Weekend: Anywhere else I'd be a ten

— Check out what we Skimm’d for you today July 22, 2023 [Subscribe]( [Read in browser]( [theSkimm Logo] Daily Skimm WEEKEND “Raw fish and rainwater” — [How one man]( and his dog survived being stranded for months in the Pacific Ocean. Talk about a crazy tail. theSkimm With “Barbie” production designer Sarah Greenwood and set decorator Katie Spencer What does it take to bring Barbie Land to life? For starters, a lot of pink paint. So much that it drained one company’s [worldwide supply](. But also, hand-painted backdrops, waterless pools, and custom convertibles. To hear more about how they built the already-iconic world within the “Barbie” movie, we spoke to collaborators [Sarah Greenwood]( (the production designer) and [Katie Spencer]( (the set decorator). Q: How familiar were you with Barbie when you first started working on the film? Spencer: Neither of us had ever owned a Barbie, let alone a Dreamhouse — so we came to it with a very open mind ... We bought our first Dreamhouse [after being hired], which was a revelation. Greenwood: We put it together in the office, and we played with it. We weren’t [trying to] recreate the Dreamhouse in any way, but we were very much influenced by it. Q: What was the most important aspect of the set to get right? Greenwood: The toy dynamic and scale ... When we put Barbie into the Dreamhouse, [we realized] if you put her hand up, she can touch the ceiling — the scale is slightly off-kilter. We worked out that she is roughly 23% bigger than the space that she’s in. So [on set] the ceilings are lower and everything is smaller ... [Even] the car we made was 23% smaller than human size. The fact that Margot, Ryan, and everybody else was bigger than the scene’s space gave it a very toyetic quality. Q: A lot of your work has been on period pieces, like “Beauty and the Beast” and “Darkest Hour.” Was working on “Barbie” very different? Greenwood: One of the first things [director] Greta [Gerwig] said to me was that she understands we build worlds. Whatever film you’re doing, you’re making a whole world around the characters and story … so in a way it’s the same approach. Spencer: It is different, though. When we did “Anna Karenina,” there was a novel to fall back on as a narrative. But there is no narrative with Barbie. It was purely Greta’s script. Greenwood: It [should] feel like you’re inside a toy [land]. There’s no aging, everything is perfect, and it was very brightly lit … Also, you’re creating a world that’s contained, meaning there’s no fire, electricity, wind, or rain, so you’re actually taking away a lot of the tricks used to give atmosphere. Q: Was that the most challenging part of creating the set? Greenwood: There are no walls. When you’re looking through one house, you’re … seeing Barbie Land and beyond. Spencer: There literally was nowhere to hide. Every single thing was considered, everything. Q: What’s something from Barbie Land that you wish you had in your own home? Greenwood: The one thing we did [replicate] is what we call “Skipper’s Tree House.” It’s actually [sold as] the Chelsea Tree House, but we recreated it — literally and perfectly. Like the toy. We put a little picket fence around it, and there’s a plaque on the front that says, “This is a historic monument. Made by Mattel in 1985.” I just think that’s so humorous. I love that. Spencer: There’s a snow globe that we made, and inside it is [Weird Barbie](’s house. It’s just lovely. Greenwood: And, of course, the color pink. I painted my bedroom pink — not bright pink, but a subtle shade of pink. I like pink now. I didn’t beforehand. Psst, this interview has been edited for length and clarity. [Facebook]([Twitter]([Email](mailto:?body=Take a trip to Barbie Land with the film's production designer and set decorator #theSkimm%0A3Ftype%3Demailurl%26r%3DSKIMM%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare%23custom) What's Happening 📺 In culture… Missed [the USWNT]( win its first World Cup match? No sweat — there’ll be more chances to get your kicks, [on the pitch]( and [on Netflix](. In other streaming news, [Peacock]( and [YouTube]( are pressing play on price hikes. That’s as [AMC]( is saying ‘the end’ to paying for better seats. And [music lovers]( are remembering legendary singer [Tony Bennett](, who died yesterday at age 96. --------------------------------------------------------------- 💄In beauty... Sun’s out, so [sunscreen]( should be too. Already [covered](? Great. But maybe put the [cocktailing]( on ice. Meanwhile, one [makeup trend]( is getting a latte hype. As is adding [a splash of (skin) milk]( to your routine. Speaking of skin, [tattoo tourism]( is apparently leaving an even bigger mark. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🙃 In adulting… Sorry, but another planet is in retrograde: [Venus](, which TLDR, is known for shaking up love lives. Perhaps that’s why [divorce parties]( are apparently on the rise. Same with [location-sharing]( and [delusionships](. On the other hand, if you want to make new connections, [a 15-minute city]( could be the answer. Or, [inviting strangers]( over for dinner. Just have this [party mix](. Forward this to a friend. [Click here](mailto:?