Only a few months ago, Vogue Paris re-created Barbie within its pages. Like the packages you may have torn into on your seventh birthday, the boxes in the Vogue photos contained models who posed just like the real thing — or, you know, just like the plastic thing. But, this Vogue Japan feature just one-upped the Paris edition's Barbie imitation, in a big way.
Styled by Anna Dello Russo and photographed by Ellen von Unwerth, the editorial for the April glossy features Rosie Huntington-Whiteley doing a Barbie impression that’s spot-on. Sure, Huntington-Whiteley already shares some of Barbie's iconic features — namely, the blonde hair and long limbs. But, what’s most impressive/terrifying is the British model’s ability to pose like an inanimate object. She’s got Barbie’s barely-bendable knees, glued-together fingers, and painted-on smile down to an uncanny art.
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The spread also includes the Mattel-inspired Moschino ready-to-wear collection, as well as other floral, colorful, flirty, and shiny designs for spring '15 that are fit for Barbie's super-feminine wardrobe. And, to further drive the point home, there's even an appearance by Ken — hard-as-plastic six-pack, pearly-white smile and all.
While we always appreciate nostalgia and a cheeky nod to childhood — especially when executed so precisely — we're pretty floored by how this one manages to be playful and unsettling at the same time. But, considering Barbie's been having a moment for the past season as long as we can remember, we're also pretty excited to see what the next wave of nostalgic fashion means for stunning editorials everywhere. JNCOs, we're looking at you.
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