How Costume Designer Jacqueline Durran Brought A Nostalgic Flair To New Designs In ‘Barbie’

“There are some replications in things and specific references, where it’s almost like Easter eggs for the fans, but they’re not really the same,” says costume designer Jacqueline Durran. Rather than creating large scale versions of existing outfits, Durran says she used them as inspiration for entirely new designs. “The main thing I wanted to happen is that I wanted Barbie fans to go to the movie and recognize Barbie as the Barbie they loved.” Below, Durran gives insight into the how her designs were conceived to give Barbie the perfect outfit for every occasion and creating a unique look for Ken.

Hot Skatin’ Barbie

Western Barbie

“Barbie is always perfectly dressed for whatever she does. So, what would Barbie think would make them fit in America? They think country, so a Western Barbie outfit is going to fit in. It is all following a logic of a set of rules we invented early on.”

Disco Barbie

“The Barbies at the block party are all in different versions of white and gold disco costumes and reinventions from the ’80s. But all of the Kens are just in a jumpsuit because no one [in Barbie Land] really minds what Ken wears to the party. He just has to match Barbie.”

Fur Coat Ken

“Greta [Gerwig] showed me a photo of Sylvester Stallone in a fur coat—he did a bunch of adverts in the ’80s—and it was such a great style statement. I thought, if Ryan [Gosling]’s willing to wear the fur coat, then we can use that as the starting point for Ken’s style.”