12 Phenomenal Facts About Disney’s New Cinderella Dress and Slippers

It’s been called dreamy, pure confection. gorgeous, statement-making, stunning, swoon-worthy. Seated in the darkened theater watching the new release of the Disney live-action Cinderella, we were on the edge of our seats as we finally heard that long awaited phrase from Cinderella’s fairy godmother (played by Helena Bonham Carter) “Bibbity Bobbity Boo”! As Cinderella, played by Lily James, swirled and twirled to the magic, the dress became shades of pink, yellow, white and then that perfect cerulean blue! What words can describe this extraordinarily stunning costume creation brought as if to life by designer Sandy Powell, three-time Oscar winner. Here are 12 phenomenal facts about the new Cinderella dress and slippers.

1. Colors other than the iconic blue of the original Cinderella dress were considered, but Powell decided no color came close to the beautiful cerulean blue or cornflower blue as some call it.

2. The dress, however, is created of many layers of gossamer weight fabric, hand-painted in watercolor shades of pale blue, turquoise, lilac, lavender and white.

3. Sewn with four miles of thread, the dress seems to move effortlessly, float gracefully with every step the Princess takes.

4. Lily James was also dazzled by the sheer beauty of the gown. “[Lily] said that she felt like she was living out every little girl’s dream. She said she felt like the princess she always wanted to be as a little girl,” said Powell. “That was such a great response to have.” (From UsWeekly)

5. A diet of soup was the sacrifice Lily James made to corset her already tiny waist. Many breaks had to be taken during the dance to loosen the corset allowing James to breathe! Yes! This is her actual waist.

6. It took James 45 minutes to get in and out of the gown.

7. The ball gown used over 10,000 Swarovski crystals and 500 hours to complete with 20 tailors working.

8. The Cinderella Dress actually had a special unveiling in a window of Saks Fifth Avenue, NY, March 10!

9. Powell chose to create shoes with crystal since glass does not sparkle. Swarovski then designed eight pairs of shoes for the movie.

10. Lily James actually didn’t wear the glass slippers as they were not comfortable and amazingly enough… didn’t fit her foot!!

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11. The Swarovski shoes as seen on Lily’s foot are created via CGI with Disney digital magic replacing the leather shoes actually worn by Lily James while filming.

12. Cinderella and the Prince, played by Richard Madden, practiced the dance for months. The routine had to be perfect. Before the dress was introduced, Cinderella wore just the multilayered petticoat and if the Prince even touched it, the thin gossamer layer would rip. Madden said he had to train three or four days a week for two-and-a-half months before they’d even let him near Cinderella’s dress, because “I would’ve destroyed it.”

Cinderella’s gown has won our hearts. It seems to move effortlessly, gracefully with every move the Princess makes. The many shades of color and near weightless layers give the gown depth and richness of color that billow out from beneath the top layer of fine silk. As Cinderella glides down the ballroom steps to meet her Prince, layers of pale colors peek out like foam on a wave. As they dance together, the dress takes on a life of its own, capturing once again, the magic that is Disney.