If there is any season when a dress is truly fit for a princess, it is, of course, couture. And though many of these fantastical creations do end up on actual royalty, the regal gowns on the runway also bear a striking resemblance to the stars of our animated dreams: Disney heroines and princesses. A fantastical take on trousers with a glimmering jacket would be a stellar fit for Disney s newest and first Southeast Asian protagonist, Raya of Raya and the Last Dragon, while Giambattista Valli’s canary yellow number was a spitting image of Beauty and the Beast’s Belle’s magical dress. At Guo Pei, the rounded sleeves on one magical piece were reminiscent of Rapunzel, and Viktor Rolf’s upcycled confection was just right for a modern-day Snow White.
After all, who says cartoon characters can’t wear couture? Iris van Herpen’s crystalized creation was a perfect match for Frozen’s Elsa, while Elena of Avalor could have easily slipped into a ruffled pink dress courtesy of Valentino, and the nymphlike dress at Christian Dior was a stellar reinterpretation of Princess Tiana’s petal-tiered gown. Let the fairy tales come to life.
Here, see the best gowns of Paris Couture Week fit for a Disney princess.