When you think Barbie you can’t help but also think of fashion as she is a long-beloved cultural staple that throughout time has brought happiness in childhood and even a bit of inspiration in adulthood. Having a Barbie often meant the perfect outfit to match and in the Barbie movie, each character has been perfectly crafted on a visual level to suit their role in the world. In Barbieland, where girls and glamor reign supreme, the citizens, adorned in their fashionable ensembles that all beautifully match, exude an aura of not only style but kindness and generosity from the captivating Barbies to the dashing Kens. The weather is forever perfect, the trends are perpetually on point, and the events are nothing short of extraordinary. The film follows Stereotypical Barbie whose malfunctions are shattering the facade of her perfect life and leading her to question the significance of her existence and Ken who feels he only belongs to her side on their journey to self-discovery. Exploring the meaning of life and who they are.
In this video, we will be breaking down the symbolism of the Barbie movie’s artistic high fashion costume design to explore the different interpretations of femininity, and one’s self-worth to styling, and understand how fashion functions within societal movements. We will also be looking into the symbolic imagery of self-empowerment and feminism in the film to recognize people’s mental health in relation to societal expectations. Through this, you will understand how clothing is a form of agency on a societal level and how developing your own style is key to becoming who you are or going where you wish.
I. THE NARRATIVE OF COSTUME DESIGN
II. INTERPRETATIONS OF FEMININITY
III. ONE’S SELF-WORTH TO STYLING
IV. HOW FASHION FUNCTIONS WITHIN SOCIETAL MOVEMENTS
V. MENTAL HEALTH IN RELATION TO SOCIETAL EXPECTATIONS
To begin let’s start with the artistry of the film’s high fashion to set the groundwork for the visual narration. Barbie in concept is the ideal, but Every Barbie has its own look and even though there isn’t a uniform, they all are aesthetically cohesive adhering to their societal standard. The film’s costume designer Jacqueline Durran stated in an interview with Vogue, “Barbie is a very useful way to look at different ideas of femininity: what that means, who owns it, and who it’s aimed at.” She also found the design process different than traditional costume design stating, “You don’t treat Barbie like you treat a regular character because the motivation for what she’s wearing isn’t from within.” It’s about what she’s doing, the task or event at hand.
Fashion is a form of communication that translates experiences, events, and concepts. It’s the social scope that can capture an era and be a marker of societal change. The fashion industry has shaped society and helped propel movements forward within areas such as power distribution, identity, sexuality, and social or cultural debates. The symbolism within media is directly connected to self-image and outer perception, hence impacting the acceptance and rejection of people since they are buying or supporting a brand that holds a ‘lifestyle.’ For example, in the film, we see the Chanel logo on the stereotypical Barbie bag and she sports various Canel ensembles straight off Chanel runways and specifically made for the Chanel ambassador to sport. It is such a suitable fashion house for the film as Chanel historically is known as this powerhouse that redefined womenswear with its own kind of strong, independent femininity.
Barbie Land residents all have their own take on femininity that is conveyed through about 15 color combinations consisting of various pink shades of course, but also light and bright blue, lavender, green, yellow, and orange Drawing inspiration from a riff of French Riviera beach in the early 60s, Barbie Land came together to form a society human society equals a clothed society, so Barbie society equals one dressed to the nines since they believe that they have truly helped and freed women.
In the film, there are many different interactions of femininity and the Barbies have the freedom to do and be who they wish, but when stereotypical Barbie cannot meet this standard, she begins to suffer mentally.
Social Comparison Theory
People judge their worth based on how they compare to people in their social circles. Leon Festinger initially developed the theory in 1954; it describes how people evaluate their own and other’s accomplishments on a social and personal level. People get insight into who they are by measuring their own viewpoints, abilities, and character against those of others they feel are similar or aspirational.
Often in media, it’s a bit of a joke, like a girl asking for a diet option at a restaurant to be a punchline but mental health struggles such as body dysmorphia, eating disorders, depression, and social anxiety are on the rise, especially in this day in age where we have too much exposure to see quote-unquote perfect lives. Much like how stereotypical Barbie can look around and see everyone looking, acting, and even thinking the way that she feels that she needs to in order to exist. Which is a very real experience for men and women alike.
Each Ken is designed to match his Barbie and in real life, the Ken doll’s fashion in origin was always in relation to Barbie, such as a date night outfit or a tux to match Barbie’s down. He simply existed to be an extension of Barbie, an accessory of her life to compliment her style. The film initially draws heavily from the archives, though not exact replicas as there is this creative direction, which was heavily inspired by Ken’s history. In the film, he’s coordinated with her from sporting Western rodeo outfits to neon-colored roller skates and spandex. Initially, Barbie continuously tries to keep her image intact and goes to the real world in an effort to become stereotypical Barbie again even though she is deeply troubled. Barbie isn’t dressed with self-concept in mind and this awareness shatters her to the core. Stereotypical Barbie breaking is significant because she is the Barbie that is meant to be perfect, the precedent for all other Barbies.
