Barbie and her wardrobe are beyond iconic. Since the doll was introduced in 1959, she's been the ultimate clotheshorse, whether she's a glamorous lounge singer in a black mermaid gown, a veterinarian, or a cowgirl. When Margot Robbie took the role of the beloved doll in Greta Gerwig's Barbie movie, we knew the costumes were going to be incredible, but we also knew Robbie was going to turn it up on the red carpet when doing Barbie press — and she absolutely hasn't let us down.
Working with her stylist Andrew Mukamal, Margot Robbie has dipped into the archives of some of the most legendary fashion houses to bring her onscreen alter ego to life while promoting the film, including pieces from Valentino, Versace, and, of course, Chanel. (She's an ambassador for the French fashion house.) Each look is packed with thoughtful details and references that, upon first glance, you may not notice, but upon hearing the story, you appreciate all the more. Given that Barbie has been a fashion icon since the 1950s, they've got a lot to work with.
Expectations for the press tour are high, but Robbie and Mukamal (plus hairstylist Bryce Scarlett, makeup artist Pati Dubroff, and manicurist Jocelyn Petroni) are killing it. And yes, most of the wardrobe is pink, but not all of it! Below, see all the best Barbie looks and the many essential stories and details behind them.
Prada
Robbie gave fans a sneak preview of the looks to come at CinemaCon in April with this adorable oversized pink gingham set from Prada, including a sweet bustier top and matching mini. She paired the pink-on-pink set with equally rosy Louboutin mules and later added the matching pink gingham coat over the ensemble — with a pink Prada bag to match, of course.
Valentino
For a photo call in Los Angeles on June 25, Robbie donned a custom pink and white polka dot halter dress with a midriff cutout from Valentino, a yellow Valentino Rockstud quilted bag, and white Manolo Blahnik pumps. According to Mukamal, the look was inspired by a 2015 “Pink & Fabulous” Barbie, who wears a similar bright pink dress. WWD reports that the custom dress even had a “Margot x Barbie” tag in place of the usual Valentino logo. Iconique.
The dress was also an ode to supermodel Karen Mulder, who was called “real-life Barbie” in the '90s. She wore a similar design on the Valentino runway in 1993, though hers was darker in color and had a longer length.
Also in Valentino, Robbie gave '90s date night Barbie vibes in a short-sleeved vibrant pink sheath dress for a cast appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Bottega Veneta
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On that same day, Robbie also wore a pastel pink cropped bustier top and pleated miniskirt from Bottega Veneta with custom Manolo Blahnik mules, a woven pink Bottega Cabat bag, and white retro sunglasses, looking every bit like Barbie on her way to pick up Ken and the rest of the Barbies for a beach party.
Chanel
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President Barbie, is that you? Robbie and Mukamal worked with Chanel for this chic airport look, including a pink tweed Chanel jacket from 1996 and a classic pair of slingbacks. The pink roller suitcase from StreamLine adds yet another perfect, thoughtful detail. This team left no fashion stone unturned!
Robbie channeled both Barbie and Cher Horowitz in a bright canary yellow Chanel tweed suit, white Louboutin pumps, and a very fun and fuzzy white Chanel bag. This is very Barbie en route to a chic luncheon.
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Hervé Léger
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In the movie's trailer, Robbie is seen wearing a striped swimsuit reminiscent of the one the original 1959 Barbie wears, and she and Mukamal referenced that suit yet again with a black and white strapless Hervé Léger dress, black Manolo Blahnik peep-toe heels, and '50s-inspired white sunglasses by Jacques Marie Mage for press obligations in Australia. The perky ponytail and red nails and toes only added to the Barbie allure.
Versace
The candy-coated hues of Versace's Fall/Winter 1994 collection were absolutely essential for the Barbie press tour. (You've probably seen the iconic pic of supermodels, including Barbie doppelgänger Claudia Schiffer, in the collection on Twitter or Tumblr.) Mukamal dressed Robbie in a cropped baby pink turtleneck and metallic pink mini from the collection and styled it with pink socks and white loafer heels. (You can see the look above and in more detail on Mukamal's IG.)
Robbie also wore modern Versace for a cute Instagram video alongside her Ken, Ryan Gosling, slipping into a watermelon pink corset top and bright pink miniskirt paired with sleek waves.
