Vogue Joins In The Barbiemania!
Image: Ethan James Green via Vogue
We are not to forget about Barbie this summer. Just as the release of the last Barbie trailer was fading from our minds, Margot Robbie appeared on the cover of Vogue in complete Barbie-ness. The day after this cover story and matching photoshoot was published, Warner Bros. also released a brand new trailer for the movie, the first one that actually gives us a hint to the plot.
These photos are exactly how editorial photoshoots are supposed to go. Styled by Gabriella Karefa-Johnson and photographed by Ethan James Green, Margot Robbie shines as Barbie in a magical yet not over the top, corny way. The cover photo shows the actress and producer in a bubblegum pink Versace dress, huge smile on her face, hands positioned in an almost unnatural, plastic way- just as Barbie would be.
Image: Ethan James Green via Vogue
While stunning, the cover photo just scratches the surface of how interesting this shoot was. Every image is a nod to a different era of Barbie, without being too overt. It is contemporary and fresh instead. There is Cowboy Barbie, posing on a wooden fence with a lasso, looking iconic in a Maison Margiela shirt and shoes. The look is completed by blonde bangs and a cowboy hat, as well as a fake blue sky backdrop.
Image: Ethan James Green via Vogue
There is astronaut Barbie, Margot looking flawless in ‘60s Space Age inspired makeup and a gold Proenza Schouler dress just peeking through a round pink spaceship window, which also serves as a nod to Barbie packaging. There is original Bathing Suit Barbie with mod sunglasses and a sun reflector.
There is CEO Barbie decked out in oversized Saint Laurent, standing next to huge props that remind us of Barbie’s miniature size. There is President Barbie in Chanel, Skater Barbie in Miu Miu, Travel Barbie in Marc Jacobs and Christian Louboutin.
Image: Ethan James Green via Vogue
It is the details of this shoot that make it work so well. Margot Robbie is overly retouched, the images clearly altered through PhotoShop. Given the overuse of photo editing tools in today’s day and age, it is easy to instantly have a negative reaction to the overt airbrushing in this photoshoot. However, in this case, PhotoShop is being used as the creative and artistic tool that it was originally designed to be. Barbie is literally made out of plastic, her skin perfect, her proportions unnatural. To me, it is clear that Robbie is supposed to take on that plastic aura. It is a part of what completes the overall vision in this editorial.
Image: Ethan James Green via Vogue
From the trailer released on Thursday, we learn that Barbie is having somewhat of an existential crisis that leads her to venture into the real world, which opens her eyes to the realities of being a woman. Just in the two minute trailer, we see how uncomfortable she is by being sexualized for the first time in her perfect, shiny life. Karefa-Johnson’s shoot plays subtly at these themes, while still keeping Robbie as the star of the show. Once again, I simply cannot wait for Barbie.
Image: Ethan James Green via Vogue