Fashion Inspiration: Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty

My last post about fashion inspired by Walt Disney’s Snow White got such a huge, positive response that I have decided to continue the series! Today’s post focuses on the style of another popular Disney classic: Sleeping Beauty.

While grown-up style might be the last thing most people would associate with Disney princesses, the goal of this series is to prove them wrong: it’s possible to use your childhood icons as fashion inspiration in your grown-up life — it just takes some creativity. Want to learn how to dress like a Disney princess without “dressing like a Disney princess?” Read on!

About Sleeping Beauty

In case you haven’t seen the film, here’s a basic rundown of Sleeping Beauty’s plot:

At birth, Princess Aurora received the gifts of beauty and song from her kingdom’s fairies. Unfortunately, she was also cursed by the bad fairy, Maleficent, who said she would die before the age of 16 by pricking her finger on a spinning wheel. In order to protect the Princess from her terrible fate, the three good fairies gave up their magic, brought her into the woods, and raised her in a secluded cottage. They called her Briar Rose, and kept her true identity a secret. On the eve of her 16th birthday, however, everything would change.

The beautiful and kindhearted Princess Aurora had long blond hair, and a slender figure and delicate features based on none other than the lovely Audrey Hepburn. With such a legendary muse, how can Sleeping Beauty not be inspirational?

1. Briar Rose

The princess was raised deep in the forest as a peasant girl. She was secluded from everyone except the three fairies who raised her, but she socialized with the animals. While singing with the birds and the owl in one famous scene, Briar Rose revealed that she often dreamed of finding true love. Much to her surprise, she met the man of her dreams in the forest, on the day of her 16th birthday.

Woven Bag- Topshop,  Scarf- All Saints,  Dress- Urban Outfitters, Earrings- Dorothy Perkins,  Owl Necklace- Modcloth,  Headband- Forever 21,  Shoes- Rocket Dog

The colorblock dress is reminiscent of Briar Rose’s because it is simple and casual, yet still elegant. The bag is a fun reference to the woven basket that she used to pick berries, and the scarf reminds me of her shawl.  The rose earrings are, of course, inspired by Briar Rose’s name. Finally, the owl necklace is a literal reference to the owl in the forrest.

2. Princess Aurora

While Briar Rose was frolicking in the forest on her 16th birthday, the three fairies were making a beautiful dress for her to wear later that evening at the castle. Two of the fairies, Merryweather and Flora, could not decide whether the dress should be pink or blue, so they continued to argue about it and never really settled on a color; however, Princess Aurora is often pictured wearing the pink dress.

Necklace- Max and Chloe,  Clutch- Modcloth,  Top- Arden B,  Skirt- Alloy,  Earrings- Miss Selfridge,  Shoes- Urban Outfitters

This outfit is inspired by the pink version of Princess Aurora’s dress. The form-fitting, shoulder-baring top and A-line skirt mimic the dress’s silhouette, and the different shades of pink are similar as well. In the film, the Princess wore gold jewelry, which I echoed in this look.

3. Sleeping Beauty

When Princess Aurora found out that she was betrothed to a Prince, she was devastated because she loved the man from the forest. In her state of deep sadness, she was tricked by Maleficent and pricked her finger on a spinning wheel. Instead of dying, she fell into a deep sleep because of Merryweather. who said:

“Not in death, but just in sleep, this fateful prophecy you’ll keep. And from this slumber you shall wake, when true love’s kiss, the spell shall break.”

Robe- Lacoste,  Nightgown- Harvey Nichols,  Aromatherapy Lotion- Bath and Body Works, Aromatherapy Mist- Bath and Body Works,  Slippers- Patricia Green

Since Princess Aurora fell asleep while wearing the blue version of the dress, I decided to put together a cute and comfy sleepwear outfit. Because she was tricked, she had no problem falling asleep in a fancy ballgown, but for all of us who want to be real Sleeping Beauties, it may not be as easy. The nightgown, robe, slippers and aromatherapy set are sure to help us non-princesses to get our beauty sleep.

4. So, is the dress pink or blue?

Fortunately, the man that Princess Aurora met in the forest ended up being… wait for it… the very prince she was betrothed to. After defeating the evil Maleficent, Prince Phillip woke her from her eternal slumber with a kiss. The kingdom was ecstatic, and the couple danced the night away at the ball. While they danced, the two fairies, Merryweather and Flora, continued to argue over the dress color and sent flashes of magic at the dress: it changed from blue to pink to blue to pink, and never stayed just one color.

Bracelet- Overstock.com,  Earrings- Amazon.com,  Pumps- Dorothy Perkins,  Dress- Modcloth,  Bag- ASOS,  Ring- Overstock.com

Since the fairies couldn’t seem to make a decision, and there is no definitive answer on what color the dress ended up being, I made an outfit with a dress that is both pink and blue. Rather than suggesting you wear a tiara, I chose a ring with a crown to show that this outfit is inspired by royalty. I think that Flora and Merryweather would definitely be satisfied with this look.

Thoughts?

Are you inspired by Sleeping Beauty? Which other Disney-inspired looks would you like to see featured here in the future? We want to know what you think, so leave your thoughts in a comment!