If you’re looking to channel your inner doll, these plus size Barbie outfit ideas are great ways to do so.

Since its original manufacturing in 1959, fashion figure Barbie has been famous for her modelesque stature, high-end style, and picture-perfect smile. The household phenomenon was created by Ruth Handler, a business magnate who reportedly gained inspiration after watching her daughter, Barbara, and friends role-play with paper dolls.

However, although Handler innovatively entered the market and the hearts of many, the lack of representation for little girls on the chubbier side often sparked debates globally. The earlier Barbies were slim, with runway features that weren’t realistic for the everyday woman. This later prompted the conversation of adding plump-shaped toys to the roster.

In 2016, Mattel, Barbie’s distributor, listened to the inclusivity calls and introduced a thicker design of the once-thin model in their diversity line. But… this, too, ignited controversy, as most questioned whether or not the imagery would “promote obesity” among children. Despite its mayhem, today, the billion-dollar empire is still one of the top doll brands in the world.

The Rise of Barbie Trends on Social Media

For years, we’ve seen Barbie displayed in everything from matinees and merchandise to crowds and costumes. With the peak of beauty creators in the 2010s, makeup tutorials on the character’s signature, pageant-girl look flooded platforms like YouTube. Not long after, those same online personalities hopped on the wave of get-ready-with-me videos rocking clothing inspired by Barbie.

Soon enough, it became a trend. Barbie’s impact continued to be a content throb around social media, but one thing remained… full-figured women in Barbie cosplay weren’t at the top of those hashtags. By now, we’re all familiar with the internet’s inhumane obsession with forcing socially obese people into hiding and condemning them for experimenting with their appearance. Whether 2014 or 2024, users still can’t fathom that bigger bodies aren’t confined to black clothing or sitting on the sidelines afraid to be seen anymore.

As the body-positivity community grew in size and visibility, heavier individuals eventually found comfort in the famous virtual movement #WeWearWhatWeWant, which made national news when plus size influencer Simone Mariposa brought the sensation to X (then Twitter) in 2016. Through the cyber world’s advocacy for larger frames, big women internationally began defying society’s norms and cultivating a lane of their own, specifically in fashion.

The evolution of plus size fashion has come a long way in internet years. Fluffy ladies have since proven that portrayals of Barbie’s famed aesthetic don’t rely on the width of one’s waist. In a world where ‘Barbie’ is often deemed the golden beauty standard, those of all shapes and sizes have shown that the long ideology of what that looks like has taken many forms. And the designers and retailers are taking note- making sure their Barbie capsule collections include plus size options!

Simultaneously, such depiction has given girls who look like the ones on their small screens the courage to define their own beauty standards. Be it through wearing an all-pink outfit or loving their reflection in the mirror past what they’ve previously been conditioned to believe. And today, we are all about the inspiration and plus size Barbie options to play in, as you channel your inner Barbie and walk it out.

So, if you’re still on a natural high from the live-action 2023 ‘Barbie’ film, this is the listicle for you. We’ve put together plus size Barbie outfit ideas that are perfect for embodying the ultimate doll!

7 Plus Size Barbie Outfit Ideas Guaranteed to Make You Feel Like ‘That Girl’

Which of these plus size Barbie outfit ideas will you be trying? Let us know in the comments below!

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