The Chic List: Forget Barbie pink. Cream is my wardrobe dream

Margot Robbie didn’t own a Barbie doll growing up. She preferred to play with trucks, build forts and make mud pies with her cousin on Australia’s Gold Coast.

I did have some Barbies that arrived as Christmas and birthday gifts. One that sticks out in my memory was Peaches ‘n Cream Barbie, dressed in a tulle ballgown with a wraparound stole. I never bothered asking for a Ken doll because I wasn’t that invested in Barbie’s happiness, though I did appreciate the glamour she brought to my childhood.

But, like Robbie, I spent most of my Irish childhood summers outside: climbing trees, standing in goal for my football-obsessed cousins and helping herd cattle belonging to the fathers of friends by standing in ditches. Health and safety was a little more lax in those days!

There’s a terrific description of Robbie in a recent Vogue interview. ‘Although she is impossibly beautiful, Robbie’s aura is sprite-like and a little feral. It’s easy to imagine she just wandered away from a travelling circus.’

Her co-star Ryan Gosling puts it beautifully: ‘She has a kind of fearlessness that you can only get from literally growing up swimming in shark-infested waters.’ This was particularly evident in her previous film, Babylon, an anarchic riot that I loved.

So what attracted Robbie – who in real life favours a black and neutral palette – to bright pink Barbie?

My guess would be, rather than some great feminist statement, she was simply smart enough to see the vast money-making potential. ‘The word itself is more globally recognised than practically everything else other than Coca-Cola,’ she says.

Fair enough. But as a grown woman, I have a complicated relationship with the colour pink. Even as a girl, I preferred red.

This summer I’m baffled to see so many women my age dressing head to toe in sugary pink, while painting their nails and homes the same colour. What’s next, cosmetically enhanced Barbie arched feet? Before you invest in Barbiecore, remember that this is just a fad and will pass – very quickly.

If you still feel the urge – and think I sound like a joyless bat – team your pink with a neutral such as black or white for a chic balance. Or have a peek at the shoe that’s big for autumn: the simple black court. 

Yes, all the candyfloss Barbie sparkle is about to be replaced with a more pared-back take on glamour.

My styling tip? Don’t wear them with anything too prim. Look to Celine and Saint Laurent and 90s-style Pinterest boards for inspiration. And definitely avoid anything Barbiecore.

@thestylistandthewardrobe

@youmagazine

PRECIOUS CARGOS 

I have been searching all summer long for the perfect pair of white 90s-inspired cargo trousers. And they have finally dropped on the high street at Cos.

Team with a simple tank or button-down shirt and a blazer on cooler days.

POOL JEWELS 

Made in London, the River necklace from By Alona is crafted from gold-plated chain links and freshwater rice pearls suspending a sculptural pendant. Perfect for accessorising poolside.

MORE JEN GEMS 

Jennifer Aniston is clocking back into her day job with a third series of The Morning Show (airing from 13 September on Apple TV+).

I always look forward to her stylish ensembles as TV anchor Alex.