In the upcoming movie Barbie, the eponymous doll will leave Barbieland to embark on a journey of self-discovery. Upon hearing of her impending absence, it would appear, Ken has put her house up for rent on Airbnb. Indeed, the latest development in Barbiecore's snowballing invasion of our lives is the arrival of a Barbie-owned, Ken-hosted Malibu DreamHouse on the home rental service. On July 17, four days before the film's release, bookings will open for two lucky guests to scoop up a free night each at the property. Two lucky winners will get a free night each. Fear not if you miss out, for this is not the only way to get in on the action.
A quick definition of Barbiecore: vibrant pink, done unapologetically and to excess. We at Traveler are no strangers to the color, highlighting in years past the world’s best pink sand beaches and most beautiful pink places. Those spots, rest assured, remain pink and can and should be incorporated into your summer itineraries. Do so with these lifestyle flourishes—the aforementioned Airbnb for two, pink hotels for everyone else, plus pink suitcases and pink attitudes—in mind.
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Stay like Barbie
A few days ago, aerial shots of a conspicuously hot pink mansion in the Malibu hills began appearing on Twitter. Barbie's marketing campaign had been, heretofore, lavish to say the least, and speculation that an entire property had been brought into the fold was soon confirmed with the news that a Malibu DreamHouse would soon be listed on Airbnb. The conceit is that Ken, not Barbie, is hosting the property, and amenities include access to Ken's beach wardrobe. An outdoor disco dance floor, pool, and a take-home gift of yellow-and-pink Impala roller blades (more on those momentarily) are also included.
If you miss out on the Airbnb (booking opens here July 17 at 1 p.m. ET), know that there are quite a few deliciously pink hotels open year-round to be booked at your convenience. The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg is a perfect baby pink, as is The Royal Hawaiian if you have eyes for Oahu. Closer to Venice Beach, where Barbie is bound, is The Beverly Hills Hotel. They don’t call it the “Pink Palace” for nothing—lounge by the pool in a pink-and-white striped cabana, dine on the coral terrace, and generally indulge in your most glamorous fantasies at the storied spot.
Move like Barbie
Even if you don't manage to score the Airbnb and, as a result, don't go home with a free pair of the Impala skate equipment featured in the film, you can still get your feet into a pair. The first drop sold out on Impala's website, but a whole new batch is now up on Zappos for anyone looking to brighten up their gear. Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken can be seen in the Barbie trailer sporting the getup on what may be their first excursion into the real world. That they are met with leering looks and laughter on the Venice Beach boardwalk should be chalked up to their full-scale neon attire—the skates and their accessories totally fly standing alone.
Pack like Barbie
When Barbie embarks on her road trip, the only thing in her backseat, it turns out, is Ken. No luggage. As the film’s producers told Architectural Digest, Barbie and her wardrobe are not necessarily constrained by the material laws of object permanence. This is not the case for the rest of us—your clothes need to be packed if you want them to come with you. Were Barbie to pack a suitcase, what suitcase would that be? Perhaps a number or two from the new Béis x Barbie The Movie luggage collection, which drops July 19 in tandem with the movie's release? On the market are hot pink weekender bags, hot pink hard-shell rollers, and hot pink cosmetic cases, just to name a few.
If you need a Barbie-inspired bag now, however, fear not—just be prepared to pick a more demure pink. Away’s neon pink options for bigger baggage may have already sold out, but their accessories, including the packing cubes, come in a soft petal pink perfect for a toned-down Barbie. SteamLine has some stunning options that make me think of the sewing boxes in which my own sister stored her Barbies back in the day, the best being some pink-and-white striped leather pieces reminiscent of Barbie’s glorious gingham. If you want to step outside pink—as Barbie very much does!—the brand also has a canary yellow colorway that’s just as chipper.