DisneyBounding 101: A Beginner’s Guide to a Growing Trend

I’ve always been the type of person who loves to dress up and put together creative costumes for Halloween. I had a certain talent of creating a simple, yet unique costume at the very last minute. These outfits ranged from the Sun Drop Girl to Lady Gaga… and during my first year of college I wanted to create something from Disney.

snowThis is when I discovered DisneyBounding.

According to creator Leslie Kay, DisneyBounding is, “Where fashion geeks and Disney nerds collide.” DisneyBounds are intentionally color-coded ensembles to resemble and match a Disney character. You aren’t actually creating a costume, but an outfit you can actually wear on a standard day. You can wear them to the Disney parks, to school, out to dinner, anywhere! For example, the first DisneyBound I ever put together was modeled off of Snow White. I already had a blue shirt and black flats; I only needed to purchase a red bow and yellow skirt to complete the look.

Creating your own DisneyBound can be easy and fun! Here’s a guide to help walk you through some of the essentials you might need for your Disney-inspired everyday ensemble:

  • Brainstorm Essential Colors – Every Disney character has specific colors coordinated to their outfit in their movie or show. These colors are going to be the most important details for your DisneyBound. If you don’t have the correct colors, no one will really recognize whom you’re trying to emulate. For example, Ariel from The Little Mermaid would require a purple top and green bottoms, while Mickey Mouse would have a black top, red bottoms, and yellow shoes.
  • Search Your Closet – You never know what you might find in the clothes you already have! Sometimes you can even start with this to see what common colors you might already own. You might even have a full Bound in your closet.
  • Research Online – Once you have an idea for which DisneyBound you want to create, searching for certain clothes online can help save time to see which stores have what you’re looking for. Forever 21 is my go-to store for DisneyBounds. Most of the time they have color-coded sections, which makes it easy to find exactly what you need.
  • Go Shopping – After you’ve finished your research, it’s time to go buy whatever clothes you need to complete your look. Thrift stores are actually another great place to try and find pieces for your DisneyBound. Goodwill is also nearly always color-coded, which makes your job even easier.
  • Add Accessories – The finishing touches to your DisneyBound belong to the accessories. It’s amazing how a necklace or a pair of earrings can really make a difference! An apple necklace for Snow White, a fork for Ariel, maybe even bumblebee earrings for Winnie the Pooh. Claire’s has unique jewelry perfect for DisneyBounds. Etsy.com also has some great handmade jewelry and accessories for your final touches.

That’s all there is to it! DisneyBounds are great for the Disney parks, especially since Disney has a rule that adult guests are not allowed to dress in costumes that resemble the characters except for during Halloween. I’ve participated in group DisneyBounds in Disneyland and Walt Disney World before, which is tons of fun. Some of my favorite outfits I’ve created were Flynn Rider, Baymax, and Gogo Tomago from Big Hero 6!

So which characters would you like to DisneyBound?

Sara Lopes
Self diagnosed Netflix addict and lover of all things Disney, Sara loves to write and participated in the Disney College Program in Walt Disney World in 2013. You can read all about her experience in her book, Sara Earns Her Ears and on her blog thedisneyden.com! Sara Earns Her Ears: http://amzn.to/1Euak76