Mirror Mirror - Costumes, Cookies and (Prince) Charming

Let me start off by saying that I am a huge fan of fairy tales, be that stories from the Brothers Grimm, Disney animated features, modernised versions or satirical fusion of traditional with modern. So when the opportunity to review Mirror Mirror, the first of this years films based on the traditional Grimm tale of Snow White it was like an apple to my lips – I just couldn’t refuse!

The screening, over a week early, was part of a family fun morning at the Empire in London’s Leicester Square. I assume this was to get early feedback and quotes about the movie to publish with its release on the 2nd of April.

The Empire foyer was filled with balloon sculptors making sceptres for princesses and swords for the rather fewer princes, dwarfs dressed in costumes to welcome us, a prince and princess dressed for the occasion to show us into the screen and everyones favourite – free cookies from Millie’s!

For the event I dressed slightly apple themed with a green blouse, red cardigan and pencil skirt – and red sunglasses as going to the cinema in London makes me feel like a celebrity :D

So what did I think of the film? Well you can find that out here at Den of Geek so I wont go into too much detail.

But I would like to mention the costumes!

While I was underwhelmed by Julia Roberts’ first large gown and Snow’s dress my opinion began to change when I saw the beautiful yellow hood she wore for her first trip out of the castle.

Images from IMDB

From here things just kept getting better and better! The Dwarfs were all fantastic in individual hats that matched their personalities, the Queen having her corset tightened by a servant using a mechanical pulley… all great!

One of my favourite costume moments are the wedding of the Queen where her guests form across the Kingdoms all arrive dressed in psychedelic colours – complete with blue or pink lipstick to match with elaborate hairstyles and bustles. Without giving too much away the wedding is crashed by bandits and a lot of fun is made of the crazy getups. Its quite funny to watch and it is a lovely satire on some of the silly fashions and rituals we go through in the name of fashion today.

From a fancy dress perspective there is also a wonderful scene where there is a fancy dress ball held at the palace. This scene is amazing! With almost everyone wearing a white or off-white costume and the Prince as a black bunny and the Queen in a red proud peacock dress. Some of the costume choices are interesting, for example a prawn (I think), giraffe and others, but of course it is Snow White that shines through dressed as a swan - and believe me she couldn’t be less Bjork!

I read online that Julia Roberts pulled a muscle while moving in one of her large gowns that is certainly a price to pay for fashion.

Mirror Mirror is out on the 2^nd of April and if you missed it – you can read my review here!