So, you’ve booked your tickets, and you’re incredibly excited about your visit to the happiest place on earth. Of course, aside from ensuring your accommodation and other trip-related stuff are well taken care of, there’s another thing you definitely shouldn’t fail to remember—your Disneyland outfits. However, it’s a well-known rule in the resort that adult guests aren’t allowed to wear Disney costumes. Does that mean you can no longer look your absolute best when going around the park?
Fret not, because there’s a new trend in town called Disney bounding, which is essentially the next best thing to cosplaying or wearing your favorite princess’ costume. Disney bounding is a term coined by style blogger and major Disney fan, Leslie Kay, who owns a website called ‘Disneybound.’ The idea is to cleverly and creatively dress up as your favorite Disney character by creating your own interpretation of the character’s signature look or ensemble. It’s often executed using modern clothing that features similar color palettes and wardrobe combinations.
Disney bounding 101: Tips on choosing a themed outfit
Suppose you want to dress up as Snow White. You don’t need to wear the same ball gown or dress she has because you can make your own version that’s still strongly associated with her signature ensemble. For instance, you can wear a short yellow dress paired with a blue blazer, a pair of red ballet flats, and red hair accessories to finish the look. You may also carry a yellow or red purse if you want.
Here are more tips and ideas on what to wear for a magical day:
- Use what you already have in your closet
Essentially, Disney bounding is based on your ability to create something extraordinary out of the most ordinary fashion pieces. You might even be surprised to find out there’s no need to spend extra cash to get your desired look.
An excellent place to start is your closet, where you can find a pile of clothes and accessories that you can use to come up with a themed costume. Maybe you have shapewear you recently bought. You can use the shapewear to layer your outfit or mix and match what you have to create a dreamy outfit. You surely want the Disney bounding experience to be full-on in every way possible, and if that means wearing shapewear underneath so you can look the part, why not?
- Think of a character
Another critical step is to think of which Disney character you want to use as inspiration. Who will it be this time? Should you go for Anna of Arendelle? Or maybe you’re feeling a bit more villainy, and you want to put your Maleficent game face on? There are hundreds of options to choose from, and it’s easy to get lost in the middle of all the fun and excitement as you plan your themed costume for the adventure.
As a start, you can search the internet for pictures of your chosen character and start visualizing from there. If you have books or magazines at home with such photos, you could also use those as a reference. Since Disney bounding is all about recreating a look, it means you need to study the character well and think of different shapes and colors that can represent them.
When choosing a Disney character for bounding, you may also consider your own personality. Don’t be restricted by age or gender. A trip to Disneyland is a magical experience that doesn’t often happen, so you might as well make the most out of it while you can. Be anything or anyone you want to be for a day––be it a teacup, candle holder, duck, modern Rapunzel, or Piglet.
- Plan the colors
You’ve surely noticed that Disney figures and characters all have their signature colors that you can’t easily mistake for someone else. As a classic example, Mickey Mouse is synonymous with his famous red and black color combo and a bit of yellow, too. There’s also Ariel from The Little Mermaid, who’s very well associated with purple and green colors.
So, before you start looking for fashion pieces to mix and match, brainstorm what essential colors you need to complete the outfit you want. The right color palette can make all the difference in making sure people will be quick to notice your subtle but creative attempt to recreate a classic Disney look.
- Wear comfy shoes
It can be tempting to go for fancy shoes that’ll compliment your Disney outfit. However, keep in mind that you’ll most likely be walking for hours the moment you enter the park. Comfort is of utmost importance, and you don’t want your choice of shoes to be the reason you can’t make the most out of your Disney bounding experience.
For one, a tutu dress or skirt may look fantastic in heels. But if you could switch to sneakers, that works too. As long as the footwear matches your attire and won’t ruin the Disney effect you want to achieve, there’s no stopping you from donning the comfiest pair that’ll allow you to walk and even run all you want.
- Don’t forget the accessories
Don’t forget to think of accessories and trinkets that you could use or add to your character to complete your Disney ensemble. If you can, it’s better to use items that can serve versatile purposes, such as a bag that can conveniently carry all your stuff while also being a key element in your costume. It could be anything with any of your primary colors or a character bag from brands that make them.
Aside from bags, you can also accessorize by adding decorative pieces, such as a set of jewelry to complement your Disney garb. A pair of earrings or a chunky necklace can serve as your statement piece, which can totally transform your look in an instant. You can search the internet for such unique trinkets, or you may also choose to hand make one on your own.
On hairstyle and makeup
When your outfit is all good to go, there’s another element you shouldn’t forget—your hair and makeup (HMU). You know for a fact that Disney princesses and villains have the sleekest and most distinguished hairstyles that set them apart from one another, and it’s something you can’t miss when recreating the look.
If you’ve gone subtle for the outfit, you have an option to go all out on HMU. The hairstyle is a critical part of your overall look, especially when you know you’re portraying a character that has distinctive braids, ponytails, or hair color. Take, for example, Merida’s look from the Disney film’ Brave.’ Her unruly and curly red hair is easily recognizable as part of her character. If you decide to dress up like her, you might want to consider going for the same hairstyle, as well.
Additionally, here are other Disney bounding hairstyling tips you might want to take note of:
- Consider going for a character look that has the same hair color as you do so styling can be easier.
- Think of a statement hair accessory that can set your look apart. It could be a tiara, a large bow, or bejeweled pins to accentuate your hair.
- Be as creative as you can. Anything works as long as it makes you feel magical and beautiful.
On the other hand, makeup shouldn’t be that much of a challenge once you have the hairstyle to incorporate into your look. The key is to think of the character’s most iconic facial features and try to highlight those features using makeup. For instance, Anna from Frozen has the most recognizable freckles on the face out of all the Disney princesses and characters. So, when you’re doing an Anna portrayal, be sure to add freckles to certain parts of your cheeks and nose so you can make the bounding even more realistic.
You can choose to do the makeup yourself if you have a knack for it. Or you can also ask a friend to do it for you. Those who like to take Disney bounding on a whole new level prefer to hire professionals to do their hair and makeup. Whichever you choose, be sure to be very detailed when asking for the look you want. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try something new, especially when you’re not sure when your next Disney adventure’s going to be.
Conclusion: Disney bounding your way to a happily ever after
A trip to the happiest place on earth could be all the solutions you need when you’re feeling consumed or exhausted from too much work and other life responsibilities. It’s legitimately one of the few places in the world where you can be anything you’ve always wanted to be. You may not be able to wear your favorite character’s exact costume, but you can turn to Disney bounding for your own quick version of a happily ever after.
So, what are you waiting for? Pick a character and start planning your outfit for your next magical trip to the happiest place on earth. Happy Disney bounding!
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