How the new ‘Kencore’ fashion trend is smashing stereotypes

Greta Gerwig’s Barbie may have been heralded as a new global icon for shattering conventions and smashing stereotypes. But she isn’t the only one that does that. Her longtime boyfriend Ken also joins force with her, giving birth to a new approach to fashion that challenges traditional expectations surrounding masculinity. Introducing: Kencore.

The summer of 2023 is synonymous with the release of the eagerly awaited Barbie movie, whose main characters — Barbie and her boyfriend Ken (Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling) — seem to be having fun countering and shattering a host of stereotypes. It’s obviously the cult doll who takes centre stage in this feature film, which sees her experience the real world for the first time. 

Nevertheless, Ken, who follows her like a shadow, is far from a mere extra. On the contrary, through his fashion looks — admittedly a little extravagant — he affirms a trend that has already been present in the fashion world for several seasons, with men’s wardrobes becoming less strict and conformist, and above all less stereotypical. As such, Ken officially ranks with Harry Styles, David Banda and Lil Nas X as the icons of gender-fluid fashion.

‘Kencore’ is smashing stereotypes

If you had to name just one Ken outfit before the release of the Barbie movie, it would inevitably have been swim shorts. Because that’s how the cult doll’s official boyfriend was originally dressed. And that lasted a long time, before he branched out to more covering, casual or elegant clothes. But in Greta Gerwig’s movie, Ken takes things a step further with a fashion style that’s less focused on virile stereotypes, and which even takes cues from Barbie’s wardrobe. While the male doll has never really influenced men’s fashion choices, that may be about to change radically. Welcome to the age of ‘Kencore’!

And the phenomenon has not gone unnoticed among young people. This is particularly visible on the TikTok social network, where Ken’s outfits are already a hit (the #Ken hashtag has over 6.5 billion views, and the #Kenoutfit hashtag has nearly a million views). So, what’s on offer? The (new) wardrobe of Barbie’s muscular blond beau in many cases resembles that of his sweetheart. And while this wardrobe serves above all to challenge a number of sexist stereotypes, it also confirms a certain appeal for fashion that is slowly but surely moving away from certain stereotypes surrounding the concept of virility.

A bolder look

So, what exactly is Ken’s style? Think high shine, casual cuts, pastel or pop colours and a touch of femininity. For a long time, women have been dipping into men’s wardrobes to make some of their clothing items their own, but the trend could soon be reversed in the wake of the Barbie movie’s success. From prints to pastel pinks to long white fur coats, the ‘Kencore’ style is, in the end, just a variation on the ‘Barbiecore’ trend. It’s a choice that’s far from insignificant, and one that has already been adopted by a number of stars on the red carpet and by many fashion designers.

At the latest men’s fashion shows, dedicated to the spring-summer 2024 season, several designers opted for pastel colours (Amiri, Dior Men, Givenchy, Dolce & Gabbana), shiny or sequined fabrics (Loewe, Etro, AMI, Dries Van Noten), micro-shorts (Prada, Hermès, Sean Suen), floral prints (Dolce & Gabbana, Givenchy), or crop tops (Egonlab). 

Almost all of these garments can be found in the Barbie movie, showing that men’s fashion too is undergoing a revolution to break away from certain traditions or expectations. It now remains to be seen whether Ken will one day dare to step out in a skirt — a fashion choice that has already been tried and tested by a number of men.

This story was published via AFP Relaxnews.

(Main image: IMDb and Featured image: Instagram/thebarbiemovie)