Aug 12, 2017

With fall fast approaching, Halloween costume parties are right around the corner. It’s a good idea to get an early start on costume planning since stores typically sell out of the more popular costumes by early October. If you would like to dress up as one of the ever popular Disney princesses, why not take your look up a notch and try putting the costume together yourself instead of buying it premade? The following is a list of the essential costume components you’ll need to start planning.

The Iconic Dress

Each princess is easily recognizable when wearing their most well-known dress. From Cinderella’s iconic blue ball gown (compliments of her fairy godmother, of course) to the yellow dress Belle wears when she dances with the Beast-- each princess has an outfit that defines them. Most costume and party supply stores sell one-time use costumes that are likely the most affordable option. However, if you’re looking for something a bit more special, there are many handmade options on crafting sites like Etsy.com or even Ebay.com. You may be able to find a really great dress option by checking out local thrift stores for old prom dresses and tweaking them to meet your needs. After all, a bright yellow ball gown doesn’t need to look identical to Belle’s gown. As long as you have the hair, make up, and accessories right, everyone will know which character you are going for. While thrifting is certainly a great option in regards to price and finding a truly unique gown, it is more time consuming so if you’re planning to go this route, you should probably start your search now.

The Princess Hair

The most defining feature of any Disney princess is arguably her hair and hair style. While almost all princesses have long hair, they each have their own style and statement color. From Ariel’s bright red mane to Jasmine’s seriously long jet black pony tail, the easiest way to make a costume recognizable is by nailing the hair. If you currently have a hair color different than that of your chosen character, there are a few options to try. You can use a temporary hair color which can be found in aerosol cans at party stores and can be easily sprayed on. Alternatively, you could buy a wig which are sold at virtually every price point. It’s worth mentioning that you get what you pay for when it comes to wigs though. A cheap wig will look cheap and it will be very hard to manage after only a use or two. If you already have blonde hair, like Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, you may just need to add luxury hair extensions in order to add length since it’s unlikely that most people have hair as long as that of a Disney princess. This option will certainly look the most realistic.

The Accessories

Once you have the dress and the hair down, you are 90% of the way there. However, the details in the last 10% are what really take a good costume to a great costume. Replicating jewelry, tiaras, and hair pieces can easily be done on a minimal budget thanks to affordable costume jewelry. Additionally, if your princess has a side kick, like Tiana’s frog or Jasmine’s tiger, try adding a stuffed animal or even dressing up your own pet in its own costume to really take things over the top.