Princess Elsa
Fancy Dress Costume
2014-2015 (manufactured)
2014-2015 (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The ‘Elsa’ dress with its colourful, shiny, layers, glittery cameo and flowing cape, is the latest fairy tale costume in the 300-year history of children’s fancy dress in Britain. The Disney character, ‘Elsa’, the Snow Queen from the animated film ‘Frozen’, has been incredibly popular with children. Since its launch in 2013, Disney and its licensees have sold millions of ‘Elsa’ costumes worldwide. At Christmas in 2014 the limited supply versus high demand instigated bidding wars on online auctions sites with dresses being sold for almost 10 times their retail price. The dress has sparked debate about gendered clothing, as well as the fire safety of children’s fancy dress costumes.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
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| Title | Princess Elsa (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | polyester, sewn |
| Brief description | Dress with matching gloves and attached cape, made from ice-blue and silver coloured mesh, organza, velvet and silk effect polyester fabrics. |
| Physical description | Dress with matching gloves and attached cape, made from ice-blue and silver coloured mesh, organza, velvet and silk effect polyester fabrics. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Gallery label | In fairy tales, princesses are often young women living in a castle. But anyone can be a princess in a dress, anywhere – on the bus, in the park, at a party…
[Young V&A, Imagine Gallery short object label] (2023) |
| Object history | Purchased brand new in 2015. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The ‘Elsa’ dress with its colourful, shiny, layers, glittery cameo and flowing cape, is the latest fairy tale costume in the 300-year history of children’s fancy dress in Britain. The Disney character, ‘Elsa’, the Snow Queen from the animated film ‘Frozen’, has been incredibly popular with children. Since its launch in 2013, Disney and its licensees have sold millions of ‘Elsa’ costumes worldwide. At Christmas in 2014 the limited supply versus high demand instigated bidding wars on online auctions sites with dresses being sold for almost 10 times their retail price. The dress has sparked debate about gendered clothing, as well as the fire safety of children’s fancy dress costumes. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.50-2015 |
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| Record created | November 27, 2015 |
| Record URL |
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