Secret detail in Margot Robbie’s stunning Barbie outfits

Fashion

Margot Robbie has been hitting the red carpet in style for the Barbie movie—in theatres July 21—by replicating outfits donned by various Barbie dolls over the years, dressing in everything from an outfit inspired by the original Barbie to a more meta approach: dressing as a doll inspired by Robbie’s character in the new film.

Actress Margot Robbie attends the Seoul Premiere of “Barbie” on July 02, 2023 in Seoul, South Korea. This outfit was inspired by the Day-To-Night Barbie, which was released in 1985 and was supposed to represent the “ultimate career woman.” (Photo by Han Myung-Gu/WireImage)

Key Looks

The Original Barbie: This doll—which was released in March 1959—wore a black-and-white zebra style swimsuit, had a signature topknot ponytail, and sunglasses; the look inspired Robbie’s outfit at Bondi Beach in Australia, and is also featured in the movie trailer.
Enchanted Evening Barbie: Robbie wore an outfit inspired by this doll—a vintage Vivienne Westwood draped corset gown, a white tulle stole, and matte ivory opera gloves— at Barbie‘s European Premiere in London; parts of this 1960 original doll are considered “very rare,” including the necklace that Robbie matched in her pink carpet look.
Earring Magic Barbie: Robbie recreated this 1992 Barbie’s look at the Mexico City Barbie premiere, where she wore a pink minidress and large, dangly silver earrings—the signature element of Earring Magic Barbie; Mattel released Earring Magic Ken, a doll with a mesh shirt and pleather jacket that became important in LGBTQ culture—in 1993.
Totally Hair Barbie: Robbie rocked a swirl-covered minidress to recreate the look of Barbie’s best-selling doll ever, the Totally Hair Barbie released in 1992; but Robbie didn’t recreate the most notable element of the original doll: Wavy hair that went to her ankles.
Day-to-Night Barbie: Robbie channeled this 1985 Barbie—who was supposed to represent the “ultimate career woman”—at the South Korea premiere on July 3. This doll came with a soft pink power suit that transformed into a shirred skirt nighttime look, a hat, briefcase and purse, calculator, and two pairs of shoes, and was the collection’s first day-to-night outfit.
Happy Birthday Barbie: Happy Birthday Barbie is a special occasion doll whose outfit Robbie recreated at a Barbie celebration party in Sydney, Australia. Vanity Fair reported Robbie’s metallic pink dress was “straight from the 1994 Versace runway,” and it mimicked the original that included a metallic pink bodice and glittery diamond-inspired overlay on the skirt; the doll also came with strappy silver heels, a matching choker, and “a pretty silvery gift.”
Greta Gerwig Barbie: Perhaps the most meta of Robbie’s Barbie-inspired looks, she wore a pink gingham Prada outfit inspired by a look featured in the Gerwig film that Mattel has since made into an outfit for a Barbie doll inspired by the movie.

Barbie - Photocall — Margot Robbie poses during the photocall for the film ‘Barbie’ at Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City on July 07, 2023 in Mexico City, Mexico. This outfit was inspired by Barbie’s best-selling doll ever, the Totally Hair Barbie released in 1992. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Surprising Fact

Barbie is sold in 150 countries across the world and is “the most diverse fashion doll on the market,” according to Mattel.

The company says that more than 100 dolls are sold every minute, and Good Housekeeping estimates that more than one billion outfits have been made for the doll since her creation.

The European Premiere of Barbie in London — Margot Robbie attends the European premiere of ‘Barbie’ at the Cineworld Leicester Square in London, United Kingdom on July 12, 2023. Parts of the 1960 original Barbie doll that inspired this Robbie look are considered “very rare.” (Photo by Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Barbie Movie Pink Carpet Event, Mexico City — Actress Margot Robbie attends the pink carpet for Barbie at Toreo Parque Central. Robbie’s dangly silver earrings were the signature element of Earring Magic Barbie, the doll that inspired this look. (Carlos Tischler/ Eyepix Group/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Big Number

More than 250. That’s how many different careers—including astronaut, pilot, firefighter, and journalist—Barbie dolls have had since their inception in 1964. Currently, the Barbie line now sells 176 dolls with nine body types, 35 skin tones, and 94 hairstyles, according to the Smithsonian.