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For the Sydney premiere of the film, Robbie went for a more futuristic Barbie vibe in a metallic rose archival Versace minidress with a corset bodice, transparent heels, and beachy waves. It's yet another look with ties to supermodel Claudia Schiffer; the piece was first worn by the model at a Versace afterparty in 1994.
Versace got another major moment in the press run in Seoul, South Korea, where Robbie wore a “day to night” recreation of one of Barbie's hot pink versatile looks from 1985, as shared by Mukamal on Instagram.
Moschino
Also while in South Korea, Robbie donned a — you guessed it — hot pink look by Moschino. This time, the inspiration was the “Sparkling Pink” doll from 1964, Mukamal shared. The actor wore a slightly revamped version of the ‘fit, swapping the more modest ’60s silhouettes for a crop top and a mini skirt but keeping the jacket and statement hat practically the same as the original. She rounded off the look with a pair of perfectly matching Manolo Blahnik pumps and a heart-shaped carryall for an extra cute touch.
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Previously, she threw it back to the ‘50s and early ’60s again for Robbie in this cheerful, cheeky ladybug print Moschino halter dress and white sunglasses. The curled bangs and ponytail are, yet again, the perfect reference to the original doll.
Balmain
While promoting Barbie in Mexico, Robbie and her team paid homage to an iconic ‘90s special edition of the doll. The Earring Magic Barbie was centered around a pair of charms that came with the box and could be attached to the doll’s earlobes or hung on her belt.
To recreate the look, Robbie's hair was styled in tight waves and clipped to the side. She wore an outfit from Balmain to match the doll's, a hot pink leather corset dress over a matching sheer mesh top and heels. Both on her ears and on her silver belt, she wore a replica of the Barbie doll's charms which features stars and hearts.
Emilio Pucci
Also while in Mexico, Robbie and Mukamal kept the ‘90s vibes going with a recreation of the “Totally Hair” Barbie. While the vintage Pucci minidress the pair pulled for the occasion is not an exact copy of the doll's, the vibes are 1:1. Robbie also added a nod to Chanel with a mini purse and some fun hot pink earrings.
Schiaparelli
When in L.A., one has to do Old Hollywood glamour. For the L.A. premiere of Barbie, Mukamal and Robbie went the high-fashion route with a Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown designed by Daniel Roseberry. Described by the fashion house as “a fully sequined embroidered bustier dress finished with multiple layers of tulle adorned with hand-painted embroidered rose and a pale pink silk mousseline scarf," the dress is an exact replica of the “Solo in the Spotlight” Barbie doll, which was originally released in 1960.
Vivienne Westwood
On the other side of the pond, for the European premiere of Barbie held in London, Robbie tapped one of the most quintessential British fashion labels. The star donned another couture custom look, this time courtesy of Vivienne Westwood. The draped corseted dress was made of a powdery pink satin fabric and featured a side train, a statement stole made from embroidered white tulle, and sheer ivory opera gloves. The finishing touch came by way of a rose-shaped brooch, pinned onto Robbie's hip holding the train, which featured the brand's iconic orb on the inside. Mukamal is also behind this look and looked to the “Enchanted Evening” Barbie doll, also originally from 1960, for inspiration.
For the photocall of the London premiere, Robbie also opted for a full Vivienne Westwood look. The actor donned a dirndl-inspired jacket and corseted mini skirt, both featuring matching pink floral cloquet jacquard, from the brand's spring-summer 2023 collection. She rounded off the look with pink hair calf platforms and a matching toy box bag from the spring-summer 2024 collection. Though without a doll reference, this was probably one of the most playful looks of the tour.
Dilara Findikoglu
La vie en rose is fun and all, but la vie en rouge might be even better. En route to the VIP Photocall of the movie in London, Robbie traded Barbie's color du jour for an all-red resemble that, frankly speaking, might be the most stunning of the entire press run. Styled by Mukamal, but this time sans doll references, the actor rocked a satin bustier minidress in the most perfect shade of red from Dilara Findikoglu. “As one of the biggest fans and collectors of Barbie this was a very special moment for me,” the designer wrote on Instagram. “So grateful to be a part of this beautiful journey that was created by amazing women!”
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