Disney has always had a taste for fashion. The princesses of all had amazing dresses and gowns. The villains all had wicked accessories. Even the animal toons had their gear. So it’s no wonder that a large percentage of Disney’ profitability has to do with merchandise, fashion and accessories to look your best in the parks or to bring home and be a walking billboard to friends and neighbors. Admittedly, some guests pull off the style and fashion better than others. Lucky for us, we have one of those people on our team!
Welcome to Believe Vacations’ Weekly Post where today, we will share with you how to show off your fashion and style at Disney. Today, Brian has invited Christie Pownall (Houston, TX) to share her secrets and tips to look your best and even go through a few of her favorite park outfits. The full interview is in the video above but highlights and answers to the more commonly asked questions are below:
When did you discover your love for Disney fashion?
I dress for comfort because comfort is key. Going with friends gave me my first chance to coordinate outfits and then next thing you know, I’m doing runDisney in princess gear.
Do you prefer matching shirts or outfits for your family?
Both! My daughter and I love to match all the time. My husband might join in occasionally but the rest of the trip is Mom’s choice!
Where do you get your ideas?
I love a good theme. It may be a holiday or a certain park and I begin to think what I could do to compliment that holiday or park. Also, whenever I get new Disney merchandise like new shoes or a bag or ears, I’ll dedicate my time and energy to finding an outfit to show off that purchase.
Christie’s Casual Look
This is a more casual, park-friendly outfit. Everyone needs a good pair of sunglasses for the Florida sun and yes, you may need a fashionable scrunchie! The shirt came from Zara but you can find cute shirts at H&M and I always encourage the cute shops on Instagram. Of course, that’s if I’m not making my own shirt. For shoes, I’d go with black or white tennis shoes that are comfortable. Comfort over style!
Christie’s Park Look
This was a fun outfit at Animal Kingdom. If you’re familiar with Wilderness Explorers, they have several stations around the park where you can complete fun packets to obtain badges and it is based off the movie Up! I found the safari hat with ears on Etsy and thought “Perfect for Animal Kingdom!” It’s different, unique, stylish and fun. Of course, now that we are in COVID protocols, masks are a huge part of the style. I highly recommend looking at those small shops on Instagram where I found this one with Minnie Mouse heads, bows and cheetah print. And every explorer needs a stylish backpack!
Christie’s Character Bounding Look
Character Bounding is a Disney style where you put together at outfit that resembles or reminds you of your favorite characters. This particular look isn’t much – red shirt, Minnie ears hat, yellowish running shoes for comfort. All this was in my closet and it reminded people of Minnie Mouse.
Christie’s Rainy Day Look
I always tell my clients that you can be in the middle of a downpour and still look stylish! So how do you dress for the rain? Make sure you take cute rain gear like this poncho from shopdisney. There are small shops on Instagram that can provide monograms or different designs for rain jackets. While there are cute goulashes and rain-proof boots, there is no shame going into a Disney store and purchasing a “fashionable” pair of Crocs…yes I said fashionable and Crocs in the same sentence in a fashion article! But it saves for wearing wet shoes and wet socks all day.
Christie’s Nice Dinner Look
Finally, when going to a nicer restaurant, you can respect the aura and atmosphere of the dining room while still showing off your love for Disney. On a colder night like this picture, I decided to go with my warm Minnie sweater and it would go nice with a skirt, skinny jeans and heels or nicer shoes.
Any special packing advice for your outfits?
I am not that organized but I do think way in advance. Whether I make the outfits, buy the outfits, discover the outfits in my closet, etc. I try to visualize it first. I put the outfit on, take a selfie in front of the mirror and see how I can add to it. If it’s good to go, I go ahead and pack it in my suitcase.
Finally, how does someone get started?
Just do it. It’s not hard. I’m not an expert and I simply do what I think is cute. Just remember to be comfortable. Take heels if you think you should but do not wear them around the park. Start with jean shorts, a cute shirt and some accessories you have at home. Don’t be intimidated. You’ll look great!
