WHO WORE IT BEST: Disney Edition

It’s a little known fact that Disney characters have long been the source of fashion inspiration for runway designers. But believe it or not, some of the same looks making their way down red carpets on gorgeous celebs first made their debuts on drawing paper in colored pencil.

Below I’ve highlighted some high-fashion looks clearly inspired by your favorite Disney characters, but what good would this be if I didn’t tell you WHO WORE IT BEST? ;-)

*TAYLOR SWIFT vs. KATY PERRY vs. MINNIE MOUSE*

Katy Perry gives us Disney chic with a pinup twist in a cute attempt to update the classic red and white polka dot dress, however it would've been much cuter with a strand of pearls and a peep-toe pump. And while Minnie always looks lovely, the yellow clogs are a bit too heavy outside of Sweden and I'm a bit distracted by her peek-a-boo bloomers.

With a simple red lip, tie cinching the waist and cascading golden curls, Taylor takes the cake and exudes class.

*PRINCESS JASMINE vs. KIM KARDASHIAN *

This was a tough one, as I think Kim Kardashian is Princess Jasmine's real-life doppleganger if there ever was one. But Jasmine gets points for her gorgeous Arabian jewelry and for being a little more covered up. With Kim's ultra-boost cleavage, slits on the legs, and way too low rising waistline, she looks less like a class act, and more like the class hoochie.

*SERENA WILLIAMS vs. BELLE*

Both ladies look lovely in floor-length yellow gowns, but Belle has the edge for the soft shape of the gown. She looks elegant, romatic, and like she'd float across the dance floor, while Serena's more fitted design leaves her looking uncomfortable and a little over-stuffed.

*FREDDY vs. LEIGH AS FREDDY vs. DONALD AS FREDDY*



All three give me shivers in the brown and red sweater we know so well, and it was almost a three-way tie. I love Donald's preppy, v-neck take on the sweater and anger, and then of course, there's Freddy's original more casual, relaxed-fit crazy, but Leigh comes out ahead for her sexier take. The longer, more fitted sweater over tights is a great update, and the sexy-but-not-too-sexy slash over the stomach leaves just enough to the imagination.

Until next time, that's WHO WORE IT BEST!

DAMES DO CARS LAND!

It all began on a regular Saturday morning at 4:00am, aka: bright and early! The sky was dark, the owls were hooting, and everything was as normal as it always is.

Everything, that is, except that the Disney Dames were up and at 'em to take advantage of the Annual Passholders Early Preview of the brand spankin’ new Cars Land at California Adventure!

Leigh had a broken toe (actual x-ray below)...

...and it was so early that our regular stop at Starbucks was a no-go, which is usually a must to begin any Disneyland day. But the mark of a true Disney fan is the one who’s still excited to get on the road, despite those circumstances – and boy were we!

When we arrived, after receiving our super-exclusive wristbands, we waited in line outside California Adventure’s entrance to be among the first inside. Well, Melody and I did. Leigh had to go rent her electronic convenience vehicle, aka: grandma cruiser, to make getting around the park with a broken toe a bit easier. But it was only moments before she came cruisin’ up in her brand new rental making it look way flyer than any grandma could. ;)

  

And when the gates opened, we immediately hurried over to Cars Land to discover exactly what magic awaited.

When you enter Cars Land, you are transported to a desert movie set, where oldies-but-goodies blare over the loudspeaker, there are old-fashioned gas attendants, and you’d swear you even feel a warm desert breeze graze your cheek. Imagineers did an amazing job with bringing Radiator Springs to life. Just incredibly cute on all fronts. I could have sat down cross-legged in the middle of Cars Land and just taken in it’s cuteness in ALL.DAY.LONG.

But first and foremost we were there for the main attraction: Radiator Springs Racers. So imagine our frustration when, after standing in line for it less than 5 minutes, we were informed that THE RIDE HAD BROKEN DOWN!!!

WHAT?!!!

Now, in my experience at Disneyland, many rides have broken down, some even while I’m on them – hey, it took me four rides of Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin before I knew how the darn thing ended. But never have I ever heard of a ride breaking down before it even starts up. “This better be good,” I heard from the folks in line around us that decided to stay, while others migrated over to the super-cute breakfast place (Flo’s V8 Café) jamming the Supremes next-door.

We considered stepping out of line and coming back another time too – after all, there’s so much Disney to see! But in the end, the three Disney Dames decided to stay and stick it out like champs. Reason: We’re not quitters! We love Disney and we finish what we start! Real Reason: There was no way imaginable to get the grandma cruiser back through the line to exit. So we were in it to win it whether we liked it or not.

