicki Minaj’s brand – lyrically referencing
the doll and sporting accessories like a pink wig and Barbie chain. In 2015, Jeremy Scott’s
collection for Moschino presented full-force Barbiecore. Models walked the runway in pink
fabric and blonde wigs – one look sporting the famous “Rollerblade Barbie” look. Some styles
even displayed the Moschino logo in Barbie's iconic font. Today, brands have collaborated with
the Barbie movie to embrace the “Barbiecore” craze. Some participants include Gap, NYX
cosmetics, and Alex and Ani.
Britney Spears (1999) Nicki Minaj (2023)
Moschino Spring 2015 Women’s Collection – Milan Fashion Week
Amongst the extensive marketing efforts of Barbie (2023), consumers have been
embracing this all-pink lifestyle, from pink home decor to full-fits of the same shade. A year
before the release of the Barbie movie, #Barbiecore went viral on TikTok. Now, the hashtag has
over one billion views, with the majority of popular videos dating from April to July of this year.
This poses the question: Is Barbiecore over? With the consistent trend of fashion influencing this
brand has contributed to over the last three decades, we have likely not seen the last of the
Barbiecore aesthetic – it has just reached its climax in the midst of the movie craze.
Hyper-feminine fashion will come and go in the mainstream, sometimes unknowingly nodding
to the doll franchise.
Although the mainstream has been Barbie-pink recently, other doll brands have their own
influence on a separate scale. Upon their release in 2001 and throughout the resurgence of Y2K
fashion, Bratz dolls have upheld a standard of chic. Competing against Barbie, Bratz offered new
intrigue for its young female audience. With a new stylistic design, Bratz dolls sported an
alternative accessorized wardrobe and refreshed makeup style. Importantly, this brand welcomed
much more diversity than Barbie, with three out of four of its original crew being women of
color. Fashion was emphasized in the making of the Bratz. Particularly in their chunky platforms,
faux fur, and cropped tees, Bratz fashion was, and still is, an impactful statement in style.
During the Y2K craze seen in the past few years, the Tiktok #BratzChallenge saw its
peak in 2020, now accumulating over 293 million views. Here, creators would post videos of
themselves recreating iconic makeup styles and staple outfits of the nostalgic Bratz collection.
Like Barbie, Bratz has also seen a share of brand collaborations; some include Puma’s Bratz 20th
anniversary shoe line (2021) and Cult Gaia’s 35-piece garment and shoe collection (2022). Now,
in 2023, although this specific video trend saw its prime, Bratz continues to influence Gen-Z and
late Millennial style. During this brand’s prime, young girls took inspiration from their style,
then carried it into adulthood to recreate with their own say and spending. Most prominently,
staples like platform shoes, mini skirts, and heavy accessorizing continue to be stylistic favorites.
Cult Guia Bratz Collection Promo Photo (2021)
Later in the fashion doll game, Mattel’s Monster High created a new trend of excitement
for young girls of the 2010s. Combining classic horror with alternative fashion and teenage
relatability, this doll created a new brand of nostalgic impact for Gen-Z. The mainline included
the children of horror icons like Dracula, Frankenstein, and Werewolf. Although, as of now, this
brand has influenced more artistic style and less everyday dress, there have been some hints of
influence seen in everyday style. Most notably, Dracula’s pink and black striped hair has
influenced now-older fans to try out the same; this style is seen especially through Tikok, like
other fashion doll-influenced trends.
@tama_kid on Instagram
Excitingly, a recent shoe collab with YRU is providing fans the opportunity to purchase
their favorite character’s shoes for themselves. Monster High dolls rock personally designed
platforms, making each style especially iconic to its character. In YRU’s new collaboration with
Monster High, fans can purchase styles directly reflecting the brand’s icons like Draculara,
Clawdeen, Lagoona Blue, and more. Considering the release of this collection, there may be
further fashion Monster High trends and collaborations to look forward to in the future,
considering the course of influence other iconic dolls have had.
@lyniesnerdspace on Instagram @honey.baae on Instagram
Nostalgia sells. The reason brands like Barbie, Bratz, and Monster High have seen so
much stylistic popularity in recent years is not only because of their innovation in the toy
industry but because their younger fans have grown up to make their own stylistic purchases.
This trend will continue as children grow up to recreate their childhood fashion favorites. While
some articles of clothing won’t live up to their previous enjoyment from their prime, trends
recycle. Highly-loved fashion dolls will continue to have this influence in the same way that pop
culture is inspired by trends twenty years past.
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