Skip to main content

The Barbie Movie Press Tour: Margot Robbie's Fashion and Nostalgic Throwback References

by Tia Shah

Content created ahead of the SAG-AFTRA Strikes, we stand with the American actors' union and the Writers Guild of America who are fighting Hollywood labour disputes.


With the SAG-AFTRA strike taking centre stage, promotion for the Barbie movie has come to a close. 


It's arguably been one of the most highly advertised films we've seen in a while, and the outfits of the cast throughout the press tour only contributed to painting an image of Barbieland further. 


The stand out attendee, expectedly given she’s the Barbie, was Margot Robbie. Her outfits stunned crowds, perfectly recreating different Barbie dolls that they'd grown up with. 


Each premiere and promotional event had the audience waiting in anticipation for Margot's outfit, with many going so far as posting fashion predictions ahead of each event.


As the movie’s titular character, Margot's style has charmed us all. 


Both nostalgic and sweet, the looks have timed perfectly as the Y2K trend meets TikTok looks inspired by Dopamine Dressing and Maximalism. 



On the 25th of June, we saw her very first promo outfit. Stunning in a matching pink set - a bustier and tennis skirt - the co-ord was paired with a bubblegum pink basket style handbag, and white retro oval sunglasses. And everything was crafted head-to-toe by Bottega Venetta. 


Wearing Manolo Blahnik heels, stilettos with an open toe, in the very same sweet shade of pink, Margot distinctly resembled a doll and the accessories she comes with. 


The most compelling of all her accessories was a matching vintage corvette, it's interior and exterior drenched in what can only be known as Barbie pink.

 

However, it wasn’t until June 29th we seemed to see Margot’s first exact replication of an iconic Barbie doll. 


Paying homage to the 1959 swimsuit barbie, Margot appeared in a striped Hervé Léger mini dress - with a silhouette incredibly similar to the bathing suit. For accessories, she dawned a pair of bold white cat eye sunglasses and hoops. 


Margot matched both the feel of the 50s and the heat of Sydney, Australia.

 

Then, July 2nd in Seoul, South Korea, saw the premiere where Margot's outfit was the biggest star. 


In custom Versace, she stole the style of the infamous 'Day to Night' Barbie from 1985 - a doll with two looks and instantaneous transformation. 


The Day look of a more professional and smart suit skirt with white accents, and two different bags, was exchanged for the Night look of a glittering torso and long tulle skirt in a very hot pink - once again wearing Manolo Blahnik peep toes.

 

Seoul had a further treat on July 3rd, with Margot appearing in a getup influenced by the 1964 'Sparkling Pink' Barbie. 


Whilst not an exact replication, losing the skirt length and silky material, she wore a Moschino set. Formed of a mini skirt, cropped top and jacket, each piece was decorated with rhinestones. The ode to the doll was most obvious in the pink pillbox hat, with Margot once again wearing her staple shoes of the press tour.

 

At the Los Angeles premiere on July 9th Margot's outfit stood in contrast to her prior looks: there was with minimal traces of pink. 


Emulating the 1960s doll 'Solo in the Spotlight', Margot wears a dazzling Schiaparelli gown. 


A form fitting black dress that looks like the night sky with an extravagant tulle hem, the outfit ensured she owned the spotlight and stood out against the pink carpet. This dolls accessories are dainty and elegant - a handkerchief, gloves and sparkling jewellery. 


Although a rather unexpected look, it seems to have become a fan favourite.

 

On July 12th in London, Margot appeared as two different iconic dolls. 


First, Margot was seen draped in pastel pink silk. Dressed as the 'Enchanted Evening' doll of 1960 and 1995, the dress was made by quintessential british designer Vivienne Westwood and was accented with white opera gloves and a crystal rosette. 


Then, at the VIP photocall and ahead of the movie's afterparty, she resembled the 1962 'Brunette Bubble Cut' Barbie. Whilst her hair doesn't match the part, her crimson corset mini dress does. 


Designed by British-Turkish designer Dilara Findikoglu, the dress was accessorised with a matching drawstring purse and those classic peep-toe heels - perfectly mimicking this ultra-rare Barbie. 


In fact, these two looks in one day had a meaning in themselves. Some super fans may know that, for Barbie's 50th anniversary, the Bubble Cut doll was actually paired with the Enchanted Evening pink gown so you could chose either look for your brown-haired Barbie. 

 

With London having been the last press tour appearance ahead of the strikes, all we have left is to wait for the looks in the film. 


With the levels of iconic that Margot's outfits reached, its only amplified our excitement and anticipation for the the film - see you on June 21st!

 

Edited by Emily Duff

Most Popular

Fashion For a Cause: Brands That Stand with Palestine and the history of fashion as a form of Activism

by Oana-Maria Moldovan For over two months, there has been an ongoing genocide war in Gaza. To simplify a long and horrific issue, the situation that started, on a larger scale, around one hundred years ago, and has only become amplified since October 7th 2023. Taking place around the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Israel–Lebanon border, the armed conflict is between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups.  The problem is about “stolen” land. Said land is seen as an important holy part of both religions involved. But really, how holy can we consider a land to be, if people kill other people for it? It’s important to remember that this genocide is about three things: forced occupation, zionism, and religion. It’s also important to remember what ethnic erasure is. This terrible expresion, also known as cultural or ethnic assimilation, refers to the process by which the distinct cultural or ethnic identity of a particular group is gradually diminished or erased, often due to...

Now What? The Aftermath of the 'Manic Pixie Dream Girl'

by Susan Moore Here is a bit about me: I am an open, excitable, creative AFAB who is also moderately attractive. I have a unique sense of personal style and a personality that on the surface can only be described as “bubbly” and “quirky”. For this reason, dating is a nightmare. To be sure, I do not have a hard time finding dates or potential suitors. The problems arise when said dates spend some time with me and decide that I am a rare specimen, and the connection they feel with me is “unlike anything they have felt before”. Then, things go one of two ways.  Either a) they decide I am too high maintenance and no longer palatable, or  b) they choose to never look further than the surface and are content to date the idea of me rather than the real me. There is something rather interesting, perhaps funny, about my situation. It is in no way unique. I have met so many people who constantly dealt with the same problem. Even funnier still, is the fact that there is a trope that simu...

‘Make Tattooing Safe Again’: Sheffield Based Tattoo Artist Exposed for Indecent Behaviour

 by Emily Fletcher TW: SA, Animal Abuse, Transphobia Photo Credit: @ meiko_akiz uki Recently, an  Instagram account  has been created to provide a  ‘space to safely give a voice to those who want to speak out about the behaviour of one, Sheffield based tattoo artist’. A  total of 40+ posts have been made by the above social media account regarding  one of Sheffield's most popular tattoo artists .  Thankfully, all posts are prefaced with a Content Warning prior to sharing screenshots of the messages that have been sent anonymously to the page. The majority of Content Warnings refer to sexual behaviour, abuse, and sexual assault. It is clear that there is a reoccurring theme within each submission, as many clients appear to have had the same experiences with the tattoo artist. Women, mostly, are being made to feel uncomfortable while being tattooed. One of the most vulnerable positions anyone can be in, tattoo artists should make their clients feel ...