Why Margot Robbie is a Barbie girl: How the Golden Globe winner pulled off the haute couture coup of the century by convincing Armani, Versace, Prada and Chanel to recreate dolls’ iconic outfits

Entertainment

Margot Robbie, a vision in bright pink sequins, confirmed at the Golden Globes on Sunday what style insiders had been muttering for months: Barbie has come back from the fashion cold.

Her dress was a beautiful tribute to the outfit worn by the real Superstar Barbie doll from 1977 and was not just supplied by a costumer, but lavishly tailored by Armani Privé for the red carpet awards ceremony.

Dismissed for years by designers as a frivolous, anti-feminist toy, Barbie is finally being taken seriously by the fashion world. The past year has seen a vicious turn in attitudes toward divisive pop—and it’s all thanks to fashion’s newest power duo: Margot Robbie, both co-producer and star of the film, and her New York-based stylist Andrew Mukamal.

ARMANI PRIVE: Margot Robbie as the 1977 superstar Barbie in Armani Prive at the 2024 Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles

The Superstar Barbie comes with a black version of the dress, a version that Armani Prive created for the actress to wear to the after-party.

Together they pulled off the haute couture coup of the century: They convinced just about every major fashion house, including Valentino, Versace, Prada and Chanel, to recreate outfits worn by iconic Barbie dolls so that Ms. Robbie could model stand during the film’s global press tour last summer.

Some were completely custom recreations, others were a collaborative process, part custom, part vintage.

Versace first created the power suit worn by the 1984 Day to Night Barbie, which Ms. Robbie chose to wear to the film’s first international premiere in Seoul.

DILARA FINDILOGLU: As Barbie in a 1962 red swimsuit, dressed by Turkish-British designer Dilara Findikoglu during a photocall for the film in London on July 12, 2023

VERSACE: As the 1985 Day-to-Night Barbie that Versace wears at the film’s premiere in Seoul on July 2, 2023

She then wore Schiaparelli’s custom tribute to the 1960 Solo In The Spotlight Barbie for the film’s LA premiere days later.

A Pucci minidress complete with Chanel accessories was the perfect tribute to the best-selling Barbie of all time – 1992’s Totally Hair Barbie – which Ms Robbie wore to a photocall in Mexico. And the list goes on.

There was a Barbie look that any girl or woman would recognize, all created by design houses that are hallowed names themselves.

PUCCI: As Totally Hair 25th Anniversary Barbie from 1992 with Emilio Pucci during the Barbie photocall in Mexico City on July 7, 2023.

HERVE LEGER: As a black and white swimsuit Barbie from 1959, wearing Herve Leger at Bondi Beach, Australia on June 26, 2023.

Why is this so groundbreaking? It’s not just the volume or caliber of designers that convinced Mukamal to get involved. It’s that he took an idea that could so easily have failed as a parody, a pastiche, and turned it into fashion, honey.

These were not costume recreations. This was razor-sharp, highly desirable couture. Warner Bros should actually give Mukamal a share of the profits from the film.

The months-long red carpet costume party he styled built nostalgic anticipation for the film.

MOSCHINO: As the sparkling pink Barbie from 1964 with Moschino in Seoul, Korea on July 3, 2023

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD: As Enchanted Evening Barbie from the 1960s, wearing vintage Vivienne Westwood at the European Premiere of Barbie in London on July 12, 2023.

In my opinion, it’s fair to say that Barbie wouldn’t have won the first-ever Golden Globe for film and box office success without Mukamal’s hype via Ms. Robbie’s red carpet fashion.

His triumph – of which last night’s Armani Prive creation was the icing on the cake – is part of a wider rise for the famous superstylist.

Over the past three years, the film world has come to understand the crucial role stylists play in creating a boundary-blurring interplay between the off-screen actor and the on-screen character, which only increases the appetite for the film in question.

BALMAIN: Like the 90s Earring Magic Barbie with Balmain at the Mexico City premiere for the film on July 6, 2023

PRADA: Like the 1964 Black Magic Barbie wearing Prada at the Gotham Awards in New York on November 27, 2023

Just like Mukamal helped Mrs. Robbie become Barbie on the red carpet, so stylist Rebecca Corbin-Murray was responsible for Lily James’ transformation from demure Downton Brit to international star, concurrent with her role as Pamela Anderson in 2022’s Pam & Tommy.

What about the Oscars in March, you might ask? Surely Mukamal has run out of Barbie looks to recreate? In fact, there are still countless options available: a rendition of the gold sequin bodice and tulle skirt worn by the 1974 Miss America Barbie (very Dior), the red and white puff-sleeved creation from 1983 Loving You Barbie (very Moschino), or the Dream Date Barbie from 1984 – those corsages could come from the 2023 collections of the new Polish designer Magda Butrym. That is the glory of a fashion icon that has been on the market since 1959.

BOTTEGA VENETA: As Cherry Pie Picnic Barbie 2015 at Bottega Veneta during Deadline Contenders Film 2023 in Los Angeles on November 11, 2023

VALENTINO: Margot Robbie as 2015 Pink & Fabulous Barbie in Valentino during a photocall for the film at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles on July 25, 2023