Top 20 Best Disney Princess Outfits of All Time
#20: Princess PJs “Ralph Breaks the Internet” (2018)
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In 2018’s sequel to “Wreck-It Ralph”, “Ralph Breaks the Internet”, we get to see the iconic Disney princesses in a whole new light. In this scene, Vanellope meets the princesses and they’re jealous of her casual and comfy outfit. Cinderella sets her mice to work making new outfits for all the other princesses and in the next scene we see them all hanging out in modern loungewear- which is quite the contrast from their usual ball gowns. Considering we’re used to seeing the princesses dressed up all the time, seeing them dressed down is a pleasant surprise.
#19: Belle’s Winter Outfit “Beauty and the Beast” (1991)
Belle wears a couple of memorable outfits throughout “Beauty and the Beast” which we’ll get to later, but there’s one that’s quite underrated because of how briefly it appears in the film. During the song "Something There”, in which Belle and the Beast both admit their growing feelings for one another, we see the Beast’s castle during wintertime in a montage. Belle wears a pink dress topped with a fur-trimmed red coat that stands out strikingly against the white backdrop of snow. The ensemble has a holiday vibe that we just love.
#18: Tinker Bell’s Green Outfit “Peter Pan” (1953)
Tinker Bell isn’t an official Disney princess, but she’s a mainstay in marketing for the House of Mouse and has been for decades. The sassy little fairy wears the same outfit throughout “Peter Pan” which has become emblematic for her character. Her little green dress was probably quite scandalous in the early ‘50s when the film was released. The material looks as though it’s made from the leaves of trees and her tiny green shoes with white pom poms coordinate just perfectly. The green ribbon holding her hair into a tidy bun pulls the whole look together.
#17: Ariel’s Sparkly Dress “The Little Mermaid” (1989)
When you think of Ariel, you probably imagine her in her natural state, with her fins and classic seashell bra. But that barely constitutes an outfit, considering it is literally just two shells. The look we all lusted after was the scintillating dress that we see her wear only briefly at the end of the film when she emerges from the water to reunite with Eric. The dress shows off her very human legs with a slit on the side. It’s just too bad we only get to see it for a moment before the scene transitions to Ariel and Eric’s wedding day.
#16: Belle’s Provincial Outfit “Beauty and the Beast” (1991)
When we first meet Belle, she’s just a regular provincial girl living in a provincial town and dreaming of bigger things. We see her walk through her French village lamenting the fact that everything is always the same. Her outfit is a simple one but it’s iconic. She wears a blue pinafore style dress with a white blouse underneath as well as a white apron. It’s clearly a practical look suited for chores more than big adventures. Despite that, it still manages to be one of the most memorable and easily identifiable outfits in the Disney canon.
#15: Anna’s Winter Outfit “Frozen” (2013)
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If our winter clothes looked as cute as Anna’s we probably wouldn’t mind going out into the cold and building a snowman or two. At first glance, Anna’s clothes look simple enough: skirt, cloak, and boots that are very much necessary for winter... or taking on large snow creatures. However, it’s the fun, bright colors, and the small details that make this outfit a favorite of ours. Elsa may be the more sophisticated sister, but with the elegant designs in the skirt, the details in the black top and pink cloak, Anna has her own sense of grace and style.
#14: Megara’s Lavender Dress “Hercules” (1997)
By the late ‘90s, it became clear that Disney didn’t want to keep offering up stereotypical damsels in distress in its animated movies. Megara, from “Hercules”, was a whole new kind of heroine. Sure, she was the love interest rather than the protagonist, but her sass and self-sufficiency were empowering to viewers. Her outfit suits her perfectly, with the form fitting column style gown hugging her curves much more than the classic princess ball gown would. She’s a much more sultry character than some of the Disney ladies we met before her, and her fashion sense represents that.
#13: Pocahontas’ Dress “Pocahontas” (1995)
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When you’re one with nature, you apparently get an amazing outfit so you can paint with all the colors of the wind. It doesn’t even matter that it’s just one ensemble, not when you rock it the way Pocahontas does. Her outfit of choice consists of a one-shoulder tan dress with a bright blue necklace. Hey, what can we say: when you’re a free spirit who runs head first into adventure, less is more. That, and you don’t need complexity when you have perfect, wind-whipping hair and killer cheekbones. Besides, she tried complex once... it didn’t go so well.
#12: Elsa's “Show Yourself” Outfit “Frozen II” (2019)
After the massive success of the first “Frozen” movie, we knew there had to be a sequel. And when we finally got to see Anna and Elsa again, they had some new looks to offer up. For much of the film, we see Elsa in the icy blue gowns that she’s known for along with a new more badass traveling outfit. But while she’s singing “Show Yourself” we see her transform into an all white ensemble that both fits with her usual aesthetic and shows us something fresh and new. The dress gives her the appearance of being ensconced inside a snowflake, which is perfect for this ice queen.
#11: Ariel’s Pink Gown “The Little Mermaid” (1989)
Ariel is under the sea for much of “The Little Mermaid”, but when we see her on land she’s always wearing something fabulous. When she sits down to dine with Eric, she looks like the picture of a proper lady in a voluminous pink dress. They say that redheads can’t wear rosy tones because it clashes with their hair color, but this outfit still looks great. Ariel might not be able to speak during this part of the movie, but she manages to charm everyone anyway, and her outfit is a part of that.
