So, what is Barbiecore™…
I wonder when trends starting being called “fill in the blank core”. Does anyone know? I mean we had cottagecore and that other core apparently inspired by Diane Keaton (which may or may not have been cottagecore…oops, nope, it was coastal grandmother). And, now we have Barbiecore™. This one is an easy one. It’s anything to do with the old gal herself, Barbie! And, it includes pink…lots and lots of pink! Throw in some glitter, sequins, platforms, and even more pink, and you’ve probably got yourself a Barbiecore™ outfit going on.
History warning…
Apparently, “core” fashion began a few years ago with “normcore.” This was a gift from a couple of millennials named Greg Fong and Emily Segal. I wonder if she’s related to George Segal…he of Breakfast at Tiffany’s fame. Now, there was some real fashion in that movie…love Audrey Hepburn, right? But, I digress. Normcore was, basically, wearing nondescript clothing that pretty much made you into a wallflower (IMHO). But, we were then gifted with this -core suffix, and the fashion descriptors were off! You can read more about that here. It seems to me you can come up with a -core trend for just about anything. Anyone up for a bit of Marshacore?
A little more…
The Barbiecore™ movement (trend, fad, I just don’t know anymore) grounds itself firmly in pink, the hotter the better. It also embraces classics like matching your shoes to your handbag to your belt to even your jewelry. Barbiecore™ aficionados may include a latex mini dress into their repertoire as well as a fit and flare dress for a nice little picnic with Ken, Midge, or Skipper! You might also find feathers as well as holographic accessories. Basically, if it’s a little extra razzle dazzly, it’s probably going to work for a Barbiecore™ look as long as it’s also pink!
Back to Barbie…
After doing a little more delving into rabbit holes on Google, I found that Barbiecore™, on some levels, is also about female empowerment. It goes with the idea that Barbie was a trendsetter, a shatterer of the glass ceiling, and, at 60+ years of age, still creating waves in the fashion pond! Did you know she has had over 200 careers? She must be exhausted! “As of 2020, the Barbie Fashionistas line features 176 dolls, both male and female, with nine different body types, 35 skin tones, and 94 hairstyles. In 2022, the toy company expanded its diverse Fashionistas line and added a doll with behind-the-ear hearing aids, a doll with a prosthetic leg, as well as a Ken doll with vitiligo.” (source) If you need more information about Barbie, you can read lots of information here! And, just to add a little namedropping into the mix, did you know Anne M. Bray used to design for Barbie? How about that?
My Barbiecore™ look…
I have discovered that clothing from Kantha Bae makes me feel unique, kinda boho, and really pretty. It’s strange to say that as a woman of a certain generation. We don’t usually call ourselves pretty let alone beautiful. And, that is sad, isn’t it? But, Kantha Bae clothing does that for me. This is the Joni Tunic. You can find some of my Kantha Bae looks here, here, and here. Each piece of clothing is unique because they are recycled from saris, both cotton and silks. Sizing is very inclusive, too. Most pieces are “free sized” which means they fit from 0-22/24! The other items I’ve received were a bit oversized but not so much I couldn’t wear them. The shoulder seams on this tunic reached halfway to my elbows, and the hem dipped down on the sides. I was actually really disappointed. Then, I grabbed hold of the seam on one side and pleated it onto the shoulder seam. Et voilà! By moving the shoulder seams higher, the hem on the side pulled up even with the rest of the tunic, and the whole look changed! I added my Tapestry leggings in beetroot from April Cornell to pick up the deeper pinks in the tunic.
The Lewk!
All this overwhelming Barbiecore™ needed some toughening up! I pulled out my black Born combat boots for that! These are not near as wonderful as my other black Born boots, but the comfort level sure is high! Another benefit to these boots is you never have to tie them again (though one of them has come undone). They zip up the sides! I love that! You can see these boots in another look here. I knew this voluminous dress/tunic needed a longer necklace so I went rummaging around in my unpacked boxes and found to my jewelry chest and found this winter themed necklace from J Jill. I could have sworn I had matching earrings, but I couldn’t find them. My jewelry chest was hauled and mauled all over this summer during the move, and some of the drawers are a mess. Have I straightened them out? Nope! I need to add that to my to do list! The earrings are also from J Jill and have appeared many times on the blog because they are easy to wear and go with so many of my necklaces.
Wrap it up, Marsha!
Barbiecore™ is probably going to be around for a bit. I think that’s so because of a couple of things. There is the live action movie coming out in 2023. Also, after years of subdued colors, the world is ready for bright colors again. Add to that Pantone’s color of the year, Viva Magenta, and you’ve got lots of Barbiecore™ looks ahead! So, can we talk? Are you a fan of the Barbiecore™ trend? Will you be able to easily incorporate it into your look this season? What do you think of the -core suffix? Leave me a comment or two, and we can talk! I promise to respond as soon as I can!
10 on the 10th reminder…
10 on the 10th is about gifting this month! We’ll have a link up, too! Don’t worry if you don’t have a blog (or can’t post on the 10th)! You can answer in the comments. You might also find another blog you like! And, if you have a blog, it’s more than OK to post after the 10th! I have been known to do that!
