A case of pink eye: Barbiemania

October 14, 2023 Siu-Yin Shing

Barbie, Barbiemania and Barbiecore are buzzwords dominating the media over recent weeks. Ever since the premiere of Barbie, the world has been abuzz over the iconic doll-inspired movie.

 

Exploring masculinity as it delves into feminist topics, the movie has now joined the exclusive billion-dollar club for global box office ticket sales, making it the highest-grossing film ever directed solely by a female director. No matter if you're team ‘hi Barbie’ or team ‘bye Barbie’, one thing is for sure: this 64-year-old plastic blonde has been thoroughly rejuvenated.

 

Nothing’s immune, not even specs

 

If you've watched Barbie, you may have noticed the numerous impressive eyewear styles it showcased. If you haven't, don't worry – I'll guide you through some of the movie’s standout looks and how you can assist your customers in achieving them. Before we begin, let me make it clear that Barbie is not all about pink. Love it or hate it, however, this is one colour Barbie fans embrace in candy-coated layers!

 

At the start of the movie, protagonist Barbie – aka ‘stereotypical Barbie’ (portrayed by the talented Australian actor Margot Robbie) - makes her grand entrance, captivating in a timeless black and white swimsuit. The inspiration for that style came from the first Barbie, launched in 1959. Naturally, she’s wearing cat-eye sunglasses, the epitome of the era’s fashion. There is no trace of pink here, only a bold white frame with stylish dark lenses, reflected beautifully by EyeSpace’s Aspinal of London sunnies (pictured).

 

1950s-inspired stereotypical Barbie (Credit: Warner Bros) and Aspinal of London’s Athena sunglasses (below).

 

 

 

 

One of the film’s most memorable moments is when stereotypical Barbie reveals her flat feet to her fellow Barbies (because every Barbie should have arched soles). Her counterparts, filled with horror and disbelief, help her resolve her hoof issue while the iconic Barbie sports a pair of stylish pastel-blue sunglasses, perched elegantly on her head. If you want to explore the Barbie vibe without opting for pink, this pastel blue is a great alternative.

 

Vanni (left) and Erkers. 

 

 

 

Towards the end of the film, an extraordinary scene unfolds. The Barbies join forces with two humans to restore Barbieland to its former glory and bring harmony in an impactful example of women working together, no matter their background. A touch of humour was added as they strolled out, unified in pink, highlighting the expectation that girls should be, and quite often are, fond of that colour. If your customer’s a pink-loving gal or boy, there are several frames to choose from to capture the essence of the Barbie aesthetic, such as these from Kirk and Kirk, LA Eyewear and Etnia Barcelona.

 

 

 

Kirk and Kirk, Etnia Barcelona and LA Eyeworks. 

 

 

If you loved playing with Barbie as a child, this film is bound to bring a flood of nostalgic memories. If you already dislike Barbie, you may detest it even more after watching it. I am team ‘hi Barbie’ because as a child, this doll had the incredible ability to transform into anything my imagination desired. Do I embody the essence of a pink girl? Absolutely not! Pink has never been my cup of tea and you’ll certainly never catch me in pink eyewear, but it does look good on Barbie!

 

 

 

 

Siu-Yin Shing is an eyewear writer born in Hong Kong, now based in the UK, and editor and founder of the frames-focused blog, www.myglassesandme.co.uk