One of many buzziest moments in a panoply of promotion main as much as the debut of “Barbie” was a trailer that confirmed a scene between Margot Robbie’s Barbie and Kate McKinnon. McKinnon’s “Bizarre Barbie” explains to Robbie that she should select between Barbieland-appropriate sparkly high-heeled pumps and a pair of Birkenstock sandals. The latter are the footwear chosen to signify the actual world, the place Barbie should enterprise to treatment her existential disaster — and her immediately flattened ft.

The trailer garnered chuckles, and even a idea that Barbie could also be a lesbian, with deep dives on the historic connection between Birkenstocks and lesbian tradition (the teaser additionally confirmed Barbie on a street journey, singing alongside to the Indigo Ladies). In a broader view, it was a alternative that almost all ladies might relate to: the age-old dilemma of selecting between the great thing about excessive heels or the consolation of flats.

Because it seems, these Birkenstocks turn out to be Barbie’s fortunately ever after. And the selection Barbie makes to put on them helps to cement the movie’s central message, which is expectedly about feminism but in addition concerning the actuality of feminism current in an imperfect world that’s not the happy-go-lucky, girl-power bubble of Barbieland however as a substitute a fancy surroundings nonetheless centered on patriarchal requirements which might be unaccommodating to ladies and to feminism (and more and more so, although the movie shied away from any politic statements on ladies’s our bodies). Barbie’s journey teaches her about worth of true self-discovery and self-acceptance as soon as the veil of patriarchy and objectification is lifted, but it surely additionally teaches her about how striving for feminism continues to be worthwhile even when it doesn’t obtain excellent outcomes. And possibly higher to nix the “Barbie ft problem” and provides it a go carrying wise sneakers.

That director Greta Gerwig and companion Noah Baumbach (the couple wrote the screenplay collectively) selected footwear as an allegory to clarify the exhausting complexities and physique and wonder politics that include dwelling as a lady reveals simply how highly effective a pair of sneakers could be on this actual world.

The Birkenstock message additionally casts a way of irony on the marathon of a press tour that Margot Robbie did, up till the SAG-AFTRA actors’ union strike was introduced final week. Robbie and her stylist Andrew Mukamal unveiled a parade of historic Barbie seems to be as she jetted from L.A. to Sydney to Seoul to Mexico Metropolis and past (with Mukamal nonetheless revealing new seems to be that had been shelved from the crimson carpet as a result of actors’ strike). From Unique Barbie in a black-and-white striped swimsuit to Completely Hair Barbie in a Pucci mini costume, the seems to be had been accomplished with what everybody who has ever performed with the doll is aware of as “Barbie sneakers”: high-heel pumps and sandals which might be molded to her famously permanently-arched ft.

For lots of the seems to be, Robbie and Mukamal teamed up with Manolo Blahnik to recreate probably the most excellent, human-sized variations of these “Barbie sneakers.” There have been the designer’s basic BB pumps — an already excellent interpretation of the doll heel — executed in scorching pink, white, and a pink-and-white, plus the peep-toe Jada mule executed a black, pink and clear PVC.

There’s no escaping the truth that Robbie’s press tour heels contradict the movie’s message — although one might argue that having the actress present up on the crimson carpet in a pair of Arizonas could possibly be seen as a spoiler, along with ruining the fantasy and legacy of the Barbie aesthetic. However because it simply so occurs, Manolo Blahnik already has a Birkenstock collaboration below his belt. We are able to solely hope and want to see a Barbie-fied model of that partnership to drive dwelling the movie’s message — and show that typically, you may have all of it.

Under, a more in-depth have a look at the remainder of the movie’s greatest and finest trend moments:

Barbie’s Chanel luggage

It was straightforward to identify the double C’s in Barbie’s closet when she wakes as much as her excellent day at first of the movie. In a while, Barbie additionally sports activities a pink quilted heart-shaped Chanel bag that’s destined to be a collector’s merchandise. To be decided on the bag’s industrial availability.

