Fashionista. Career girl. Icon. Barbie is certainly all of these things and more! After the first Barbie doll hit shelves in 1959, we have been completely captivated by her pink glory. Some of Barbie's best outfits have already made us want to dress like her for Halloween, but the Barbie movie only further solidified that thought. If you're looking for the best Barbie-inspired costume ideas to wear for Halloween, we'll share our favorites with you! Expect Barbie movie costumes, nods to classic dolls, and plenty of pink. Come on, Barbie, let's go party!
Barbie Costumes
All of the Barbie movie costumes that we saw were simply perfect, along with Margot Robbie. They took cues from 1991's Rollerblade Barbie for her movie appearance, and Aerobic Barbie from 1983 is an instantly recognizable classic. While the Barbie movie is pretty accurate in its depiction of classic Barbie outfits, it also took some liberties. The cowgirl Barbie may be a pink-ified version of 1980's Western Barbie, and we're not entirely sure of the origins of the pink jumpsuit. However, it's still very Barbie-core pink!
Barbie Accessories
| Barbie Swimsuit | Adult Barbie Cowgirl Hat | Barbie Knit Vest | Adult Inflatable Car Costume |
| Barbie Crossbody Bag | Cowgirl Hat for Kids | Barbie Visor | Car Costume for Kids |
If there's one thing Barbie knows how to do, it's accessorizing! Barbie can't bear to be seen without matching purses, shoes, hats, etc. Why not do the same for your Barbie Halloween costume? A few of these Barbie costume accessories are meant to pair with specific outfits, such as the Barbie cowgirl hats. And how cute would it be to hide your everyday items in a matching Barbie purse at the costume party? At the very least, you should consider wearing a blonde wig—the shiny faux hair will pull your entire look together!
Ken Costumes
| Cowboy Ken Costume | Blue Vest | Ken Wig |
We know that Barbie is a massive icon, but we can't forget about Ken if we want to complete the set! Turn your Barbie outfit into a Barbie couple's costume by adding a matching Ken doll outfit. The Barbie movie Western Ken outfit is the perfect costume to pair with cowgirl Barbie, and who could pass up on the classic jean jacket Ken? If that's not Kenough, you could find a matching men's costume or DIY an assembled outfit to make the perfect couple's Halloween costume.
Barbie Box Costumes
| Super Star Barbie Box | Super Star Ken Box | Limited Edition Ken Box | Limited Edition Barbie Box |
Are the official Barbie movie costumes just not your style? Maybe you prefer to wear a Barbiecore outfit you already own, and that's okay! These adult Barbie box costumes go great with any Ken or Barbie-themed outfit. You can choose between a Super Star Barbie or Ken box, or you can even be a Limited Edition Barbie doll. If you know your Barbies, you'll know which Barbie box is right for you!
Barbie Pink Costume Ideas
| Sexy Pink Jumpsuit | Pink Babydoll Dress | Child Pink Pop Singer | Pink Costume Dress |
| Pink Fairy Dress | Child Pink Scrubs | Kids' Pink Astronaut | 80s Popstar Costume |
If you want an original Barbie costume idea, all you have to do is think pink! These pink costumes are stepping stones to Barbie costume greatness. Find a pink career costume, a pink dress, or even a pink fantasy outfit. (Barbie has, after all, been a fairytale princess, a fairy, and a mermaid before!) You can wear these costumes as-is or pair them with the Barbie box seen above. However, in true Barbie fashion, you may also need to wear a cheesy smile all night!
More About Iconic Barbie Dolls
As we mentioned earlier, the first Barbie doll came out in 1959. Unlike other typical dolls for little girls at the time, Barbies were not baby dolls meant to teach nurturing and responsibility. Instead, Barbies were adult women with careers, and they encouraged girls to follow their interests, whether in fashion, medicine, or politics. As we share some of the most iconic Barbie dolls throughout the years, you will see these feminist influences that encouraged ingenuity and self-sufficiency. We hope you enjoy this blast from the past!
1959 Original Barbie
[Source: Mattel/pagesix.com]
Also known as the number 1 Barbie, the first Barbie doll wore a black-and-white striped swimsuit and came with matching shoes. She was marketed as a teenage fashion model, the first of many more careers! Barbie originally sold for $3, but collectors can expect to pay much more than that for vintage Barbies in good condition.
1961 Solo in the Spotlight Barbie
[Source: Mattel/pagesix.com]
Barbie went from a fashion designer to a nightclub singer in a matter of a few years. Like many silver screen singers at the time, she wore a slinky black dress and long black gloves, and even came with a plastic microphone. Margot Robbie wore this exact outfit at the LA Barbie movie premiere!
