I haven’t made an article in a long time, so when I was bored on a Sunday afternoon, raining bucket loads outside I thought I might as well do something. Basically this is an article about my opinions about each princess’ dress sense in ranked order. Oh and I would like to mention Phantomrose89 whose last article inspired me to make this.
So lets get started...
10. Rapunzel
I like the detail on Rapunzel's dress a lot. The design on the skirt and the trims are really pretty. I like that her modern girl persona contrasts against her old time fairy tale outfit, with the lattice front, puffy shoulders and flowing long skirt. However I think that the dress was lacking in colour, the purple was pretty but wasn't anything special. When she is put up next to the fellow princesses her dress looks quite plain. The dress also looks almost too youthful, however I think that was needed to give a sense of her naivety and to show that she hasn't yet had the chance to mature.
9. Mulan
Military wear has been on trend for a while, however is finally making a way into the sales rack, rather than the new collections. So, Mulan...She spends most of the time as a soldier however when dressed as herself, I really like the outfits she wears. They are simple, colour co-ordinated and simply suit her. Her Matchmaker dress is also very attractive despite Mulan looking quite awkward in it, It brings many colours together, works so well and brings out Mulan's feminine side. One of my favourite of Mulan's outfit is the Green outfit worn while doing her chores. Its so casual, understated and suits Mulan perfectly.
8. Snow White
I know this may be weird but... I really like Snow White's maid outfit. I think it looks really cute and I especially like the blue bow she paired with it. Snow White's primary colour dress is impossible to dislike, It isn't a dress that is taken seriously, which Is a good thing! It captures Snow White's youth, eccentricity and general persona and I think it’s the outfit that if we see it alone, we instantly know which princess it belongs to. Additionally, I adore the cape and the fact that it can look formal, casual, playful, royal and elegant all at the same time.
7. Pocahontas
Some people don't give Pocahontas' dress much of a chance but I think it is really chic. Its the only single strap dress of the Disney Princesses, making it very original. The fit is perfection and additional trims and embellishments make the outfit stand out compared to the other female characters in the film. The outfit is really pulled together with the body art on her arm and of course her mother's beautiful necklace, which is my favourite princess piece of jewellery.
6. Aurora
Like the rest of the animation in the film, the clothing also reflects an angular perspective. Her peasant outfit is very popular amongst fans and I can see why, given the lattice front, high elegant collar and the beautiful movement of the skirt. The oversized hooded cloak is often forgotten but I really like it, it reflects Aurora's emotions during that moment in the film and it looks so mysterious and sophisticated. Her gown however has mixed reviews and I admit I am very on the fence about it. It blends so many styles, which I find very interesting. It clearly has a very medieval orientation; however 1950s fashion also seems to be used as inspiration. I like the collar, shape and colour blue however I have to admit that this dress could only ever really work in the angular world of "Sleeping Beauty"
5. Ariel
Ariel's clothing choices get a bad wrap but I personally see it in a completely different light. Of course her mermaid attire is attractive, the combination of red hair, purple sea-shells and green fins are both bold and have created a well known image for our favourite mermaid. The pink dinner dress gets the worst press, I however really like it. *In a whiney voice* "Red and pink don't go together"... says who? Sometimes clashing colours works, some people are adventurous with fashion, what works for some is a fail for others. When I'm watching fairy tale films like the Disney Princess ones, I want to see over the top dresses, not stuff that girls could pick up from Top Shop. One of the most popular dresses generally is Ariel's transformation dress, which is simplistic, chic and timeless. I especially love the neck line, which is flattering and stylish. The dress is beautiful in and out of the context of the film. The wedding dress is overtly 80s which I find really cute, its reflecting the rebellious teenage girl growing of age, getting her happily ever after wearing an outrageous wedding gown to reflect her identity. The puffy shoulders for me are the highlight.