Ken’s Stallone getup

Whereas in the actual world, Ryan Gosling’s Ken discovers not simply the thought of patriarchy however a glance that he pinpoints because the visible definition of it: Sylvester Stallone in his “Rocky” heyday of overt machismo. He replicates the look in a full-length mink coat, bandana, Adidas boxing sneakers and leather-based fanny pack decked out with “Ken” in a Metallica font — all of which we see as he takes over Barbieland along with his “Kenergy” and uber-masculine “Mojo Dojo Casa Home.”

The “Kenough” tie-dyed hoodie

The Kens study their very own classes within the movie, a lot of which need to do with the position that poisonous masculinity performs in stopping the Kens from feeling, figuring out and expressing their very own feelings, and never adhering to the stereotypical expectations of masculinity. Ken’s emotional progress culminates in a teary-eyed goodbye to Barbie whereas carrying a tie-dyed, self-affirmation hoodie that reads “Kenough.” We hope it catches on.

The Barbies’ disco occasion seems to be

Barbie’s disco home occasion lives as much as its glitter dream fantasy, full with Dua Lipa’s vocals (and her cameo as Mermaid Barbie). Every doll will get a sequin therapy in jumpsuits, clothes and different shimmery, delectable seems to be. In a while, when Ken throws Barbie’s garments out of her home, we catch a glimpse of her paisley palazzo pants and different groovy, historic occasion items. Social gathering on.

The Barbie-and-Ken Rollerblade and Western couple’s seems to be

A few of the earliest sneak peeks of the movie got here final summer season, when paparazzi noticed Robbie and Gosling decked out in two key seems to be: matching neon, early ’90s-era Rollerblade seems to be (together with bike shorts and traditionally correct thong leotard) for the couple, and later, his-and-hers Western seems to be in pink and black leather-based fringe. These two seems to be turn out to be central to Ken and Barbie’s actual world adventures.

Barbie’s “Swiftie” boots

That Barbie wears white Western boots not as soon as however twice within the movie looks like a callout to the Swifties, who’ve claimed the boot as theirs this summer season.

The Kens’ battle gear

To distract the Kens from ratifying a brand new structure that will verify Barbieland as a patriarchy, the Barbies make their doll boyfriends jealous by texting with unnamed events and flirting with different Kens on the seashore. The Kens activate one another and announce a dawn battle on Malibu Seaside. They arrive armed with the one gear they’ve: tennis rackets, lacrosse sticks and golf golf equipment, and they’re outfitted of their finest nation membership apparel. In a while within the battle, they morph right into a dance sequence, carrying all black with scorching pink socks and black leather-based loafers, a nod to the classic seems to be out of “Grease” or “West Facet Story” that claims quite a bit about midcentury stereotypical masculinity.

Allan’s stripes of neutrality

Audiences already know from the film’s trailers to count on Allan (the historic good friend of Ken male doll) to be a operating punch line. His awkwardness is brilliantly executed by Michael Cera, the doll reveals in a scene that Allan has already escaped Barbieland for the actual world, which is how the boy band N’Sync got here to be shaped. Later, Allan turns into a key ally for the Barbies as they take again Barbieland from Ken’s patriarchal invasion. His striped shirt and shorts — traditionally correct from the doll’s 1964 debut — signify that protected ally position sartorially.

Kate McKinnon’s “Bizarre Barbie”

The actress’s “Bizarre Barbie” character is at first a operating joke among the many Barbies. She turns into not solely an oracle of kinds for Barbie in her existential dilemma but in addition a educating second on kindness and judging those that are “different.” McKinnon’s Bizarre Barbie can also be probably the most gender non-conforming doll in a movie that’s heavy on gendered identities and the expression of them via trend. Bizarre Barbie’s waistless babydoll costume, paint splatters, haircut and experimental eye make-up would additionally slot in properly at an artwork occasion.