A New Project, Historic Winter Disney Princesses

Ironically right after I published that first blog I fell off of my stride. The US election set a depressed mood for a while and I became a bit of a downer. But life moves on. I leave for my holiday back to the States, to visit family and celebrate Thanksgiving, tomorrow. Two weeks of sunshine and after the dreary French weather we’ve been having so sun and warmth is very much needed.

But on to the ART!

I’ve wanted to do a redesign or rather do “my take” on the Disney princesses. After being around them and their various “winterwear” styles for the past 2 decades I wanted to give it a go in an illustration. And who better to start off with than the first princess herself?

Snow White.

And first things first to address, I drew her as an older girl. The 14 year old didn’t sit well with me in these modern times. So I started by drawing a slightly more mature woman (early 20’s in range.) I love the idea of telling a bit of her story in the dress itself. So I added a few of her bird friends along the hem and an apple to the bodice. I also wanted to give a nod to a more historically accurate look with the sleeves.

Now in the theme parks it has become the norm to see the cold weather layering garments. The “flesh tone” thermal shirts. And this has always bothered me. It is never the same shade as the girl, and it it does look similar it not just looks like saggy wrinkled skin. If a person is cold and bundled up then it should be understood that the princesses are cold too. (Cue the phrase “if you are cold they are cold bring them inside.”) So I don’t care if the original silhouette had short sleeves WE’RE PUTTING SLEEVES ON THE PRINCESS BECAUSE ITS 2 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND MAKING THE NECKLINE COVER HER COLLAR BONE!

If this was a true costume design I would go into more detail about the back and the further layering ie. gloves etc. But its only an illustration for now. And I needed to leave it as such. But I am very pleased how it turned out and wanted to quickly move on to the next princess while I have steam behind me and hours to occupy inside.