So what did we do to pass the time? What any group of girls would do when faced with an uncomfortably long wait outside at 7am on a Saturday.

We had a photo shoot.

 

We posed.

We posed again.

We posed alone.

We posed with photo hijackers.

And we realized that we look amazingly photogenic at 7am without coffee. :-)

And then, after an hour of watching racecars speed by, our eyes frantically searching for any bobbing heads inside, the line finally started to move. And then it was all gravy from there. Because of Leigh’s foot, we were ushered right up to the handicapped entrance, and we took off.

The first (and longest) portion of the ride is the car you’re in preparing for the Radiator Springs race. You’re washed, you socialize, your wheels are checked, you’re even warned by a very cool cop car that you’re going too fast. And after a final check in the mirror of the body shop (because there’s no use winning if you don’t look good doing it), you shoot out of the building and onto the track running through the beautiful Radiator Springs, and guess what? Another car has crept up next to you, which you quickly realize is your opponent! But before you can yell,  “Oh My God, I’m in a race!”, “Where did that other car come from?”, “This is so cool!”, or more plainly, “What the F@$%?” you’re off! The wind is in your hair, the music is in your ears, and the excitement is in every twist and turn, every drop and rise.

You finally finish the race having either won or lost (we won!) and then are transported back to the platform where you started, in our case the handicapped boarding zone. I was happy to discover that this was a picture-taking ride, too.

Love those mid-ride snap-shots!

And in the end, even after an hour delay that pretty much cancelled out our early entry, we promised to return soon for more Cars Land fun, before gathering that it was only 8:30am and we still had a whole day of Disney ahead. And even better, we could finally stop for coffee. ;-)

Run, don’t walk to Disney’s California Adventure for Cars Land.

The Disney Dames are onboard.  J

MEET THE DAMES: Asia

I'm Asia, Creator and Blog-Master of Dames Do Disney. I'm a creative, 

bubbly, old-fashioned chick who LOVES to talk and write about anything under the sun! I've got a number of TV and novel projects I'm working on, so I'll be sharing some of those soon. 

In the meantime, check out more about me below:

1. My occupation is:

Comedy Development at a TV network

2. But I really want to be a:

Novelist/TV Writer/Screenwriter Extraordinaire 

3. I'd describe myself in these three words:

Creative, talkative, talented

4. My favorite Disney movie is:

It's hard to top The Lion King with me! The opening still makes my eyes go misty. 

5. My favorite Disney character is:

Minnie Mouse is oh-so-classy.

6. My favorite Disneyland ride is:

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror -- I love everything vintage (music, fashion, movies, etc) and everything Twilight Zone, so it's the combination of champions if you ask me! 

7. Least Favorite Disneyland ride:

Though there is something very disturbing about a children's ride that ends in Hell (Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, I'm talking to you), I'm going with Snow White. It's just too dark. 

8. If I was locked in Disneyland overnight, I would:

Have my own parade down Main Street!

9. Disney character I'm most like: 

I'd say Belle. We're both hopeless romantics who love to read, are kind to animals, and LOOOOOVE France! 

10. Disney character my husband should THANK HIS LUCKY STARS isn't real:

Captain Shang from Mulan. The man is hurt-me-gorgeous. If I had to train with him, ie: "I'll Make a Man Out of You", I wouldn't be able to concentrate. I'd probably forget the difference between left and right. 

11. If I got a job at Disneyland, I'd be: 

Princess Tiana! I'd love to perform her songs and dances in the middle of New Orleans Square!

12. NOTABLE DISNEYLAND MEMORY OR OPINION:

In fourth grade, I got to preview Indiana Jones Adventure when my Dad was broadcasting at Disneyland, and got to ride up the backstage elevator and skip the line. It was so cool! But, as I later learned, so is the line queue! :-)

NEXT UP,  FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE DAMES DID CARS LAND...

MEET THE DAMES: Melody

Melody (aka: Mel) is another one of my best friends from junior high. We all met at the same school, but Melody and I danced and played in orchestra together, too! She's a sweet, quirky, musically-gifted chick (not to mention one hell-of-a photo model) who runs her own piano teaching business in Southern California.

Check out more about her below, and her piano teaching here:

Piano by Melody

http://www.pianobymelody.com/



1. My occupation is:

Independent Piano Teacher

2. But I really want to be a:

Independent Piano Teacher

3. I'd describe myself in these three words: 

Shy, goofy, sweet

4. My favorite Disney movie is: 

I'm terrible with favorites, so I will give a favorite: Aladdin

5. My favorite Disney character is:

Piglet

6. My favorite Disneyland ride is:

Once again, a favorite ride is The Pirates of the Caribbean and a favorite is Indiana Jones.

