Barbie Costume Designer Reveals How the Kens' Disco Outfits Created Anxiety on Set

Oscar-winning costume designer Jacqueline Durran says a key Barbie scene caused some anxiety, and it’s all due to the outfits the Kens wore on set.

Barbie’s cotton-candy plastic world came to life in the film with almost obsessive production design, especially in the disco scene where clothing the Kens cause some serious style dilemmas.

Jacqueline Durran shares the credit for recreating the iconic Barbie costumes in a live-action adaptation. Her attention to detail is evident throughout the movie, and in the disco scene led by Ryan Gosling's Ken, she practically left no stone unturned in designing their funky jumpsuits. Entertainment Weekly reports that Durran was particular with the fabric used to tailor the white jogger jumpsuits, which stood out in the disco scene because of the embroidered Ks and side-stripe trims. Durran says finding fabric with "the right weight and not be too stiff" was a challenge, considering they had to make unique ensembles for all the Kens performing in the scene.

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Sourcing the material for the costumes caused some anxiety on set since Durran wanted the costumes made faithful to the retro jumpsuits that were all the rage in the early 1970s. The Barbies in the scene were also dressed in colors that popped against the pink of the dreamhouses, with outfits that stayed true to the color scheme in Mattel Barbie catalogs. "There was so much white and gold," Durran observed. "It seemed like a real Barbie choice for a party."

Durran is critically acclaimed for her expertise and flair in costume design. Her credits range from period dramas like Atonement and Little Women, to bubblegum flicks like Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion and Clueless. She was also lead costumer in Matt Reeves’ The Batman and Netflix Black Mirror’s "Nosedive." As for Barbie, Durran drew heavy inspiration from the Mattel toy line. The costumes in the movie included new and original creations as well as faithful toy adaptations. "We did interpret and change things slightly," Durran said. "But mainly, particularly with the women and all the kind of strange frills and different lengths and different costumes, all of that's inspired by Mattel."

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Durran did speak about the significance of Barbie’s dress during the movie’s final scenes. The outfit was somewhat muted in comparison to the colors Margot Robbie wore throughout the film. Her costume during the final scenes was a significant symbol of Barbie’s transition towards true self-fulfillment, which was even more highlighted when Robbie donned her final outfit on her visit to a gynecologist. The costumes contributed to director Greta Gerwig’s "mic drop kind of joke" statement which played out before Barbie’s end credits dropped.

Barbie is now showing in theaters.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

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