Kaep Does It

After the launch, we caught up with Barbie to discuss the collection and everything else going on in her life. From her hypnotizing, pearl-decked Met Gala look by Jonathan Simkhai to her love for Lana Del Rey, Barbie shares intimate moments that have brought her joy after the past year and a half of isolation. With her playful attitude and inspiringly optimistic outlook, there are sure to be many more joyful moments to come for her.

Welcome Barbie!

Hello!

What has this past month looked like for you?

I actually traveled for the first time in like almost two years and went to New York. It was really fun, you know, being back at it again. And in some ways, really interesting. I got to see my friends and family and all that good stuff.

And you're partnering now with Pandora on their new “Pandora ME” line alongside Charli XCX and Addison Rae, among others. Can you tell me a little bit more about that collection?

First of all, I got to say shoutout to Charli XCX, because she’s iconic and I love her. I really love the jewelry in this collection. The necklaces and rings are super cute, and you know, I just love good jewelry. I love a good accessory in general. I would say I'm more of a casual clothing kind of girl, but I love to have really fun colorful jewelry on. This is really kind of a no brainer for me because I love a good mix and match charm collection. It’s been really fun to be a part of.

How do you play jewelry into your overall sense of fashion on a day to day?

I like to wear really comfortable clothes during most of my off time, so for me, accessories have always been a part of making my outfit individual to me and elevating it. Making it fun and using whatever idea I have that day. I’ve always been a hat girl, or wearing earrings or necklaces or rings. It's just really great to have the different options.

Thinking of fashion, I think there are two kinds of general categories of people: those who focus on minute details, and those who zoom out and focus on the bigger picture. Even with designers you can see this I think with some who are hyper focused on every inch and seam and others who drape and focus more on shapes. Where do you fall on this kind of scale when it comes to fashion?

It really depends on my mood. Every time I get out there or step out and be glam, it's always a different scenario. I'm always changing and going through so much transformation and I get bored really quickly so it really just depends on the day and how I feel. I do love a silhouette. My theme lately has kind of been loving a good silhouette. I've been really into getting something that's like a beautiful fabric and texture and tones and all that good stuff.

Who is someone designing right now that you think really exemplifies what you love about fashion?

There’s a lot of people. I love Collina Strada and Kim Shui. I always love designers that are thinking outside of the box. I should just go through my texts with Chris, my stylist, because I send him so many screenshots of different designers and posts that I see that are so amazing. I also definitely love Staud, Simon Miller, and Area. They are bold designers, and the people that I look to the most in fashion and thinking about what I’m going to wear next. Especially because, first of all, they have clothes that fit me. They are all really new age and super cute. Its almost as if they are costumey, but in an amazing way. They really know how to turn a look. I’m not into a simple outfit. I want something that’s fun.

Let’s talk about the Met Gala Look…

Jonathan Simkhai invited me to the Met Gala which I was really excited for. Like very, very, VERY excited. I thought to myself, “ you know, I'm gonna put a lot of effort into this.” Jonathan sent me some sketches at first, and I was speaking with him about really leaning into the American old Hollywood glamour vibe. Next thing, he designed this absolutely gorgeous dress. We had a lot of fittings and it was kind of a long process. I had the corset on and all each time. It was a super elaborate process but really fun in a lot of ways. Chris was also there throughout the whole thing to guide us too. Then for glam, working with Kennedy is incredible. I think that she is just my creative twin when it comes to makeup so shoutout to her. Also loved doing hair with Malcolm, who is an incredible hairstylist and just has the most insane wigs. I'm so happy with the way it all came out because we were really tweaking it until the last possible minute.

Do you listen to Lana?

I am the biggest Lana stan in the world.

The look reminded me so much of her early Hollywood glamor era. The iconic but troubled starlet sequestered away at Chateau. Does that resonate at all?

I think that almost everything I do is inspired by her creative world-building and the fact that she is a visual goddess. She really found a way to just create a completely new image that takes you into a whole new universe. She is really just a creative genius to me so that is kind of like the highest compliment. Thank you.

Aw. I really love that. I was kind of nervous to ask just because these days I have no idea who is and isn’t a fan.

No, I am literally obsessed. There is no other pop diva that has had such an impact on me and inspired me more than her.

Where do you stand, LA versus New York?

Well, I think there's like two ways to go about it. I'm from New York so I love New York and I think that it’s a truly special and fun place. I do enjoy living in LA though, which is where I currently have lived the past three years. If you want to hang out outside or want to go hike: LA is the vibe. If you are trying to step out and be glam: New York is the vibe. It’s just a matter of mood and what you’re looking for at the moment.

Now that more and more people are vaccinated, how does it feel to be back on set?

It's been so great. I didn't realize how much I missed everything because I kind of got sucked in with the rest of the world into this long quarantine and almost forgot that everything else still existed. It's been really fun. I love to see people and it's been amazing to kind of have some sort of semblance of normalcy. We’re on a path to getting through this and it’s really great to start actually socializing and seeing people in the real world.

What are you looking forward to now? Any projects you want to share details on?

Well I’m looking forward to a few things coming out here and there in the next couple years. I am very blessed to be doing a movie with Jordan Peele, “Nope”, that’s coming out next year, which is so exciting. I’m really looking forward to continuing working and being the most happy version of myself that I can be. At the end of the day, that is what it’s all really about.

Shop the Pandora Me collection featuring Barbie, here.

Jordan Peele’s upcoming film “Nope” featuring Barbie is set to premiere in 2022.