It’s Ken’s chance to take the spotlight. Kencore, the latest men’s fashion trend, has captivated the fashion industry. Drawing influence from the elegant Ken doll, as well as Ryan Gosling and his male co-stars’ portrayal in the new Barbie movie
The term Kencore has come up as an adversary to Barbiecore. Up until the release of the movie, the limelight was on the main character and her fashion. However the movie has propelled Ken from being “The Boyfriend ” to a fashion icon. No longer known just for his looks but for his eccentric choices. He may have finally come out on his own.
Image Courtesy : BBC.com
The recent release of the Barbie movie, directed by Greta Gerwig, starring Margot Robbie in the titular role has marked the return of Barbie’s fashion styles and raised its popularity in the fashion industry. “Barbiecore” is the most popular trend among women’s fashion right now.
The character Ken featuring Ryan Gosling, as boyfriend of Barbie, may have been a catalyst for influencing menswear fashion.
Simu Liu, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in the movie ‘Barbie’ – Courtesy Warner Bros Pictures
Since his debut in 1961, Ken’s fashion has been a topic of interest, ranging the variety of looks from classic and preppy to modern and daring looks. The use of bold colours features Ken’s style in the movie. He’s often seen wearing bright hues like pink, green and blue that add playful colours to his wardrobe. Bold prints, patterns like polka dots and stripes, emphasises his unique style. In the movie Ken is also seen donning accessories such as hats, sunglasses, scarves and necklaces. These were colourful and eye-catching, making him stand out.
Photo: Warner Media
Barbie historians say that Ken has had the least influence on men’s fashion. The focus was more towards marketing Barbie to young girls. Now, after the release of the Barbie movie, it appears to have impacted men’s fashion.
Ryan Gosling, starring as Ken and his male co-stars Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Ncuti Gatwa, Scott Evans who played several Ken, were dressed up in pastel coloured outfits in the movie as well as during the movie premieres. Ken influenced fashion may be seen on celebs like Timothee Chalamet, Jeremy Strong, Sebastian Stan, and Lil Nas X, from Runways to Tiktok, have been giving their fans the Ken vibe with an abundance of pink on their red carpet and street style looks on a regular basis, but Ryan Gosling is undoubtedly giving us a true taste of the Kencore during the premiere of the Barbie movie! He is setting the bar for guys worldwide.
Photo: In the upcoming “Barbie” film, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Ryan Gosling, and Ncuti Gatwa play several Kens. Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures
Kencore is a phenomenon that has definitely caught on, thus marking the beginning of a brave new world. This has garnered his status as a role model for the boys and men alike, just like the way Barbie has been for young girls. After 62 years, Ken may have finally influenced men’s fashion and witnessed a big moment of his own.
Written by : Samanvitha Rao J