The Barbie movie explores themes of empowerment, and how it means to be yourself and live accordingly, while still being mindful of others in consideration of your choices to truly be yourself. How feminism isn’t just about women, but for men as well. To be equals and not accessories to one another. In popular films such as Legally Blonde, we see this on an individualized level. But in the Barbie movie, we see it on a grand scale, How women are not truly free until we are all free because it’s about sisterhood and uplifting one another in hardship. Not becoming who we quote-unquote should be to be worthy of respect, or having to prove our worth in relation to another person. Man or woman, Boy or girl. But what does this have to do with fashion and imagery?
Symbolic Annihilation, which is the under or misrepresentation of people in media such as women, the lgbtq+ community, people of color, and men who do not fit the societal mold of masculinity has been completely flipped in Barbie land. Many times, people’s exposure to themes, different people, and cultural systems is on a visual level whether it be walking down the street like Ken or through popular media like us watching the Barbie movie. It’s why it’s important for a little girl to have a Barbie that is a doctor, that is a leader because then she can see symbolically that she can be as well. The film is a testament not only to the legendary creativity of Mattel but also to various identities as fashion is group thinking and style is self-expression. Often though this may be misconstrued, for instance how Ken interprets the patriarchy and gender relations. He doesn’t grasp much beyond the basics in the books, what meets the eye in his brief visit but it’s enough to allow him to see there is so much more to life, to him even than his unrequited love. As they say, the pen is mightier than the sword. Whether that is written word or a design. Everything starts with an idea.
Fashion is group thinking while style is self-expression. Often shifts in trends and looks depict societal and cultural shifts. For example, in real life, Dior’s groundbreaking “New Look” collection. This revolutionary line not only transformed women’s fashion but also reestablished the enchanting city of Paris as the unrivaled epicenter of the fashion industry, following the aftermath of World War II. Enter Dior, the visionary who dares to defy the norm and offers us not just a new look, but a whole new perspective on style for individuals to enjoy. Dior’s creation is nothing short of a revelation, a breath of fresh air in a world longing for sartorial liberation after fabric shortages and civilian uniforms. Dior’s exquisite collection served as a captivating muse for countless women in the aftermath of war, rekindling their passion for the world of fashion. This went on to shape beauty standards, lifestyles, and even outlooks of women who sported the “New Look.” Sound familiar?
Although clothing serves as a reflection of the period and place in which it is worn, the clothing presented to be integrated into that society also has a significant impact on creating the people’s conceptual and political atmosphere. The clothes a person wears indicate their influences, social freedoms, and individuality.
For instance, Ken creates Kendom and now they aren’t dressed to compliment the Barbies but their own sensibilities. We see them pulling from what Ken saw, He admires the man walking across the street in a white mink coat, then at a group of businessmen dressed in sharply tailored suits, and the men in 80sesque workout gear. It mirrors real-life style icons of men on the silver screen from Tyler Durden in his fur coat to James Bond in his stark suits. Rather than Ken’s beach looks to suit his job of beach which is a prominent setting in the film so Malibu Barbie is the inspiration. Even Barbie had this reference to icon Brigitte Bardot, known for her beauty and playing sex symbols of the 1950s and 1960s because to her portrayal of liberated women which was groundbreaking at the time. It’s a bit of an easter egg earlier on that depicts the themes of the story, but tells us where she supposedly belongs in the world.
Each ensemble, meticulously crafted, whispers a tale of self-perception and projects an image that resonates with the world. Just like how every Barbie has a look that matches her purpose, her lifestyle they define their own on a visual level through numerous costume changes and a plethora of jobs to dress.
The movie breaks this down though, how no one is a second-class citizen just because they may not fit the mold of stereotypical perfection, like how they shun and gossip about quote-unquote weird Barbie or are different than another, the way they cast the Kens aside. Ken steps into his own right away, many people when they find themselves have no issue changing up their style from one aesthetic to another the next day because they feel embraced. When someone is developing their style to come into their own, there is far more experimentation involved. Different stages, different looks.
It’s more like Barbie’s where each look depicts a step in that journey it’s a nod to her efforts, to her inner transformation. The standard. Her visual narration is about looking within, the costume designer states, “Barbie really is interlinked with fashion, because how you play with her is by dressing her. “Clothes are her form of expression.” Throughout the film, we watch her style shift mirror the point Barbie is at both literally and figuratively in the story. Initially her iconic black and white heritage Barbie ensemble to a plethora of vibrant and flamboyant outfits that celebrate the Barbie aesthetic to adventurous snowmobile and camping looks.
Ending the story with a casual outfit, showing the beauty in being combofrtably yourself. That there is so much more than looks. To be everything and who you want to be since it was the first toy that allowed girls to not just play house with a baby doll, but to look forward to the future. To see one beyond what they are used to. That there is an agency, you can be and do anything. Stereotypical Barbie’s style tells this story that there is so much more to a woman than who she is with or being pretty. She doesn’t want to live as an idea, she wants to be formidable. That there is strength in sensitivity, strength in sisterhood, strength in supporting others, strength in style, and strength in being yourself.