7. Least favorite Disneyland ride is:

Unfortunately, I do have a least favorite: Snow White. If we include DCA, it's The Little Mermaid!

8. If I was locked in Disneyland overnight, I would:

Have a party, or wedding!

9. Disney character I'm most like:

Piglet

10. Disney character my boyfriend should THANK HIS LUCKY STARS isn't real:

Aladdin

11. If I got a job at Disneyland, I'd be a:
I've always said this since I was little. I want to be a monkey in Fantasmic, a gingerbread cookie in the Christmas parade or Music Supervisor. I need more training for each of course.

12. NOTABLE DISNEYLAND MEMORY OR OPINION:
I spent the turn of the century at Disneyland. It was one of the most fantastic Disneyland experiences. I sat with my best friends at the time, in front of the castle for hours to wait for the year 2000. Every hour Mickey came out and did a little dance until it was time to ring it in.

That's Melody! Stay tuned for Part Three of our Meet the Dames series: ASIA!

MEET THE DAMES: Leigh

Leigh has been one of my best friends since junior high. She's a cool, funky, artistic chick who also happens to serve as the Dames Do Disney Official Blog Photographer. Check out more about her below, and more of her photography at:

 Leigh Gaston Photography

1. My occupation is:

Photographer/Post Production Coordinator

2. But I really want to be a:

Photographer/Director/Editor

3. In three words, I am:

Observant, fun, loyal

4. My favorite Disney movie is:

Aladdin

5. My favorite Disney character is:

Pluto

6. My favorite Disneyland ride is:

Pirates of the Caribbean

7. My least favorite Disneyland ride is:

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

8. If I were locked in Disneyland overnight, I'd:

Avoid the feral cats. http://ocresort.ocregister.com/2011/10/19/disney-feral-cats-in-parks/91683/

9. The Disney character I am most like is:

Donald Duck

10. Disney character my boyfriend should THANK HIS LUCKY STARS isn't real: 

John Smith from Pocahontas

11. If I got a job at Disneyland, I'd be a: 

PhotoPass Photographer

12. My most notable Disney memory or experience: 

When I won VIP seating for Fantasmic! during the "Year of a Million Dreams", and we sat next to Macaulay Culkin and Mila Kunis

That's Leigh! STAY TUNED for Part Two of our "Meet the Dames" series: MELODY!

WHY THE DAMES DO DISNEY

Once upon a time, there were three very different little girls...

Who grew up to be three very different women...

With three things in common: they're brilliant, they're beautiful...

AND THEY ALL LOVE DISNEYLAND!

The question comes up a lot -- from a Mom, a boyfriend, and sometimes a very honest Grammy who lovingly and casually throws out the word "nitwit". You know the question I'm speaking of. It's the one most of the time accompanied by a scoff or mocking tone, or a confused shake of the head, it's the one that sounds like this:

"DISNEYLAND AGAAAAAAAAAIN?"

The reality is, as with other ideals of childhood (Santa, the Tooth Fairy...boybands), there is a great divide between believers and non-believers. Non-believers says "that's for kids", and scoff at the idea of walking around in the sun, standing in line, and being around kids all day.

But believers know that there's no feeling like seeing the spark in a little boy's eyes as he watches Peter Pan defeat Captain Hook for the very first time. Or the blush on a little girl's face when "the fairest of them all" tells her how pretty SHE looks.

There's no other place where you can escape the pressures of adult life and worry about nothing except having fun. You can wear mouse ears, swoon over a fictional character (yes you, Aladdin), and rediscover dreams you'd locked away long ago, and no one thinks the less of you.

And since we're all adults here, let's just be frank. There's no other place where you can get a mojito or margarita with a bite as venomous as Guillermo's (and you haven't done Disney until you've paid Guillermo a visit, but more on him later).

This is the blog that will bridge the gap between the believers and the non, and give you a front row view of all the crazy fun (and sometimes just crazy) we have on our monthly trips, as we relive our childhoods grown and sexy style. ;-)

So in response to the commonly asked question WHY DO THE DAMES DO DISNEY? this blog dares to ask a better one.

WHY THE HELL DOESN'T EVERYBODY ELSE?

Welcome to DAMES DO DISNEY. You think you know, but you have NO idea. ;-)