Why has Barbie ® catapulted into international stardom, grabbed the heart of my barista, and had publications chasing me all week wanting thoughts on the power of color psychology in the film? The Power Of Pink: How The Barbie Movie Generated A Worldwide Craze, 1 Billion Dollars + Over 100 Brand Partnerships Aug 11, 2023 Taking inspiration from Barbie’s iconic – and often flamboyant style – the collection is nothing short of pink splendour and features an eternity ring, a pendant and a pair of diamond drop earrings. And who could blame us? From what we've saw before the movie made it to cinemas (you know, the Insta pics and YouTube clips), the London-based costume designer Jaqueline Durran has had quite the blast creating the outfits for the film. We're so here for the references to the doll's OG '50s and '60s looks (we're talking gingham prints and retro silhouettes) alongside sportswear and disco references from the '80s.

It's extremely clear that the people in the real world are represented by the "reality" of blue, and the "fantasy" world of Barbieland ® is known by its pink.To understand the impact of a color on culture, it has to be studied throughout history. Since Barbie ® didn't start with ties to pink, I had to dig into the history of the brand to see when the change happened and why. Ruth, the creator, appears again entirely in a strong, cobalt blue while Ken waves goodbye in a pink, blue, and yellow sweatshirt. The Barbie ® movie encapsulates the power of nostalgia, history, culture and color psychology. The epitome of how successfully a brand can become if it thinks completely and emotionally through a marketing campaign. It's important to note that while Barbie ® and the color pink have had a significant impact on culture, these effects are complex and multifaceted. The color pink is not only associated with Barbie ® but is used by various brands to market products to a female audience, contributing to discussions about commercialization and consumerism...What can bondpeople together for a cause, for a movie, for an idea, and how can one color be used to do it?

Having seen some detailed explanations of the production design, even the "white" in scenes was technically the lightest tint of pink, causing a worldwide shortage of pink paint to support the production design. In response to Barbie ®, paint creator Stewart Semple created “the Barbiest pink.” Called “Pinkie,” anyone can buy the paint color — as long as they make it clear they are not employed by Mattel ®. In the film, too, pink is for everyone – including Ken. And although one movie – or one world-famous footballer wearing pink – is unlikely to singlehandedly change our perception of pink as a gendered colour, our fraught relationship with it might be shifting. "Shorthands and clichés are very powerful and it's difficult to escape them," says St Clair. "I think what is changing is there's a loosening of the idea that pink is a limiting colour and that pink means something lesser than blue. There's a power and a knowingness with the way that pink is used now. It's coming with a wink." Every movie has movie posters, right? Normally, there's a pretty standard formula for creating one - but this was different too. Madigan calls Barbie's marketing pink campaign "a masterclass," saying " they absolutely banked on the movie being great...if you're going to do this, just go all out. And that's what they did."

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As Ken tries to say goodnight, the lighting turns blue as she turns him down once again from the romance he so desperately wants. Most importantly it’s, for us, it’s really a symbolism of empowerment. Barbie® is the original girl empowerment brand,” Culmone said. The real world, on the other hand, was cold, dark, and without feeling. But it was real and invoked true emotions. But remember, Mattel ® already had seen those issues play out. They probably felt like they had nothing to lose - and even if there was public hate, the controversy, and polarization might actually help boost the brand even more. Plus, the brand already had such a large amount of allegiance, loyalists would defend it to the death.

This has led to discussions about the influence of media, including toys like Barbie ®, on individuals' self-perception and self-worth. The strategic use of pink, along with a brilliant marketing strategy, has not only made Barbie ® an enduring icon but has also inspired a broader shift in breaking gender stereotypes and empowering children to dream big. Not surprisingly, Barbieland ® is filled with all pastel colors. If you've know about color analysis, this would be within the traditional "spring" palette. That means every color has a white undertone - giving it that spring feeling. Very light, bright, happy, and young. This has been the case throughout history, but in a different way. It started as a color reserved for boys, as it was derived from red. The new live-action film about the iconic doll, starring Margot Robbie and directed by Greta Gerwig, has leant right into Barbie's association with the colour, its set designers working with a palette of 100 different shades, and apparently contributing to a global shortage of pink paint. The movie's all-conquering marketing campaign has left a sea of pink wherever it goes, from billboards, buses and the cast's (pink) carpet outfits to a real-life Barbie Dreamhouse on Airbnb, more than 100 brand tie-ins and a Google takeover.

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Does it feel like you're looking at the world through rose-tinted spectacles right now? You're not alone. If summer 2023 has a colour, then it is undoubtedly pink, and it's all down (mostly) to one woman: Barbie. I'm showing you the history because it's crucial for you to understand how Barbie ® turned from a toy into a cultural phenomenon. To see the production budget so high really surprised me - and an equal marketing budget surprised me even more! Barbie ®'s evolution has seen efforts to promote diversity and empowerment in a variety of ways in the past decade.