The Journey Behind Barbie’s Halpern Makeover

by SHOWstudio on 22 September 2022

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Barbie Dreamhouse, Halpern and Mattel teamed up to create Barbie-inspired gowns for the brand’s S/S 23 show.

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Barbie Dreamhouse, Halpern and Mattel teamed up to create Barbie-inspired gowns for the brand’s S/S 23 show.

With what’s sure to be another Oscar-worthy performance by Australian ingenue turned Hollywood superstar Margot Robbie, Barbie is ready for a resurgence in pop-culture. The OG fashion doll and certified style icon made a cameo at London Fashion Week this season as the surprise collaborator of designer Michael Halpern. As a celebration of Mattel’s glamorous star, the S/S 23 collection took place at The Royal Exchange — the historic building opened by Queen Elizabeth I in 1571 — the perfect locale to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Barbie Dreamhouse. As a grand finale, the show ended with 9 Barbie-inspired looks based on Halpern’s exploration of the Mattel archives.

Barbie x Halpern, coutesy of Mattel

‘There are so many points at which Halpern and Barbie intersect with our values, inspirations, and love of fantasy which I am so thrilled to share on the runway this season. For me, Barbie is about optimism and joy for everyone, and being able to personify that exuberance through a project like this is so thrilling', explains Halpern.

Barbie x Halpern

Halpern previously dressed a one-off Barbie Role Model doll in the likeness of Adwoa Aboah in 2019. Continuing to challenge ideas of beauty and femininity, Halpern highlighted body diversity with his latest collection. Showcasing that Barbie doesn’t stand for the unrealistic beauty standards it once perpetuated, the designer created dreamy gowns for all shapes and sizes including a frothy pulled gown worn by Alva Claire. The look was also transformed into a Barbie-sized rendition featuring the pop culture icon’s instantly recognisable name across the waist.

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