4. Tiana
For a girl who spent most of the film as a frog, she managed to wip out a fair few outfits, and nice outfits at that. To stay in fitting with the story line her colour pallet sticks to mainly green and yellow, which I find quite refreshing. My favourite outfit worn by Tiana is the one during the “Almost There” dream sequence; most notably when Dr. Facilier brings Tiana back to human form wearing the real garment, the best part for me are the gold shoulder straps and of course the feather bower. The most incredible outfit however is Tiana's Bayou dress, it has so much detail however isn't over styled and the little movement we see of it is so delicate and elegant for such a large garment.
3. Jasmine
Jasmine may not yet be Queen of Agrabah but she is definitely Queen of Accessorising. All of her outfits represent a mix of an Arabian princess and a 90s westernised teenage girl, something I find really interesting to see. Her clothes are all about comfort and glamour, which basically defines her. I also like that all of her clothes follow very similar principles, using her iconic blue outfit as a starting point and expanding into a more formal version, such as a dress version. I like Jasmine’s headband because it portrays Jasmine’s royal heritage, despite being dressed quite casually.
2. Belle
My favourite princess has a slightly conservative set of clothing. It has been pointed out by many that the colours used in Belle’s clothing reflect Belle's emotion through the film, something that I completely agree with. I appreciate the green dress; however am not much of a fan of it, its quite lifeless to me. Pink really suits Belle and I like the neckline of the dress as well as the hood she wears with it outdoors, the sleeves also give an additional feminine touch. The yellow ball gown is of course Belle's main dress; I have to admit that it seems quite heavy however I still think it is a beautiful dress with beautiful detail. I love the colour, giving Belle her own identity as a princess. I also love that there is a good variety in Belle's wardrobe, especially given that there are only 4 significant outfits.
1. Cinderella
Classic, simplistic, iconic garments. The pallet is very light and feminine, with flowing textures, even in her nightgown and work clothes, reflecting the nature of the heroine. She has a major winner outfit with her ball gown, however loses props slightly for the pink dress attempt. The Mice did well, however I preferred the way the dress originally looked before all the alterations and embellishments. Her wardrobe is so well known and used as inspiration for so much fashion, most notable in wedding wear.
So lets get started...
10. Rapunzel
I like the detail on Rapunzel's dress a lot. The design on the skirt and the trims are really pretty. I like that her modern girl persona contrasts against her old time fairy tale outfit, with the lattice front, puffy shoulders and flowing long skirt. However I think that the dress was lacking in colour, the purple was pretty but wasn't anything special. When she is put up next to the fellow princesses her dress looks quite plain. The dress also looks almost too youthful, however I think that was needed to give a sense of her naivety and to show that she hasn't yet had the chance to mature.
9. Mulan
Military wear has been on trend for a while, however is finally making a way into the sales rack, rather than the new collections. So, Mulan...She spends most of the time as a soldier however when dressed as herself, I really like the outfits she wears. They are simple, colour co-ordinated and simply suit her. Her Matchmaker dress is also very attractive despite Mulan looking quite awkward in it, It brings many colours together, works so well and brings out Mulan's feminine side. One of my favourite of Mulan's outfit is the Green outfit worn while doing her chores. Its so casual, understated and suits Mulan perfectly.
8. Snow White
I know this may be weird but... I really like Snow White's maid outfit. I think it looks really cute and I especially like the blue bow she paired with it. Snow White's primary colour dress is impossible to dislike, It isn't a dress that is taken seriously, which Is a good thing! It captures Snow White's youth, eccentricity and general persona and I think it’s the outfit that if we see it alone, we instantly know which princess it belongs to. Additionally, I adore the cape and the fact that it can look formal, casual, playful, royal and elegant all at the same time.
7. Pocahontas
Some people don't give Pocahontas' dress much of a chance but I think it is really chic. Its the only single strap dress of the Disney Princesses, making it very original. The fit is perfection and additional trims and embellishments make the outfit stand out compared to the other female characters in the film. The outfit is really pulled together with the body art on her arm and of course her mother's beautiful necklace, which is my favourite princess piece of jewellery.
