Princess Elsa thumbnail 1

This object consists of 3 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Princess Elsa

Fancy Dress Costume
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.

  • Dress
  • Glove
  • Glove
TitlePrincess 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
  • Height: 820mm (Note: Dimensions of the dress 'flat' (not mounted))
  • Width: 780mm (Note: Dimensions of the dress 'flat' (not mounted))
  • Depth: 100mm (Note: Dimensions of the dress 'flat' (not mounted))
Production typeMass produced
Gallery label
(01/07/2023)
Princess Elsa fancy dress costume

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…

Manufactured by Walt Disney Productions
2015
China
Polyester
Museum no. B.50-2015

[Young V&A, Imagine Gallery, This is Me, short object label]
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 createdNovember 27, 2015
Record URL
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