1963 Executive (Career Girl) Barbie
[Source: time.com]
Barbie has quite the resume with over 200 careers and has continued to break boundaries for decades! While the first Barbies had somewhat feminine roles, like fashion designers, nurses, and ballerinas, 1963's executive Barbie allowed her to be a corporate executive. (Something quite novel at the time!) She wore a tweed business suit with black gloves and matching shoes, encouraging girls to pursue whatever careers they wanted. Only two years later, they released astronaut Barbie, with many more careers on the way.
1967 Twiggy Barbie
[Source: eBay/instyle.com]
Famous fashion model, Twiggy, became the first celebrity Barbie doll in 1967, starting a new trend for Barbie. The Twiggy doll came with a fashionable mod-style dress popular in the 60s, tall boots, and her signature pixie hairstyle.
1971 Malibu Barbie
[Source: Barbie Media/insider.com]
Even career girls need to kick back and relax! Malibu Barbie debuted in 1971, beginning Barbie's California girl image. The doll had notably tanned skin and big blue eyes. Barbie's beach girl era has continued in Malibu Barbie's legacy, with beachside Barbies a continuing trend ever since.
1977 SuperStar Barbie
[Source: news4jax.com]
Barbie went through several different face and body mold changes throughout the years. 1977's SuperStar Barbie was notable because her face mold was used on many Barbie dolls, even into the 90s. The doll itself was focused on glitz, glam, and high fashion. SuperStar Barbie could be a Hollywood star or a famous singer, but you ultimately chose who she was!
1980 The First Black Barbie
[Source: Mattel/eonline.com]
In Barbie's history, she has had a lot of friends and family members. The first genuinely black doll was a controversial re-color of the Francie doll, which notably did not have African features. After facing backlash, Mattel introduced Christie in 1968, a new friend for Barbie. Many consider Christie to be the first black Barbie doll. However, it wasn't until 1980 that they made Barbie a black woman. This same year also introduced a Latina Barbie and an Asian Barbie as Mattel attempted to diversify its famous doll line.
1980 Western Barbie
[Source: eightieskids.com]
A likely influence for Barbie's cowgirl outfit featured in the Barbie movie, Western Barbie was first introduced in 1980. The doll was made with a winking feature that, unfortunately, didn't age well, leaving many of these vintage Barbies with a lazy eye. There was also a matching cowboy Ken doll!
1983 Great Shape Barbie
[Source: PC Mattel Archival Photographs/wpr.org]
The workout craze of the 1980s led to the popular Great Shape Barbie doll. Even before this outfit hit the Barbie movie, a similar outfit was worn by the Barbie doll in Toy Story 3. While the blue jumpsuit is the most familiar to Americans, the European version of the doll had a green jumpsuit instead.
1985 Day-to-Night Barbie
[Source: eBay/instyle.com]
1985's Day-to-Night Barbie showed off the versatility of career women. The doll came with a suit outfit, briefcase, and a pink dress for evening fun. This iconic 80s Barbie doll is considered a collector's item, so expect obtaining an original doll to set you back a few bucks.
1991 Rollerblade Barbie
[Source: etsy/cosmopolitan.com]
We couldn't pass up mentioning Rollerblade Barbie, another influence for one of the Barbie movie's favorite outfits. However, the original doll from 1991 had a recall in connection with the flicker'n flash skates. While they did light up when you rolled her inline skates, the wheels also allegedly made sparks and were deemed a fire hazard. While the recall did make these dolls a little more scarce, you can still find and collect them today.
1992 Totally Hair Barbie
[Source: glamour.com]
Did you know that Totally Hair Barbie is Mattel's most successful Barbie doll? Over 10 million of these dolls were sold, and they were available on shelves for a staggering four years, from 1992-1995. (It's actually a record for toy sales!) The doll purposely came with extra-long hair, encouraging girls to try styling their own Barbie's hair.
1992 Barbie for President
[Source: washingtonpost.com]
When Barbie says girls can do anything, she means it! 1992 marked the first year Barbie ran for president, complete with a patriotic gown. The original doll also came with a campaign button, a suit, and a briefcase. Barbie has continued to run for president since the doll first came out in 1992 and remains an icon to this day!
We hope you found the Barbie costume of your dreams! What was your favorite Barbie doll? Do you have a favorite Barbie movie? We'd love to hear about the Barbie costumes and outfits you want to see!
