What is Ken-ergy, and how do you pull off this look?

Ryan Gosling is Ken-ough, and you’re Ken-ough, too

By Brandon Chia - 3 Sep 2023

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Ken-ergy’ is the talk of the town now that we’re in the thick of Barbie fever. Whether you’ve caught the film in theatres or just the trailer, you’ve probably seen the exuberant spirit of Ryan Gosling’s ditzy and lovable character. But there’s more than meets the eye to this hunky piece of plastic, and we're here to break it all down for you.

What is ‘Ken-ergy?’

Ken plays a real feminist role in the film as the perfect accessory to Barbie, giving her the spotlight to shine like the star she is. But it’s clear from the get-go that Ken feels some pressure to live up to the standards of the gorgeous, strong man he appears to be, as he overreacts with envy towards other Kens, overestimates his own capabilities and struggles to figure out who he actually is.

While there’s no working definition for Ken-ergy, it’s essentially Ken’s polished, fragile yet innocent ego. Throughout the film, he just wants to be the best version of himself and be seen by those he loves most. (Spoiler alert: things only come to a head when he doesn’t end up receiving the recognition he thinks he deserves, and resorts to becoming a cult leader back in Barbieland out of spite.)

We wouldn’t be surprised if this is a cleverly-engineered character arc designed by director Greta Gerwig to shine a spotlight on the expectations men face in today’s society, and their struggle to meet them. It’s no secret that men are also held to certain standards on how to behave and how they present themselves.

This secondary storyline for Ken is one of the greatest takeaways from this box office hit, to show the men in our lives it’s okay to not be okay, and make them feel ‘kenough’ whenever appropriate.

Ken-ergy in fashion

In terms of fashion, Ken-ergy is communicated through colourful and sexy outfits that highlight your arms, pecs and abs, much like the menswear collections that have hit the runways in recent years.

Fashion has entered an era where men can embrace femininity without challenging the traditional norms of masculinity, giving them a platform to be as playful as they like.

Designer Jonathan Anderson’s menswear lines for both his eponymous label and Loewe never shy away from an expansive colour palette and sultry designs that are more commonly seen in womenswear, such as plunging necklines and dresses masquerading as blazers.

Fashion houses from the likes of Dior featured sheer tops and 3D floral embellishments in their fall/winter 2023 collections, while Fendi showcased an array of toga tops and Rick Owens served skirts galore.

Get the Ken-ergy look

Leaning into the hype of the movie, we’ve curated a few outfits based on Gosling’s best premiere looks for us to channel our inner Ken-ergy as we embark on our second, third or maybe fourth viewing of Barbie – check ‘em out below.

Supportive Ken

Credit: Getty

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We love a Ken who supports his film director, but we also enjoy the juxtaposition of a good ‘ol pink canvas jacket with deep green khakis and brown low-top sneakers. Who said men can’t wear pink? Gosling sets the perfect example on how to use the colour in your daily wardrobe.

Ombreyo Fleece-lined Cotton-canvas Jacket, $712, Acne Studios at Net-a-Porter

Credit: Net-a-Porter

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Painterly Logo-print Cotton T-shirt, $591, Marni at Farfetch

Credit: Farfetch

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Benedict Cotton-blend Chino Pants, $437, Erdem at Mytheresa

Credit: Mytheresa

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Round-toe Suede Ankle Boots, $516, Red Wing Shoes at Farfetch

Credit: Getty

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Too Cool For School Ken

Credit: Farfetch

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Pink isn’t always necessary when pulling up to watch Barbie. Instead, go for a lighter hue of cream or yellow to go with golden locks of hair. Of course, you don’t have to go blonde; black or brunette works, too, especially with a pair of black jeans and boots.

Wavy Gradient open-knit shirt, $918, Casablanca at Farfetch

Credit: Farfetch

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Slim-fit Straight-leg Jeans, $1,186, Tom Ford at Mr Porter

Credit: Mr Porter

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Intrecciato Belt, $980, Bottega Veneta

Credit: Bottega Veneta

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Zipped Ankle Boots, $751.91, Givenchy at Cettire

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Movie Star Ken

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Everyone deserves to feel like the main character every once in a while, and it’s easy to achieve when you rock a full blush pink suit. Confidence is key to a winning look at the theatres.