It’s always been about Ken, Barbie’s flawlessly handsome male counterpart. He’s got the looks. He’s got the vinyl body. And he’s got the charm. He can do it all: doctor, firefighter, lifeguard, tennis coach and pilot. When introduced in 1964, Ken, who was named after Kenneth Handler, son of Barbie creator Ruth Handler, was the perfect boyfriend for Barbie. A proper toy boy.
But spare a thought for Allan, the less popular, bottom-of-the-box guy, who is seeing the light of day once again in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. The new trailer for the movie introduces a vacant-eyed Michael Cera as Allan, and he seemingly can’t believe that he’s been let out of the cellophane.
The Allan doll was introduced in 1964 with the slightly underwhelming job of “Ken’s Buddy.” The posters for the movie state that there’s “only one Allan,” because, well, the bigwigs at Mattel decided to end his time in Toy Town after a few years, replacing him with another now-defunct doll called Brad. Brutal.
But as the trailer proves, Allan had a good thing going on! Ken was known for his bleach-blonde quiff and razor-sharp jaw, but we’re of the opinion that the mighty Ken doll fell flat when it came to his style. It’s all a little basic. A little Miami Vice, but not in a good way. Sherbert-infused, bubblegum pink and turquoise striped camp collar shirts. Paint-by-numbers dream boyfriend stuff: technicolor cut-off jackets and matching shorts. It’s all bit on the nose for the most swiped on guy in Barbiewood.
On the other hand, there’s Allan. His choices of friendship are suspect but his fits are anything but. He’s the weirdo fashion friend. He goes for a crocheted button-up shirt with a neat multicolored stripe that could’ve existed IRL. It’s a bit Bode. A bit Gucci. Ken could never! And, paired with über short shorts and wraparound sandals, it was also the sort of outfit Miuccia Prada sent her models down the runway in for Spring/Summer 2022 collection. Or something you’d expect to see in one of Simon Porte Jacquemus’ nu riviera drops. Allan’s the sort of guy that wins at thrift stores. Allan’s the sort of guy that swerves CrossFit for bouldering. Allan’s the sort of guy who is big into ceramics. Allan’s the sort of guy you should wanna be.
Justice for Allan.
This story originally ran on British GQ with the title “Justice for Barbie’s Allan, Ken’s forgotten, better dressed buddy”