&subject=Check out this Daily Skimm Weekend newsletter&body=Check it out . Skimm Reads “[Sammy Espinoza’s Last Review](” by Tehlor Kay Mejia...Sammy is a music critic whose job is on the rocks after she wrote positive reviews for an ex-girlfriend’s (mediocre) band in an attempt to get her back. Now, she has one chance to save her career — but it involves reconnecting with an old one-night stand, and returning to the hometown she’s long (very intentionally) avoided. Need another reason to pick this up? It comes highly recommended by one Emily Henry, who calls it a “sexy, funny, sweet story.” Happy reading. Skimm Picks Here are today’s recs to help you live a smarter life… 1. Our official review of Rhode skin. See if Hailey Bieber's [skincare brand]( deserves an official spot in your routine. Plus, grab the new vanilla flavor of the [lip treatment](. Trust us, it's delicious. [Glow on]( --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. 20% off sitewide at Ruggable. Use code BDAY23 to take 20% off the [washable rugs]( we seriously [can't get enough of](. The sale won't last long, so don't miss out. [Shop now]( --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Cooling comforters to keep hot sleepers comfy. From down duvets to bamboo comforters, [this bedding]( will have you sleeping soundly, no sweat. [Sleep tight]( Psst...looking for more discounts on brands Skimm'rs love? Check out all of our exclusive promo codes [here](. Weekend Escape *Slams laptop shut until Monday.* We know the feeling. And we’ve got some tips for escape. Feel like we’re all Barbie girls, living in a Barbie world? Spoiler: That’s sort of the point. In anticipation of the blockbuster, Mattel partnered with [more than 100 brands]( — including Gap, OPI, even Burger King. The result? “I certainly have a hard time remembering a marketing blitz this size,” said TIME correspondent Eliana Dockterman, who’s extensively [covered]( the movie. That’s not the only thing driving the Barbie boom: “Going to a movie and leaning into the Barbie aesthetic feels like the guilt-free fun that we collectively needed after the last few years,” said Dockterman. Here are some of the many ways to think pink... - Clothes and accessories: Barbie’s arches made her a shoe, err, shoo-in for high heels, but in the real world, we have other options. That includes [Crocs](, [Superga sneakers](, and the [iconic skates](. Complete the look with a fit by [Zara](, [Kendra Scott jewelry](, and a [Kipling bag](. - Home: Didn’t snag a stay at Airbnb’s [Malibu mansion](? Same. The good news is there’s plenty of products that’ll turn your house into a Barbie Dreamhouse, like Homesick’s Barbie Dreamhouse [candle](, Joybird’s colorful [couches](, and Ruggable [rugs](. Not to mention you can also make a splash with a Funboy [pool float](. - Food and drink: End your movie night — really, any night — on a sweet note, with a scoop of ice cream at [Cold Stone Creamery]( or a swirl of froyo at [Pinkberry](. Equally cool? A can of [Swoon](’s pink lemonade. And if you want to make the TikTok-famous [Barbie pasta]( even more buono, [use this](. - Beauty: According to Dockterman, part of the “Barbie” appeal is that it’s “unapologetically feminine.” That’s something beauty brands recognize, too. See: [NYX](’s Barbie-branded makeup, [Kitsch](’s satin scrunchies, and [OPI](’s limited-edition nail polishes. A Skimm'r Story Anyone with a group chat knows that sometimes the best advice comes from your friends and community. So we’re asking Skimm’rs to share their advice on things in life that have worked for them. Next up: we’re getting a little intimate. What’s a product that’s improved your sex life? Or your solo game? [Submit your story]( PS: Whether you’ve figured out how to really get to know your body or you’re still making discoveries, we’d love to hear from you. News Quiz Let’s see how well you kept up with the Daily Skimm this week. Which city announced it’ll raise the base fare for its mass transit system? A. Chicago B. New York C. Boston D. Washington, DC Check back tomorrow for the answer. But if you just need to know, you’ll find what you’re looking for [here](. Skimm'd by: Macy Alcido, Rasheeda Campbell, Melissa Goldberg, and Clem Robineau --------------------------------------------------------------- Photos by Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures, Dell New York, Kendra Scott, Joybird Design by theSkimm --------------------------------------------------------------- *PS: This is a sponsored post. Want to wake up with us every morning? [Subscribe to the Daily Skimm](. --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Skimm'd something we missed? skimmthis@theSkimm.com Issues? 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