6. Aurora
Like the rest of the animation in the film, the clothing also reflects an angular perspective. Her peasant outfit is very popular amongst fans and I can see why, given the lattice front, high elegant collar and the beautiful movement of the skirt. The oversized hooded cloak is often forgotten but I really like it, it reflects Aurora's emotions during that moment in the film and it looks so mysterious and sophisticated. Her gown however has mixed reviews and I admit I am very on the fence about it. It blends so many styles, which I find very interesting. It clearly has a very medieval orientation; however 1950s fashion also seems to be used as inspiration. I like the collar, shape and colour blue however I have to admit that this dress could only ever really work in the angular world of "Sleeping Beauty"
5. Ariel
Ariel's clothing choices get a bad wrap but I personally see it in a completely different light. Of course her mermaid attire is attractive, the combination of red hair, purple sea-shells and green fins are both bold and have created a well known image for our favourite mermaid. The pink dinner dress gets the worst press, I however really like it. *In a whiney voice* "Red and pink don't go together"... says who? Sometimes clashing colours works, some people are adventurous with fashion, what works for some is a fail for others. When I'm watching fairy tale films like the Disney Princess ones, I want to see over the top dresses, not stuff that girls could pick up from Top Shop. One of the most popular dresses generally is Ariel's transformation dress, which is simplistic, chic and timeless. I especially love the neck line, which is flattering and stylish. The dress is beautiful in and out of the context of the film. The wedding dress is overtly 80s which I find really cute, its reflecting the rebellious teenage girl growing of age, getting her happily ever after wearing an outrageous wedding gown to reflect her identity. The puffy shoulders for me are the highlight.
4. Tiana
For a girl who spent most of the film as a frog, she managed to wip out a fair few outfits, and nice outfits at that. To stay in fitting with the story line her colour pallet sticks to mainly green and yellow, which I find quite refreshing. My favourite outfit worn by Tiana is the one during the “Almost There” dream sequence; most notably when Dr. Facilier brings Tiana back to human form wearing the real garment, the best part for me are the gold shoulder straps and of course the feather bower. The most incredible outfit however is Tiana's Bayou dress, it has so much detail however isn't over styled and the little movement we see of it is so delicate and elegant for such a large garment.
3. Jasmine
Jasmine may not yet be Queen of Agrabah but she is definitely Queen of Accessorising. All of her outfits represent a mix of an Arabian princess and a 90s westernised teenage girl, something I find really interesting to see. Her clothes are all about comfort and glamour, which basically defines her. I also like that all of her clothes follow very similar principles, using her iconic blue outfit as a starting point and expanding into a more formal version, such as a dress version. I like Jasmine’s headband because it portrays Jasmine’s royal heritage, despite being dressed quite casually.
2. Belle
My favourite princess has a slightly conservative set of clothing. It has been pointed out by many that the colours used in Belle’s clothing reflect Belle's emotion through the film, something that I completely agree with. I appreciate the green dress; however am not much of a fan of it, its quite lifeless to me. Pink really suits Belle and I like the neckline of the dress as well as the hood she wears with it outdoors, the sleeves also give an additional feminine touch. The yellow ball gown is of course Belle's main dress; I have to admit that it seems quite heavy however I still think it is a beautiful dress with beautiful detail. I love the colour, giving Belle her own identity as a princess. I also love that there is a good variety in Belle's wardrobe, especially given that there are only 4 significant outfits.
1. Cinderella
Classic, simplistic, iconic garments. The pallet is very light and feminine, with flowing textures, even in her nightgown and work clothes, reflecting the nature of the heroine. She has a major winner outfit with her ball gown, however loses props slightly for the pink dress attempt. The Mice did well, however I preferred the way the dress originally looked before all the alterations and embellishments. Her wardrobe is so well known and used as inspiration for so much fashion, most notable in wedding wear.