Disney Princess Costumes

Which princess

Almost every child has a specific one in mind, and the colours are what identify them — the blue of Cinderella, the yellow of Belle, the green of Tiana, the purple of Rapunzel. Getting the character right matters far more than the finer detailing.

Where a character has appeared in both animated and live-action versions, the dresses differ in cut and shade. Worth confirming which one they picture.

Dress length and movement

Full-length princess dresses are what children want and what causes the most trouble on the day. A hem that reaches the floor is stood on, tripped over on steps and dragged through whatever is on the ground.

Ankle length gives the same effect and survives a party. If you have a full-length dress, a petticoat underneath holds the skirt out and away from the feet.

Comfort

Layered net skirts scratch, particularly at the waist. A soft top underneath solves it. Detachable sleeves and capes let a layer come off if the room gets warm.

Accessories are what complete it

Tiaras, wands, gloves and character-specific pieces do more for recognition than the dress alone. Comb-fitting tiaras stay put through an active afternoon far better than band-style ones.

Book Week

Most princess characters exist as picture books as well as films, which usually satisfies a Book Week brief. Sending the book along removes any doubt.