For his second season at Moschino, Jeremy Scott called on the world’s biggest super model: Barbie. In the past 55 years, Barbie (full name Barbara Millicent Roberts) has sported looks by every iconic designer from Dior to Donatella. Scott tapped into this legendary legacy and created an entire collection based on Barbie and her many manifestations: Charlotte Free cruised down the runway as Rollerblade Barbie, nailing a full turn at the end of the runway with effortless execution while Daphne Groeneveld hit ’em with the flex as Sporty Barbie. And fashion’s Barbie Mania isn’t slowing down: Karl Lagerfeld released his super limited edition mini me, Barbie Lagerfeld, on Monday. Because we love this fantastic plastic so much, we’ve rounded up our top five favorite Barbie fashion moments. From the straight outta Dalston Bleach Barbie to Nasir Mazhar’s material cyber girls, imagination, life is your creation.
Barbie Lagerfeld: You know Uncle Karl, now meet Aunt Barbie. Cut from the Kaiser’s own cloth, Barbie Lagerfeld borrows precisely from Karl’s signature style. Sporting a crisply tailored black jacket, white high-collared dress shirt with cuffs, super-fitted black jeans, and black ankle boots, Barbie nailed the iconic look, right down to Lagerfeld’s black fingerless gloves, sunglasses, and pony-tail. So much so we’ve got to wonder if she also drinks 10 cans of Diet Coke a day, runs a Twitter for her cat, and only sleeps on antique lace sheets.
Bleach Barbie: Before locking ourselves in the bathroom with a tub of cheap hair dye in our teens, we practiced our chops, dyes, and highlights on poor, unsuspecting Barbies, often resulting in some pretty scary ‘do’s. Fortunately, Alex Brownswell, the brains behind now Topshop franchised hair emporium Bleach, was sent from heaven to rectify both ours and Barbie’s neon nightmares. Approached by Mattel to give Barbie a makeover straight outta Dalston, Alex helped develop the Barbie Design Printables kit. Using an online program and a standard inkjet printer, you can print whatever pastel dip dyes your heart desires directly onto the clip-on hair extensions provided. Alex even tossed in a few customizable extensions for humans!
Calvin Klein Barbie: What comes between Barbie and her Calvin’s? Nothing. This designer collaboration from 96 sees some of CK’s most iconic pieces translated for the 11 and a half inch tall #normcore aspirant. Doesn’t matter if she’s cooling in the Dream House or hitting China Chalet, Barbie’s slaying in these dark denim separates, CK logo snapback, and heather grey graphic tee. She’s even done Marky Mark and Kate Moss proud: look closely and you can see the Calvin Klein waistband protruding from her briefs.
Nasir Mazhar Barbie: Barbie didn’t quite make it to the pole dancing portion of Nasir Mazhar’s spring/summer 15 after party at East London’s favorite strip club, Metropolis (she was attending an underwater symposium for professional equestrian-astronauts that evening) but there’s no hard feelings between her and the streetwear sensation. To celebrate the launch of Selfridges London’s Toy Shop last summer, Barbie tapped Nasir (as well as Fred Butler and Sister by Sibling) to trick out five looks that were sold as exclusive collectables. Recreating his debut London Collections: Men collection, Nasir scaled down his girl gang cyber sportswear for the 55-year-old, decking her out in his cult box peak pencil cap and waistband logo.
Gareth Pugh’s Ken: Who says Barbie gets to have all the high fashion fun? Gareth Pugh gave Ken a taste of PVC, balloons, and all black everything, translating his elegant club kid aesthetic for the world’s most famous boy-toy. Pugh recreated his debut menswear collection from autumn/winter 09 and gave Ken a shiny patent coat with a sky high collar and a long black mohawk for good measure. Malibu Ken’s swim trunks have nothing on this.
Credits
Text Emily Manning
Images courtesy Mattel