Since 1954, the Walt Disney version of Tinkerbell has been the hostess of the majority of the corporation's live-action programming, cementing her place as a pop culture icon. In turn, the fairy's now-classic outfit of green dress and fairy wings has become a staple of all sorts of fancy dress events, popular with both young girls living out their dreams of being fairies and older women wanting to look both demure and sexy.
So why does dressing up in what is widely thought of as a children's fancy dress outfit make women feel so sexy? Well, it is important to remember that Walt Disney was roundly condemned when his 1953 cartoon of Peter Pan was released for the sexualised version of Tinkerbell that was displayed on screen. A rumour even circulated that the fairy's body was based on that of Marilyn Monroe - a rumour later scotched by animator Marc Davis admitting that Tink was based on actress Margaret Kerry. So while young girls may revere Tinkerbell for the fairy's carefree and mischievous attitude, adults can admire her sexy nature, and the fact that the fairy fancy dress costume could be the ideal outfit to fit in with the increasing popularity of fancy dress parties.
So why are grown-up women dressing up as Tinkerbell to have fun? Well, there is a surprising resurgence in fancy dress parties. Hen parties are renowned for its members dressing up, but other events such as fancy dress club nights and even Blitz parties are becoming increasingly popular. People can relive a bit of their childhood while indulging in more adult pursuits like having a few drinks, so it's no surprise that people want to dress up in a fairy costume when they have fun.
The Tinkerbell fancy dress costume can appeal to women looking for an outfit that is both sexy and still a little demure. It is not as 'trashy' as skimpy Playboy outfits, so while it is short enough to look attractive, it gives more of a sense of fun rather than just exuding raw sex appeal. More and more women are looking to be both sexy while avoiding being too trampy.
Even celebrities are getting in on the fancy dress act. While they may not be wearing Tinkerbell costumes, they are still dressing up for their parties. Of course, the likes of Katie Price are very keen to dress up in fairy costumes for events such as hen nights, but even Seal and Heidi Klum had a white trash-themed ceremony to renew their wedding vows.
So from her origins as the Walt Disney character, Tinkerbell became a sexualised image early on. While there is still an innocence that makes her appealing to young children, there is also an inherent naughtiness that makes dressing up in fairy costumes appealing for adults looking to have a good time. Both less trashy than many other feminine fancy dress styles, and almost classic thanks to the iconic status of Tinkerbell in popular culture, fairy costumes have sprinkled their magic over the public once again.
No comments:
Post a Comment