It’s an unmistakably Barbiecore summer, and on Thursday, June 29, ALDO will make it just a little simpler to channel everyone’s favorite plastic girlie with a fondness for pink. ALDO has teamed up with Mattel to launch the Barbie x ALDO collection, which delivers the goods Barbie dreams of. Whether you grew up playing with dolls or are simply here for the bright pink ride, this 19-piece collection checks off all the main Barbiecore boxes, from nostalgic details to colorways—and even a few Barbie World Easter eggs.
“We knew we had to ignite what was iconic about Barbie throughout the entire experience,” Daianara Grullon Amalfitano, ALDO Chief Brand and Product Officer, tells InStyle exclusively. “One of the first things that you experience when buying a Barbie is the box – it’s bold, hot pink, and has that signature window – so we created a shoe box that mimicked those elements, including a clear window that displays the Barbie x ALDO shoes.”
This range evokes strong nostalgia, but the firm understands that there is a fine balance between collectible and practical. When it came to designing the Barbie x ALDO shoes and bags, function was equally crucial as form.
“Barbie’s been through so much evolution throughout her 64 years, we really wanted to lean into nostalgia and that bold Barbiecore aesthetic,” the designer says. While the collection includes Barbie’s signature high-rise heels, there are also kitten heels and rhinestone-studded sneakers. “I’m wearing sneakers!”We used Barbie’s hot pink motifs in our designs, but we still stayed faithful to ALDO by prioritizing comfort,” Amalfitano says. As a result, every shoe in the collection, from the sky-high baby pink platforms to the brilliant pink jelly pumps, features ALDO’s ultra-cushy Pillow Walk soles (which Barbie herself may have benefited from after decades of impossible-to-walk-in stilettos).
Aside from the iconic hues, Barbie aficionados will note additional brand-appropriate design touches. “Both [Barbie and ALDO] love fearless, more-is-more embellishment, so throughout the collection you’ll see playful pins, rhinestones, and even glitter outsoles,” says Amalfitano, who also suggests that eagle-eyed doll aficionados keep a look out for subtle tributes to the iconic doll. “The tiniest charms on our handbags and shoes were each specially selected for their iconic Barbie status,” she says.
When it comes to building a collection around such a cultural powerhouse, every design detail had to be carefully considered. From five different Pantone tints, the ALDO design team chose three pinks for the collection: Malibu Fuchsia, Malibu Pink, and Soft BB Pink. They chose cues that reflect both vintage Barbie vitality and the new Barbiecore look.”We wanted to capture the playfulness of the Y2K aesthetic by incorporating fun materials like transparent TPU and holographic finishes,” adds Amalfitano. She also reveals that each piece of the line underwent considerable trial and error testing, stating that “we had to trial 10 pink glitter outsoles to achieve the right shade of pink with the right amount of shimmer.”
Needless to say, the efforts paid off. The Barbie x ALDO collection is drenched with nostalgia and will appeal to both true Barbie enthusiasts and fashion fans. What about the price? That’s right: everything costs between $30 and $140 and is now accessible.
The Barbie x ALDO limited edition collection is available for purchase online and in-store at ALDO locations. Items from the collection will be available online at macys.com and in select Macy’s locations.
