GAA fans compare iconic jerseys to Barbie outfits

GAA fans on social media have been making comparisons between the outfits from the new Barbie film and iconic county jerseys.

One popular thread, posted by the sports editor of the Killarney Advertiser Adam Moynihan, gives nine different comparisons between the custom-made costumes and some of the most colourful GAA kits.

The most striking likenessesinclude a neon roller skating outfit worn by Ken (played by Ryan Gosling) which consists of a pink bodice with a 1980s-style pattern and highlighter yellow kneepads, bumbag and rollerblades being compared to the 2004 Wexford GAA home jersey.

Another shows Ken wearing a denim jacket showing off his six pack beside a photograph of Dublin player Diarmuid Connolly, who is known for his distinct ‘look’ of a torn shirt, bare chest evident underneath after defender and captain of Mayo Lee Keegan ripped his jersey during the All-Ireland football final in 2016.

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Actor Simu Liu who plays another version of Ken also had his Barbie wardrobe compared to several GAA uniforms. The orange and green Hawaiian shirt he wears in the film is believed to resemble the 2011 Donegal kit and the green tank top he sports in the promotional pictures has been likened to the 1999 Meath GAA jersey.  

Barbie (Margot Robbie) also gets a shout out in the Twitter thread. In the film, she wears a navy blouse with a white collar, which has been juxtaposed with the 1969 Cavan uniform. Another shows an image of her dressed in a sparkly gold jumpsuit beside the 2018 Kerry Jersey.  

The comparisons of these garish costumes to classic jerseys have proven popular on Twitter, with the thread receiving almost 4,000 likes and 547 retweets. There have also been an overwhelming number of comments calling the comparison weird, iconic and some going as far as to call it ‘art.’  

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The costumes created for the highly anticipated film were designed by Oscar-winning costume designer Jacqueline Durran.  

In an interview with Vogue France, she said that 1980s sportswear is a key' Ken look. “Retro sportswear is one area where we did a lot of shopping for Ken,” she says.

“He is sporty. That’s his main thing.” It is therefore potentially less surprising that this GAA Jersey comparison has been made.  

Barbie is set to hit cinema screens on July 21.