Barbiecore has been trending ever since the first images were released for Greta Gerwig’s film last year. Brands have been stocking up on bright pink everything, including jumpsuits, nap dresses, slip dresses and Y2K looks. We busily set about wrapping our heads around how to wear pink without feeling like a big kid, and when the movie came out, women (and men) flocked to the cinema in – you guessed it – pink.

But now that I’ve actually seen Barbie, I can’t help but feel there’s a much more interesting and sophisticated element to Margot Robbie’s on-screen style that deserves our attention. Influencers and brands may have been promoting the classic neon Barbie pink (Pantone 219C, to be precise) alongside contemporary styles, but Gerwig’s film draws on decidedly retro references.

Instead of simply splashing bright pink across the scene in every shot, Gerwig, production designer Sarah Greenwood and costume designer Jacqueline Durran opted for a more thoughtful approach to the Barbie look. In Gerwig’s Barbie, Barbiecore is surprisingly 60s-inspired – and, perhaps more surprisingly, it’s also quite French.

In Barbie’s wardrobe, you’ll find a lot of mod looks from the 50s and 60s, full-skirted silhouettes, matte geometric earrings and French new wave-inspired hair bows. Gerwig’s Barbie is, to put it bluntly, much chicer than I had imagined she would be. And while the classic Pantone shade of pink does crop up, her closet is also filled with baby blues, royal blues, yellows and other bright pastels.

Indeed, Durran cited a number of classic films and film stars from the 50s and 60s as being influential during the design process. Brigitte Bardot was a big influence for Robbie’s Stereotypical Barbie – her impeccable 60s mod blue and white dress with the Peter Pan collar and her very 60s fringe is a prime example. In fact, Durran has said that most of the costumes were inspired by the French Riviera in the early 60s, although she also included other retro looks inspired by Barbies in the 80s and 90s. “All the Barbies wear retro dresses of different designs,” she told E! News. “The early 60s-style pink gingham dress is one of my favourites.”

Another major influence was the French director Jacques Demy. Gerwig cites his films Les Parapluies De Cherbourg (1964) and Les Demoiselles De Rochefort (1967) as major design inspirations. “I loved the use of colour and the surrealness,” said Gerwig to Letterboxd, adding that Robbie’s hair ribbons were “definitely a nod to that Catherine Deneuve hair”. 

Tired of all the hot pink? Here are a few chic, retro alternatives Barbiecore options to add to your closet.

Dresses

Look for classic, retro designs with bright pastel colours. Think big skirts, cinched waists and crinolines.

Hair bows

Barbie loves a hair bow – try wearing a bow with a half-up, half-down look or with a sleek high pony.

Accessories

Barbie is all about retro-themed jewellery, from her already iconic blue anchor earrings and gorgeous white mod earrings to her on-theme shell necklace.

Swimwear

Stick with retro looks – think lots of horizontal stripes, high waisted designs, and halter necks. The OG Barbie from the beginning of the film is a great place to start.

Images: Warner Bros; courtesy of brands