When I was growing up, I was a tom boy… I was outside in the garden, climbing in the trees, building base camps in the woods, making swings and climbing ropes in amongst the trees. I was not a Barbie girl – Barbie was for girlie girls, not girls that rebelled against wearing a dress and preferred to be outside in nature getting muddy. Now as an adult, have my preconceived ideas of Barbie changed?
Behind the scenes on Barbie
This week I listened to a Woman’s Hour – Radio 4 podcast, where I heard a conversation between the presenter Anita Rani, and two key women behind the scenes on Barbie – set director, Katie Spencer and production manager, Sarah Greenwoood – where they talked about how they created and set the scene for Barbie in a UK film studio, in winter, in Watford, Northwest London.
Just in case you’ve been under a rock, Barbie is a 2023 American fantasy comedy directed by Greta Gerwig; the movie features Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken (swoon), and heavily features the colour pink!
As part of the creative process, they created over 100 pinks from salmon pink to dark purple pink, and during that time discovered the sweet spot and defined their unique, highly pink colour palette for the movie. Working with Rosco, a company who specialise in products for the entertainment industry, they ordered 200 litres of pink, causing a global shortage of pink paint!
They went on to say that film-sets are often dark and mysterious; however, Barbie was different. In the podcast they touched on how influential light and colour was on set, commenting “You walk in and you’re into this amazing bath of colour and light, and it really was a therapy. It really was, it just glowed. It was like pulling you in, into this studio. In that sense it was really joyful.”
Keen to hear more? I highly recommend having a listen – Woman’s Hour, Radio 4 – HERE.
Fun facts about pink
- Baker-Miller Pink was known for temporarily reducing hostility, violence and aggressive behaviour, and has been used on the walls in psychiatric wards and in prison cells to calm inmates and pacify prisoners
- Throughout most of the world, pink is considered a feminine colour
- Madame de Pompadours favourite colour was pink
- Pink became associated as a feminine colour post world-war II
- In 2016, Rose Quartz was Pantone’s ‘Colour of the year’, known as millennial pink
- Pink has been used to emasculate people and to make them feel physically weak, hence some football teams choosing the colour pink to paint the changing rooms of the opposing team
- Global brands that have chosen to include pink in their logo include Barbie, T-Mobile, Tinder, AirBnB, and Dunkin Donuts (there are many more)
How I associate with pink – personally, culturally, and psychologically
Personally, when I was young, I thought pink was very girlie-girlie. As a child it was not for me as I was very much a tom boy, always outside playing. Dolls and pink weren’t really part of my world – I don’t recall it being in my wardrobe either.
During my teens, the film Pretty in Pink was released which starred Molly Ringwald as Andie and Jon Cryer as Duckie. I loved that movie and unbeknownst to me it started to shift my perception of the colour pink. Andie made it cool, funky, and individual, because of her unique style and dress.
In my 30 and 40s, I have a very different relationship with pink. I have carefully selected items in my wardrobe that are pink – specifically a soft, muted dusky, dusty pink. Items include scarves, jumpers, a silk top (beautiful and timeless from Mint Velvet) and PJs (I’m a sucker for the leopard print ones from Hush – a lockdown purchase to make me smile). Moreover, two walls in my bedroom are painted in Rangwali Pink No. 296 from Farrow and Ball, it’s utter bliss – warm, cozy, kind, soft, yet strong and confident to.
Culturally and symbolically, I associate pink with hearts, romance, love, blooming peony’s, girls baby clothes. Even the saying ‘rose tinted glasses’ suggests everything has a warm, soft, attractive glow, designed to make us smile, feel good, and look at the bright side of life.
What’s your relationship and association with pink?
The influence of colour
There’s no denying it, colour has a huge impact on our lives. As the ladies on Woman’s Hour advocate, the set made them feel joyful and uplifted. Colour can be utilised very effectively to change our mood, influence our behaviour, and impact how we feel. Some refer to it as colour-therapy, some call it colour healing, some don’t believe they associate with colour at all, but we do – we all do – some more consciously than others.
I love the fact that colour has the ability to influence every area of our lives, with its vibe, energy, light and frequency. It influences my life on a daily basis, to the clothes I wear, to the brands I’m attracted to, even to the food I eat and meals I prepare.
Back to Barbie
Are you going to see it? If yes, what draws you to it? If no, why not? Do you have any preconceived ideas about Barbie from your childhood? In all honesty, I never thought I’d go to a Barbie movie, but I’m curious. I want to see the set, the colour palette, I want to discover how it’s going to make me feel, I’m intrigued and open to having my past perceptions changed. Plus, who doesn’t love a fun, feel-good movie?
Let’s talk – colourful conversations
I’m a brand strategist, colour consultant and a coach, with over 20 years brand, marketing and communications experience. I work with heart-led people and businesses who are looking to make a positive impact in the world. Do get in touch to talk about and explore new perspectives.
With joy and colour,
Emma 🩷
Images courtesy of Pixels – Artem Podrez, Dids, and Carolina Grabowska.
Brand Strategist | MarComms | Coach 