#10: Rapunzel’s Pink and Purple Outfit “Tangled” (2010)
Rapunzel spends most of her life trapped inside a tower, but she still looks great doing it. Her everyday outfit is period-appropriate and totally fetching. Rapunzel has to be a lot more mobile than many of the princesses who came before her, so her a-line ankle length skirt makes it easier for her to move around. The pink and purple hues found in the outfit perfectly complement her coloring, and the corset top is romantic and classic. While this look might seem more simplistic than your average princess gown, we love the subtle details that can be found if you look closely.
#9: Mulan’s Matchmaker Outfit “Mulan” (1998)
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Mulan’s getting ready scene is one of the most memorable in the film, as she has her face painted and hair done in the effort to make her look like a proper lady. She may be totally uncomfortable in this role, but the traditional Chinese outfit she wears is striking. The long sleeves make it difficult for her to manoeuvre, but the color blocking is gorgeous and really stands out among the many more classically Western outfits we’re used to seeing in Disney films. Sure, she’s probably desperate to get out of it, but that doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate it for a minute!
#8: Moana’s Everyday Outfit “Moana” (2016)
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By the time “Moana” hit theatres in 2016, it was clear that we were in for a whole new kind of Disney princess. Moana is independent and an adventurer, ready to face the unknown in order to save her people. Her everyday outfit perfectly encapsulates her character, making it clear that she would choose function over fashion any day. Despite that though, her look is effortlessly cool, with multiple mixed patterns and textures coming together to create a dynamic outfit. And her perfect beachy waves strike envy in anyone who’s tried to achieve a similar style.
#7: Aurora’s Pink/Blue Dress “Sleeping Beauty” (1959)
Which dress is better? Pink? Or blue? Answer: we’re picking both! After all, how could we possibly choose between the two when Aurora’s own fairy godmothers can’t decide? We can all agree that the style of the dress is simply sublime. The way it’s cut, the way it flows, all of that is nailed perfectly. But then we get not one, but two color choices. This would be easier if Aurora didn’t look so stunning in both colors. That playful pink. That gorgeous blue. Hey! Maybe we can mash the two together... hmmmm, on second thought...
#6: Tiana’s Green Ball Gown “The Princess and the Frog” (2009)
If we could, we’d put this girl’s entire wardrobe into our closet -- even her work uniform. Maybe it’s because the story takes place in the Big Easy, but every outfit Tiana wears really lights up the screen - especially that lovely ball gown. Sticking with the whole frog motif, this dress is absolutely heavenly with its layers of leaf green, matching crown, and elbow length gloves. With just the right amount of jewelry and her hair tied up in a neat bun, this princess makes frog transformations and bayou navigation look good. Forget being almost there, Tiana has arrived.
#5: Jasmine’s Sea Green Outfit “Aladdin” (1992)
Aladdin wasn’t the only one smitten by Agrabah’s princess. Jasmine’s beauty is undeniable, heck, she can even make a plain, brown cloak look good. Decades later and we’re still in love with that short top, those harem pants, that perfect shade of green, and did you see those earrings and shoes?! We also love the bold red of the alternate version of this ensemble - unfortunately, she’s wearing it against her will. Still, she manages to make the best of a bad situation. Remember, Jafar, she isn’t a prize to be won.
#4: Snow White’s Dress “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937)
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Ladies and gentlemen: the very first Disney princess. Armed with optimism and rosy cheeks, we whistled along with her while she worked that classic dress. A young woman as cheerful as Snow was born to wear bright colors, and bright is exactly what we got, complete with some clever red accents to go with the bow in her hair. To us, Snow White’s dress is a surprisingly bold choice since she wears it outside with all of those woodland creatures. Kudos to you, fair maiden, but we’d have all kinds of outdoor scuffs in that outfit.
#3: Elsa’s Ice Queen Dress “Frozen” (2013)
The song did say let it go, and Else did exactly that. It should be noted that her outfit before this transformation is pretty spectacular with its regal elegance, but this ice blue dress won us over as soon as we laid eyes on it. It’s a stunning light blue gown with a sheer cape behind it, complete with speckled details of snowflakes and frost. Also, we have to say, her “I’m done with this nonsense” smile complements the dress well. Now if only WE could make ourselves a fancy dress whenever we were fed up with people.
#2: Belle’s Golden Ball Gown “Beauty and the Beast” (1991)
She may not be like the rest of us, but when you illuminate a room just by stepping into it, you don’t have to be. Belle was seen as an oddity in her town, right down to that cute blue dress of hers. But when she enters the Beast’s castle she gets a major dress upgrade. The romantic dance she shares with Beast is where we really fall in love with all those golden layers. We’re eager to see Emma Watson bring that iconic dress to the big screen - after all, it is a tale as old as time. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Tiana’s Blue Dress “The Princess and the Frog” (2009) Jasmine’s Red Harem Outfit “Aladdin” (1992) Alice’s Blue Dress “Alice in Wonderland” (1951) Merida’s Dress “Brave” (2012) Cinderella’s Homemade Dress “Cinderella” (1950)
#1: Cinderella’s Ball Gown “Cinderella” (1950)
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Ah, so this is what dreams look like... in dress form, anyway. This is the dress that made us believe that fairytales came true. Just as Cinderella is ready to cry herself to sleep after dealing with her horrible stepfamily, she meets her fairy godmother -- a woman we could all use every now and then. All it takes is some good ol’ fashion Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo to create this absolutely dreamy gown, and every single iteration we’ve seen of it is heavenly. The only downside is that it only lasts until midnight, but that’s just enough time to snag a prince.