Why do we love Barbiecore?
Not only has the Barbie movie taken over our feeds and group chats but its namesake trend, Barbiecore, has found its way into our wardrobes and home decor too.
Explore what psychology has to say about why we’re all obsessed with Barbiecore.
We’re all Barbie girls, in a Barbie World!
Like many other young women and girls, I went to see the new Barbie movie recently. There was something almost magical about being surrounded by excitable women (and men), dressed in their finest pink outfits, getting ready to step into Barbie Land.
As I looked around the packed-out cinema, it got me thinking:
Why do we love #Barbiecore so much?
What, psychologically speaking, does the trend tap into that has made it so popular?
Taking a trip down memory lane
Nostalgia plays a significant part in the appeal of Barbiecore, not only for those who were around to play with the first dolls but in the memories it evokes. It can bring people back to their younger, more playful years when everything was wonderful and the worries of adulthood had not yet got to them.
Nostalgia is a powerful tool for escapism. Research has shown that people may be more inclined to consume nostalgia-inducing media during a crisis. Other research has shown that nostalgia increases after instances of distress. serving to relieve it.
Dressing in a way that evokes pleasant memories of the past could be an effective way to bring ourselves some comfort and joy in the present.
Look good, feel good
The Barbiecore aesthetic encourages people to embody the feminine and embrace joy and playfulness in how you are dressed.
Research has shown that what we wear has an impact on how we feel and act. By choosing to tap into the bright hues of Barbie Land, we can make ourselves not only look good but feel good too.
Further, dressing up as our best Barbie selves can make us happy. Known as ‘dopamine dressing’ - the act of wearing things that we associate with happiness and positive feelings, can allow us to embrace that positive emotion. For example, outlandish clothes have been found to have a ‘tension release dimension’ that fosters a feeling of escapism.
Therefore, Barbiecore may be so popular as it's an easy (& fun) way of tapping into the good feelings the clothes provide.
Think pink
The colour pink has an interesting history, originally it was thought of as a masculine colour, similar to red. However, in the 1940s, pink was rebranded as being for girls and the stereotype stuck. Now, the colour has come to be associated with feminism and empowerment, reclaimed as a symbol of strength.
Credited with helping kick off the Barbiecore trend, creator of Valentino Pink and creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli spoke about the power of pink. Describing it as a “manifestation of the unconscious and a liberation from the need for realism”. Adding that pink, “enhances individuality, capturing values and feelings”.
Colour psychology suggests there may be some substance to Piccioli’s comments.
When wearing pink you may feel playful and delicate. Due to more recent associations, wearing pink can make you feel independent and powerful. Although, this may depend on how you see yourself.
Therefore, Barbiecore and all its associated hues can help us tap into our feminine energy, promoting feelings of ease, playfulness and joy.
Come on Barbie, let’s go party
Barbie focuses on fun and joy. There are no worries in Barbie Land, it's an optimistic, fantasy world.
In a time when bad news, climate calamity and a cost of living crisis are threatening to steal the last bits of hope we have left, Barbiecore is all about play. Which can be a pleasant form of escapism.
When we dress up in this aesthetic we can imagine ourselves as being in a better world, which can be comforting and relaxing.
Why do we love Barbiecore so much?
Since last year Barbiecore has been trending, and this summer, with the release of the new Barbie movie, it appears to be stronger than ever. Examining the trend, it seems that it taps into several mechanisms which account for why it is so popular. Namely, its nostalgia-inducing effects, the dopamine surge it provides and the colours of the aesthetic being associated with fun and play.
Considering the escapism it allows for and the fun and feel-good factor it provides, I can imagine Barbiecore may be around for some more time, too.
Final thoughts:
Have you partaken in the Barbiecore trend? Why, or why not?
Why do you think Barbicore is popular?
Do you think the trend will last?
I would love to know what you think! Leave me a comment or send me an email at hellocandicewalker@gmail.com with your thoughts.
Key points - Why do we love Barbiecore?
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie has seen Barbiecore shoot back to popularity this summer
We may be so enamoured by the trend due to its nostalgia-inducing effects, the dopamine surge it provides and the colours of the aesthetic being associated with fun and play
Barbiecore allows for escapism and provides a much-needed dose of fun and good feeling, considering the current economic and cultural climate
Further readings
Think Pink: The rise and evolution of Barbiecore
How long can the Barbiecore craze last?
Why is it so deeply satisfying to dress like Barbie?
What life in Barbie's pink world would do to your brain
