Getting the DisneyBound look:

1. Think about Colors

Image: Disney

Most (but not all) popular Disney characters used for DisneyBounding are animated. For this reason, thinking of them in terms of color scheme should be elementary. If you aren’t confident about the appropriate colors, a quick Google search will identify the appropriate shades to honor your favorite character.

Here are a couple of examples. Zazu is a popular character from The Lion King whose back is light blue, whose chest is white, and whose beak is yellow and orange. He also has a royal blue feather sticking out of his head, which you can use to add a punctuation mark to your outfit. In order to DisneyBound as Zazu, you would want to choose apparel comprised of some/all of the colors listed above.

Are you like my wife with a strong preference for Lilo & Stitch? Great news! DisneyBounding as Lilo is not only easy but also a great way to wear some splashy colors during your park visit. For a good portion of the movie, Lilo is clad in a festive red sundress with white flowers plus blue flip-flops. She also sports a hula skirt during her dance sequences (“But I practiced!”) plus a yellow and green sundress at other points in the film. All of these colors are viable options in building a Lilo DisneyBound outfit.

2. Think about Style

Image: Disney

While thinking about color is easy, identifying the style of a specific Disney character and then matching it to your own can be trickier. For example, consider how you would DisneyBound as Genie from Aladdin. The character is a wiseacre with a flair for the slapstick and improvisational. Maybe you possess some of those qualities and maybe you don’t. Either way, you should find a way to mesh your personal fashion sensibilities to the character.

This type of accessorizing may be easier than you think. What is Genie? He’s someone who comes out of a lamp to make wishes come true. How does Genie dress? He’s the classic Arabian Nights archetype with a loose-fitting look that happens to be his chubby blue skin. Is that all there is to him? NO! Genie also wears bracelets, a belt, and curly-pointed shoes. Odds are against your finding the shoes (they’re called jester slippers) unless you’re friends with a cobbler…or know somebody on Etsy.

You can, however, easily find a pair of solid bracelets that match your style with that of Genie. Adding a kitschy belt enhances the recreation even more. The cherry on top, however, would be to find a necklace in the shape of a magic lamp. It’s something that clearly ties your look to Genie without drawing significant attention away from the rest of the outfit. Alternately, go over the top and wear a blue magic lamp t-shirt along with some puffy MC Hammer-style parachute pants. There is no right or wrong way to DisneyBound.

3. Be Creative

Image: Disney

When you DisneyBound, you don’t have to feel constrained to the simple outfit that a character wears. In the summer, it’s obviously way too hot to wear boots and a sweater if you’re basing your attire off Frozen’s Anna. Instead, you could choose a simple tank top and shorts that reflect the magenta robe and black vest. For her turquoise and royal blue dress, you could accessorize with a purse, a headband, or shoes in those colors. You’re DisneyBounding on your own terms!

Alternately, maybe you don’t want to DisneyBound as a favorite character, but rather as a beloved Disney ride. For Haunted Mansion, you could incorporate the purple and black colors that make up the attraction’s theme, and choose fun ghost jewelry for emphasis. If you peruse Etsy, a tremendous resource for potential DisneyBound gear, you might even find fun barrettes with the themes of the stretching portraits or a Madame Leota pendant. Everyone has their own preferred Disney theme park icon. It’s up to you to have fun with it.

DisneyBound as a style is in its infancy. The only limit is your imagination, so feel free to use these suggestions as a jumping off point for grander plans.