Affiliate links and such:
Just a reminder that Marsha in the Middle may use an affiliate link. Those links are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link I provide, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support. As of right now, I also have an affiliate code for Kantha Bae! Use MarshaintheMiddle in the promo code box for $5 off any order (excluding Bestie restocks)! I have also become a Halftee Partner. Use the code, MARSHA2098, for 20% off any purchase. In case you didn’t know, bloggers must disclose the use of affiliate links. That’s why I include this in each post.
Thank you!
I really do hope you know how much I appreciate your support in subscribing, commenting, and emailing. I cannot truly express my gratitude, but I’m trying! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can do so here.
Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, My Bijou LIfe, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, Being a Wordsmith, and I do deClaire and Mummabstylish. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I’m a co-host on the Weekend Traffic Jam (here). I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I also host Final Friday Print Mixing on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
We are doing Barbiecore as our theme this month. Like to join us?
Oh, yes, I will be sending a picture soon!
Oh my, what a fabulous tunic, Marsha! I love this bright pink on you and I love the way you styled it in the Marshacore way! This post was so fun to read! And isn’t it super cool that Anne worked for Mattel? She has her own Anne Barbie from when she worked there!
Shelbee
Thanks, Shelbee! I can’t believe I sort of know someone as cool as Anne!!! And, I think I’ve been wearing Marshacore for decades now!!!!
I adore your Barbiecore look! These pinks look so pretty on you Marsha!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thanks so much, Kathrine! I have to be careful with pink, and I wasn’t completely sure this was going to work! But, it did, and I love it!
I love all of these newfangled aesthetic “cores”! Lol. Barbiecore looks pretty!
There were some that sounded like lots of fun. But, can I afford to invest in those -cores? Not too many!
This is such a beautiful tunic…what a lovely choice to do Barbiecore your own way!
Thanks so much, Sally! I guess anyone would be doing it their way, right? Well, unless I had a personal stylist and could buy the Valentino runway!!
I love your take on this trend! I’m going to take a spin at it for a possible Valentine’s Day look. I love the design on you dress too, so pretty!
Shauna
http://www.lipglossandlace.net
Thanks so much, Shauna! I wasn’t sure about the Barbiecore trend, but I do like the way this look came together. I tried to find a way to subscribe to your blog, but I just couldn’t find it. Any advice?
I love to see the bright colors on the front lines again. As I always say, I believe in color and I love how you combined the dress with the jeans and your combat boots.
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thanks, Jodie! I like all colors and wear them when the spirit moves me! Some days, that spirit says grey; some days, it says bright pink!
I just added a bright pink top to my wardrobe this week and I think I’m going to enjoy this Barbiecore fad since I don’t usually think to grab pink in cute styles; I typically reach for blues and greens instead. But I do like pink and how fun and feminine it makes me feel.
Pink is not my natural go to…I’m like you and tend to pick blues, greens, and purples. But, it’s good to step out of our comfort zones, right?
What a fabulous way to wear the trend! Your tunic is gorgeous! Love the boho vibes!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thanks so much, Jill! I really was happy with it!
I love the pink on you! That tunic is so cute and you are certainly rocking it! I love that the barbiecore trend embraces pink and femininity as being powerful. I’m all about it!
Thanks, Laura! I really liked it once I figured out how to make the shoulders better! And, I love the powerful side of femininity!
I love this dress on you! That is a great color!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Thanks, Mireille! I’m not always sure about pink. It can make me look like I have no neck! But, this one worked!
Well I am loving this hot pink color on you. I also was a huge Barbie fan growing up. My daughter is just starting to get into it and I love playing. So many cool barbies and themes they never had before. So fun!
So yes, I guess I will be down with this Barbiecore trend
Thanks so much, Meagan! I have to be careful with pink, or I look like I don’t have a neck! It’s so much fun when your daughters get into Barbie! There’s so much more to choose from now! Can’t wait to see what you do with Barbiecore!
So pretty! Barbie-Core or otherwise, these shades look amazing on you. Interesting history of -core and Barbie. I’m impressed they added dolls to address those with hearing deficits etc. Great way to manage the Kantha Bae tunic. As for me, shocking pink is about the only shade of pink that looks good on me. I did a Barbie based post this week too (idea from Shelbee). Linked below.
Michelle
https://funkyfashionstyle.com/funky-fashion-outfits-by-barbie/
Thanks, Michelle! I have to be careful with pink. The wrong shade, and I look like I don’t have a neck! I will check out your blog soon! I still don’t get emails for it, though! Battling a terrible cold right now!
Ugh! I’m so sorry about the cold – and the fact that my blog email won’t cooperate.
I just have to remember to check on your blog!!!
I love your tunic dress, it looks great with the chunky boots! I had no idea there were so many different Barbie dolls – I still have a case full of them at my mum’s house!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
Thanks so much! I was surprised at how many there were, too! I knew they had made so many different ones for careers, but that was way over what I thought the number would be! How wonderful you still have yours! What fun!!
Pingback:Shuffle Off to Buffalo! - Marsha in the Middle