The Big Picture
Celebrate 35 years of Barbie and Polly Pocket at the 10th Annual Her Universe Fashion Show on July 25 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Up-and-coming designers will showcase their geeky couture at the iconic San Diego Comic-Con event, with two winners chosen to design for Her Universe. Presented by Mattel, the Her Universe Fashion Show is an immersive experience celebrating the iconic toy brand and is a highlight of SDCC.
For the past decade, the Her Universe fashion show has been as much a staple of San Diego Comic-Con as the panels in Hall H. Hosted by Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein alongside Broadway star Michael James Scott, the event’s 10th annual will take place this Thursday, July 25th at 6pm PST at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. To celebrate the fashion milestone, Collider will look back on the past decade of Her Universe fashion shows through the stunning outfits showcased by Ashley Eckstein, and look ahead to what to expect in 2024.
Last summer may have been the summer of Barbie, but the fun continues this summer. Mattel presents Her Universe Fashion Show, celebrating Barbie’s 65th anniversary alongside other Mattel brands, including Magic 8 Ball, Uno and Hot Wheels. The show will also celebrate the 35th anniversary of Polly Pocket by taking over the lobby of the Grand Hyatt. Fans will be able to celebrate 30 years of fashion while also taking part in exciting immersive experiences and photo ops. No need to shrink down to pocket size!
Speaking about this milestone, Eckstein said:
“Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Her Universe Fashion Show at San Diego Comic-Con is truly dreamy. What started as an oxymoron for most – an haute couture fashion show at Comic-Con – has now become a sold-out event that kicks off the weekend. We’re so grateful to all who make our fashion show one of the highlights of SDCC, especially our fans and our incredible community of designers. This year’s show is hosted by Mattel, and as a longtime fan, I get to play with my favorite toys and turn them into fashion. It’s so much fun to work with some of Mattel’s iconic brands.”
What is the Her Universe Fashion Show?
Since 2014, the Her Universe Fashion Show has been a platform for up-and-coming designers to showcase their finest work of geek couture. In addition to the 25 designs that walk the runway, the Her Universe Fashion Show is also known for the eye-catching outfits worn by Eckstein, making it always an event in itself. In the gallery above, outfits from the past decade are showcased, ranging from Star Wars-themed dresses to geek franchises like The Nightmare Before Christmas and She-Ra.
Of the 25 participants, two will have the chance to design a collection in Her Universe. One winner will be chosen by the audience and the other by a panel of expert judges including designers Rachel Pettersson and Raven K, who won the 2023 Her Universe fashion show, Robin Motz, senior vice president of Hot Topic Merchandising, Vivian Medrano, creator of Prime Video’s Hazbin Hotel and Hellva Boss, and Robert Best, vice president of Barbie product design at Mattel.
The Her Universe Fashion Show will take place at the Grand Hyatt Hotel’s Harbor Ballroom on July 25th at 6pm PST. Stay tuned to Collider for the latest San Diego Comic-Con news.
