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The babydoll is back
The floaty, feminine aesthetic being worn by young pop stars like Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter has been around since the 1960s. So why all the fuss?
TL;DR
- Olivia Rodrigo's music video for 'Drop Dead' and stage outfits featuring a babydoll ensemble have faced online criticism.
- Critics accused Rodrigo of infantilizing herself and invoking a 'Lolita' or 'pedo core' aesthetic.
- Defenders argue the babydoll silhouette has a long history tied to rebellion, performance, romance, and girlhood culture, and Rodrigo's look is performative, not regressive.
- The babydoll style can be traced back to the 1960s, representing a tension between societal expectations and female sexual freedom.
- The 1990s saw a resurgence of the babydoll dress in alternative culture, particularly the 'kinderwhore' aesthetic used to subvert femininity.
- The current outrage is suggested to be a projection that polices young women's fashion rather than a genuine concern, especially given Gen Z's portrayal as puritanical.