The Best ‘Barbie’ Movie Gifts, According to a Real-Life Collector
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This holiday season, it’s a strange time to be a Barbie collector. Sure, that stylish doll with the permanently raised arches has always been a staple of holiday catalogues (remember those?) and gift guides, but this year I’m more likely to see a Margot Robbie Barbie movie doll or a set of Barbie-pink luggage than the latest 2023 Holiday Barbie on the shelves.
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Mattel estimates that there are well over 100,000 avid Barbie collectors, and 45% percent of them spend upwards of $1000 a year (although these stats have been quoted as early as 1997, and with the amount of millennial and Gen-Z collectors I follow on ‘dollstagram’ and ‘dollblr’, I’m certain this number is nowhere near accurate). In recent years, Mattel has leaned into this semi-niche, yet fervently passionate community and offered a wide range of Barbies aimed specifically at collectors, including vintage reproductions, collaborations with trendy fashion designers, and Barbie dolls featured as characters from film and TV such as Star Trek.
But with Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, helmed by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, becoming a massive phenomenon in and of itself, you’ll find plenty of non-doll Barbie movie gifts to shop this season, with everything from makeup palettes to Airbnbs decked in pink. There are currently 1.1 billion (with a ‘B’!) views for #Barbiecore on TikTok so far, and it seems like everyone and their plastic mother has collabed with Barbie recently, including, but not limited to [takes a deep breath]: ASOS, Beis, Kitsch, Polaroid, FUNBOY, Crocs, Fossil, Ruggable, OPI, Show Me Your Mumu, and more than 100 other brands. That’s not even to comment on the renewed interest in collectibles auctions too — a mint condition No. 1 doll was recently listed at $15,000, and eBay options can be even cheaper.
As a collector, I’ve seen the good, the bad, and then the downright tacky when it comes to the movie’s recent brand collabs (although we do have our favorites when it comes to Barbiecore fashion pieces). That’s why your trusty editor with over 60+ Barbies to their name (amongst other dolls) is here to weed through it all and recommend the best Barbie gifts you should actually gift this season, from Dreamhouse-like tech accessories, to beachwear that’ll make you feel like Malibu Barbie, and more.
Vinyl Me Please
Forget the visuals — the Barbie soundtrack arguably gave us several songs of the summer, and now you can own every single bop as an exclusive record set from Vinyl Me Please. The “Designer” edition comes packaged in a glittering “designer handbag” with a removable strap, expanding fan-fold side panels, and magnetic snap closure — so, yes, you can actually use it as a purse. A fabric dust bag comes along with it to ensure your purse stays in pristine condition. Inside the purse, you’ll find a professional-grade felt slipmat and the record itself, which are available in Sunsational Pink and, for the Kendom edition, “I’m Just Ken”-inspired black vinyl, both of which are available exclusively at VinylMePlease.com.
Zara
When it comes to Barbie, most of us aren’t looking to drop bookoo bucks on something pink and shimmery that make us feel like a bonafide dress-up doll. Zara’s highly-anticipated collaboration with Mattel is giving it all in terms of trendiness and doll and movie-accuracy (the original Barbie inspired swimsuit sold out fast), with just the right amount of quirk we love to see in a Barbie collection (say no to basic Barbe logo t-shirts, and yes to giant Barbie ‘B’ bags and cowboy Ken fits). If you want to indulge in your inner child and feel glamorous at the same time, this is the collection for you.
Zara x Barbie Collection
Funboy
In the Barbie movie, the titular doll takes all methods of planes, trains, and speedboats to get to the real world to seek some non-plastic enlightenment. But if you yourself want to lounge back and feel more like Malibu Barbie, then FUNBOY’s collection of Barbie-themed pool floats will look as aesthetic as they are comfortable. The collection goes surprisingly hard, letting you float on in a speed boat or giant letter B as you transform yourself in the ultimate summer Barbiefluencer.
Homesick
If you’ve ever yearned to turn your living space into an IRL Dreamhouse (with less plastic smell), than Homesick’s Barbie candle collection will get you one step closer without having to do some major renovations. Inspired by all three floors of Barbie’s dreamy décor, the rose and jasmine of Barbie’s Dreamhouse candle accent the “pristine pink couch overlook[ing] the Malibu sunset”, making you feel more at home with the uplifting notes of lemon and sandalwood.
Dragon Glassware
If you want your morning routine to feel more like you’re floating down from the top floor of a Dreamhouse like barbie in the Greta Gerwig movie montage, these glasses and coffee mugs from Dragon Glassware will do the trick. We personally love these stunning champagne glasses (hello champagne brunch!) that come in gold metallic with pink interiors, embellished with the signature Barbie branding on the base.
Show Me Your Mumu
True story — in college I bought a beloved metallic Barbie one-piece featuring her iconic pink Corvette, but since it was from a fast fashion brand that shall not be named, it fell apart in one season. If you want Barbie swimwear pieces that feel just as freakin’ cute, but will last you several years on the shore, Show Me Your Mumu’s Barbie Collection has officially caught our attention. Not every piece screams “I’m a doll hoarder”, and there’s expansive options for activewear, dresses and more, too.
Truly Beauty
Sure, there’s all manor of Barbie fashion, pool accessories, and tech accessories, but we haven’t even gotten to beauty yet! Yes, viral skincare brand Truly Beauty has Barbie-fied their top-rated products, like their whipped body butter and bikini serum, and we are so here for it. Fun, fresh, and effective, while we doubt Barbie “gets bumpy down there too,” like the brand says, we promise the Barbie Butter will leave your skin feeling as soft and smooth as a doll (and their Barbie mini purse? Say no more).
Impala Skates
Ever since the shot of Ryan Gosling’s yellow rollerblades first popped up in the Barbie trailer, we’ve seen a new wave of interest in the blades — and the sport itself. Besides being such a look, there’s never been a better time to take your fitness routine back to the Nineties with a pair of new Barbie-themed Impala rollerblades. These skates are ready-to-wear with no breaking-in required (spandex body optional) making them the perfect pair to begin skating, Barbie superfan or not.
Impala Rollerskates Impala x Barbie Lightspeed Inline Skate Barbie Bright Yellow 9 M
Skinnydip London
For whatever real world throws at you (including existential dread ala Barbie’s “do you guys ever think about dying?” quote from the movie), Skinnydip London’s shockproof cases have you protected. Made for mirror selfies and collectors like me who give them brownie points for including actual dolls on their merch (I see you, 1993 Western Stampin’ Barbie on the “Not My First Rodeo” phone case). Throwing it back to the nostalgia we all know and love, there are plenty of cases, t-shirts, bags and more for Barbie in us all.
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