Embracing Barbiecore: Popular Pinks Throughout The Ages

Popular Pink Colors

It’s no secret that the color pink has been trending in popular culture, from fashion to interior design, over the last year. Much of this momentum for the color is owed to the excitement around the new Barbie film. In fact, this infatuation with, and application of, all things pink was appropriately dubbed #Barbiecore across social media, gaining traction around the time of the film’s early press buzz last summer.

And while Barbie,^® a late-1950s invention, is once again making a renewed cultural impact in the 2020s, it's true that throughout the ages, the doll’s now trademark color has held a unique place in society. With Barbie on the brain these days we’re taking a look back at popular pinks throughout the ages, with enough choices to satisfy your desire, from a quick front door makeover to a whole-space refresh.

Victorian Era Pink

Image credit: jerseygal2009

While Barbie had yet to be invented, the color pink was a popular color during the Victorian era. In fact, the Victorian era is known for its embrace of pastels. Popular shades of pink include dusty roses with and those with a more neutral and earthy spirit, as well as pinks of a more delicate or fairytale-like persuasion. The derivation of synthetic pigments at that time made the application of diverse paint colors like these possible. Take a look at our custom curated Victorian-inspired pink palette below.

Click here for more on the perfect pink paint colors for Victorian architecture.

Mid-Century Pink

The 1950s saw the election of President Dwight Eisenhower to office and shortly thereafter, the country’s infatuation with a particular pastel pink which was beloved by First Lady Mamie Eisenhower—the eponymous Mamie Pink. The color was her signature and in this postwar era, this particular pink (as well as other pastel hues) helped to soothe the psyches of the American people. And in 1959 toy manufacturer Mattel and Barbie creator, Ruth Handler, introduced the world to the doll that would change the toy industry forever and create a lasting effect on American culture; and perhaps with it, create a new and equally long-lasting associations with the color pink. Take a look at our custom curated, Mid-Century-inspired pink palette below.

Regan-Era Pink

The 1980s were an era of excess. A surge in wealth, personal freedoms, fast cars, and more helped pave the way for an equally vibrant and excessive palette of pinks. From Lisa Frank to hit movies and TV shows like Pretty in Pink and Miami Vice, the color pink was everywhere in the 1980s. In particular, hot pinks, magentas, and bubblegum pinks were all the rage during this period. Take a look at our custom curated Regan-Era-inspired pink palette below.

Millennial Pink

Museum of Ice Cream, Los Angeles. Image courtesy Museum of Ice Cream.

Just last decade, the world was awash in “Millennial Pink,” a gender-neutral range of shades from beige with blush touches to hybrid peachy-salmon colors. From experience-based museums like The Museum of Ice Cream and London’s Instagram famous restaurant Sketch designed by India Mahdavi, along with Apple's product release in Rose Gold, this particular type of pink helped to define the decade. Take a look at our custom curated Millennial Pink-inspired palette below.

Click here to learn more about the color pink’s relevance throughout design.