Fairytale Costumes

One thing that seems to bind all cultures and races in countries is the telling of tales. Tales of been passed down for centuries, and eventually evolved to what we now call fairy tales.

An interesting back history, on the term 'fairy tales', is that it originated, not from Brothers Grimm, as so many people believe, but from a Frenchwoman named Madame D'Aulnoy. In France, noble women, often got together and told tales and common folklore tales became more embellished. And of course because they were noble, their heroines and heroes were made to be noble as well. Apparently Madame D'Aulnoy, was quite a tale teller and began to put her stories into written form. That's a short history, as I understood it. It's actually much more complicated and interesting than that.

If you're not a history fan, and you prefer to learn from an interesting novel, as I do, pick up a copy of Brother Grimm by Craig Russell. I wasn't much interested in the history of fairy tales, until I read his book. Be warned that this book is very dark. Mr. Russell likes to write about very wicked and extremely interesting, well researched murders. His books are translated into English from German, I believe. All of his stories that I've read on this character named Fabel (cool name for this hub right?) , a police detective in Germany. But his particular book called Brother Grimm has some very interesting reading on the development of fairy tales. Kind of prudent since the original Grimm Brothers fairy tales were written in German.

Another interesting note about fairy tales, and the Grimm Brothers, originally their published book was a compilation of tales they had collected while traveling. They rewrote that book into a more reader friendly book of fairy tales. Even those fairy tales were rewritten again, in later years, to be more child friendly. The Brothers Grimm were known for very dark fairy tales.

When considering which fairy tales you've read in history, and what a fairytale princess is dresses like, as well as the fairytale princes, it should be no surprise that the surge in fairytale beginnings in the written form were during the Renaissance period. This is why when you see pictures of fairy tale maidens, they are usually dressed in Renaissance garb. So, don't neglect possible renaissance costumes on your search for a fairytale costume.

They aren't really, unless you're speaking French with Madame D'Aulnoy (see my historical reference above). It's because of her book, Contes De Fée, which literally translates word for word tales of the fairies, that we have the word as fairytale. (or you could translate it as: tales of the fey, which is what I think it says. Then again I only had high school French). So While the Madame may prefer the Fairy Tales, we just combine it. Maybe its easier to search Google that way :). There isn't any wrong way.

You know that song “nothing could be finer, than to be in Carolina in the morning” ? For some reason, every time I decide to dress up in character costumes, that song goes through my head. I'm not sure why I hear the song, or why I told you that. Maybe so you'll have that bouncy little tune in your head while you read about costumes from fairytales. I mean, it's that fun to wear them, isn't it? Who can't remember the best parts of childhood as when you got to dress up as Cinderella? (I suppose the guys were more interested in superhero costumes). The magic of childhood doesn't end because we gain a few years. The fun of dressing up is still inside everyone. The trick is finding ways to be able to wear costumes without looking like some rejected, friendless geek. (hey I'm a geek, so I get to say that!) I did find some interesting places to wear different types of Disney character costumes for adults on my other hub. I stress for adults because they are rather... playful :).

I've had a special relationship with Disney and Brother Grimm Tales for my whole life. My wedding vows even compared our relationship to a modern day fairytale, which it is. I believe most women grow up loving the wonderful tales of Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel and Sleeping Beauty among others, but what makes those characters unique and why are they so appealing to women?

If you were to visually picture a Cinderella costume would it be more like Disney's Cinderella costume or would it be the Renaissance style thats represented in Grimm's? I probably would rather choose the Grimm's version, if I'm at all honest. In Grimm's tale, Cinderella is lavished in gold and silver dresses that sparkled like diamonds. Thats what I want my Cinderella costume to look like. All gossamer silvers and brocade.

Disney's Cinderella, though, had all the qualities, if not the clothes, I wanted in my Cinderella. She could sing, and the birds and mice all danced with, and floated around, her. She was charming and sweet. Now, personally, I always loved the dress the mice made, but the one she wore to the ball was quite pretty too. The great thing about a Disney Cinderella gown is that it is immediately recognizable. You see a blue dress with white bustles (what are those side parts called anyway?) and you know its Cinderella.

Sleeping Beauty is harder to define, for me, in anything except the gown from Disney. I picture her blue or pink gown, from the scene with the fairies that keep changing the colors, with its straight skirt, puffy shoulders and form fitting sleeves. Its the only way I can picture a Sleeping Beauty costume. I'm sure there was a description of her dress in the Grimm's tales, but I cannot picture it in my head. While not as recognizable as Snow White or Cinderella, its still a pretty distinctive gown.

I've already written up a huge post on Disney's Tinkerbell costume. Suffice to say I love her! Love her! Love her!

If Cinderella was one of my favorites, Snow White was my ultimate favorite. She was so distinctive and different from typical blond fairytale princesses, and me with my flaming red hair could appreciate that. Hands down there is no other Snow White gown, except the one depicted by Disney.

The rest of the fairytale costumes belong wholly to Disney and there really isn't any competition in terms of recognizing the costume.

The Ariel costume would be recognizable only if you wore a long red-haired wig and blue fish scales, but without that you may look like just a .. well.. mermaid. Its a pretty difficult costume to master in my opinion. Maybe a shell necklace?

TheDisney Belle costume, if pictured in your head, isn't it just a gold tiered dress with puffy short sleeves and long white gloves? Its so distinctive even if you've read other Beauty and the Beast tales, like me, you won't remember what she wore.

Here are one of the very few Disney costumes which you can embellish and not really ruin the recognizability of the costume. Adding sparkles to the pants and halter would just make it prettier. If you can convince your significant other to dress in the Disney Aladdin costume, you'll have the best couples costume set.

I think men have it much easier.

I wouldn't recognize the original version of this character if you slapped me upside the head with her and tattoed my forehead with the sword. The Disney character and its visual style is so unique and now that its a few years since first shown, so worth looking into.

Quite frankly men are more interested in being Wolverine than Prince Charming. My husband loves me to death, but he wouldn't set his big toe in a Peter Pan costume, no matter what I promised. Here are some ideas which may convince your significant male other to dress up with you:

The Beast from Beauty and the Beast, Aladin, Peter Pan (hah, yeah right), one of the Seven Dwarfs (tell them its for World of Warcraft :P), The Wolf (to your red riding hood)

When put to the question, my husband answered affirmatively to all except Peter Pan. I'm still working on that one.

Men what do you think? What are you willing, or not willing, to wear? Maybe the superhero costume hub will be of more interest to you?