10 Disney Princesses With Historically Accurate Looks That Are Just As Swoon-worthy

When we think of Belle, we think of that yellow gown that she wore while she danced with the Beast. Classic! But here's the thing: that dress is about as historically accurate as a talking candlestick.
Have you ever noticed that Disney movies take place in all sorts of different historical periods? Some of them are more modern-ish, but most of them are set in some far-off land in the distant past. And you know what that means: lots and lots of fancy dresses and hairstyles fit for a princess of that era. Of course, Disney has to take some liberties with the historical accuracy of those gowns to make them more marketable and, let's be honest, adorable for the kiddos.
But hey, let's imagine for a moment that Disney went all out and made their princess dresses historically accurate. What would that look like? Well, lucky for you, we've got some AI drawings of Disney princesses that are actually true to their time periods. Get ready to have your mind blown!

#1 Meg: Ancient Greece

Source: © Hercules / Walt Disney Animation Studios

The story of Hercules follows the exploits of a Greek demigod, although the movie never explicitly states that it takes place in Ancient Greece. However, viewers can infer this based on various elements mentioned throughout the film.
Back in those days, women's clothes were pretty simple and loose-fitting, with just an undergarment and a cape to keep them covered. The only real difference between men's and women's clothing was the length of the tunic - ladies got ankle-length tunics, while men had to settle for knee-length ones. And as for colors, they tended to be pretty neutral, with purple being a big status symbol due to its high price.

#2 Rapunzel: Germany 17th century

Source: © Tangled / Walt Disney Animation Studios

The story of the lost princess is set at the end of the 17th century in Germany. Think low-cut corsets that emphasized the shoulders and waist, with wide and loose sleeves that only went down to the elbow.
The skirt was long, like down-to-the-floor long, but eventually, they started to show off their petticoats by shortening the skirt. Back then, people were all about that layering trend!

#3 Merida: Scotland 10th century

Source: © Brave / Walt Disney Animation Studios

Brave takes place in medieval Scotland during the 10th century. Merida’s costumes in the film are actually pretty true to historical accuracy compared to other Disney princesses, but there are still some elements of medieval European fashion missing.
For example, women back then typically wore tunics underneath a long cloak that was fastened at the waist with a belt.

#4 Belle: France 18th century

Source: © Beauty and the Beast / Walt Disney Animation Studios

One of Disney's most iconic animated classics was inspired by a French novel called "La Belle et la Bête," written by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve in 1740. If we're being historically accurate, Belle's dresses would have looked quite different from what we see onscreen.
The dresses of the 18th century in France featured fitted bodices with a square neckline, big bows, lace, and flowers on the front. Pastel colors were popular to create an elegant and youthful look, and the sleeves were flared and stopped at the elbows to show off the nightgown sleeves worn underneath.

#5 Tiana: U.S 1926

Source: © The Princess and the Frog / Walt Disney Animation Studios

In the Disney adaptation of the classic tale, Tiana's attire reflects the fashion of the 1920s in the United States. This era was all about letting loose, and dresses were loose-fitting, low-waisted, and often reached just above the ankles or knees.

#6 Jasmine: Middle Eastern

Source: © Aladdin / Walt Disney Animation Studios

The story of Aladdin has its roots in the ancient Near East, and to stay true to the traditional depiction of the story, Jasmine's attire should reflect the region's clothing. The basic garments consisted of loose pants, a shirt with sleeves, and a tunic. Over this, they worn a dress called jellaba with long sleeves and a skirt with slits on the sides.
These clothes were often in cream colors and adorned with bright fabrics, reflecting the region's harsh climate and sandy environment.

#7 Cinderella: Germany 19th century

Source: © Frozen / Walt Disney Animation Studios

Cinderella's story was published in the 19th century by the Brothers Grimm in their collection Grimms' Fairy Tales. Consequently, Cinderella's story takes place in Germany around this time.
During this period, dresses became increasingly extravagant and theatrical, with a growing trend until the end of Romanticism.

#8 Aurora: France 14th century

Source: © Sleeping Beauty / Walt Disney Animation Studios

Charles Perrault's 1697 book “Histoires ou contes du temps passé” is credited with the best-known version of Aurora's story, but there are records of the story from a few centuries ago, between 1330 and 1344 in Perceforest.
Women during this period wore dresses that were rather tight to the silhouette and did not want to widen their hips with wide skirts. On the contrary, dressmakers of that era tried, as much as possible, to avoid adding volume to that area. Instead, more formal models wore long trains, and it was common to wear gowns over the attire that fell over the shoulders as layers.

#9 Snow White: Germany 15th century

Source: © Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs / Walt Disney Animation Studios

The story of Snow White, published in 1937, was reportedly inspired by the life of Margaretha von Waldeck, a German countess born in 1533, which suggests that the story took place in the 15th century.
In contrast to the dress depicted in the Disney adaptation, women's clothing during the 15th century was much more elaborate, featuring high-waisted garments with layers of linen underneath. The sleeves were also different, with detachable long sleeves that flared out at the shoulders.

#10 Elsa: European 19th century

Source: © Frozen / Walt Disney Animation Studios

Frozen is a story loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's 1844 fairy tale, The Snow Queen. As Arendelle, the fictional kingdom where the story takes place, could have been located somewhere in Europe, it could be assumed that the story was set in the 19th century.
If this assumption is correct, Elsa's clothing would have been similar to Cinderella's, as European fashion during this time did not vary significantly between countries. Elsa's dress would have featured a defined structure, with a wide skirt and elaborate decorations.