Make an educated guess: how many different wardrobe options does Ms. Mouse have to choose from when she’s getting ready for a Character Spot or a Parade? Before I finished one cup of coffee on a Saturday morning, I pinned over one hundred and forty-nine unique looks for Minnie (and could have worked through a second cup.) There must be some remarkable professionals with a great deal of talent who design and fabricate each look for her.
https://www.pinterest.com/dmross10/minnie-mouses-wardrobe/
My own recent meet-up with Minnie Mouse happened at Animal Kingdom after the Jingle Jungle 5K in November. The lines were sparse that early in the morning, so my group and I hopped right in line to meet Mickey and Minnie. We waited for about ten minutes before entering the Outpost.
When it was our turn, I was the first to greet Minnie. Every detail stood out: The tailored khaki culottes with leather buttons, the tone-on-tone embroidered French cuffs and collar, the braided leather belt with bronzed buckle, the pin tucks stitched perfectly down the front of her shirt, and the leather-stitched soling on her boots. The quality of the workmanship is superior to the majority of ready-to-wear clothing lines, outshining what most of us purchase year to year. The color, patterns, and textures of each piece were combined to create a subtle but visually pleasing Safari theme that suited this Character meet in the Animal Kingdom.
When I complimented her on her outfit, she was thrilled. It was obvious that she also appreciates the craftsmanship and lovely design that went into her Safari outfit. If I could have taken more time at the meet-up without offending everyone in line behind me, I would have asked many more questions. How many new outfits does she get per season? Does she have a favorite staff designer who just knows how to make her look good? How long does she have to wait between design, measurement and fabrication before she gets to wear the outfit in the parks? What’s her favorite parade outfit? Does she love her runDisney warm-up ensemble or would she rather be in a coronation gown?
Minnie let me know she was pleased I had noticed not just her ensemble, but also that her wardrobe team possesses all the expertise of a design house. Here’s to their amazing work! I hope she passes that on at her next fitting.
