There is a new Cinderella in town folks. Amazon Prime has just released the trailer for their new adaptation of the classic fairytale featuring Camila Cabello in the title role, and Billy Porter as the fairy godmother. The new movie, which will air on the streaming platform from September 3rd, will show Cinderella as a canny businesswoman and fashion designer whose dreams are far greater than the world she is currently subject to. Prime has clearly aimed to modernise this classic story for a more modern audience and the costume design really reflects this. However, Amazon are not the first to reimagine this ageless chronicle, and certainly won’t be the last, so let us take a look at Cinderella’s most notable feature - her blue ballgown.

ORIGINAL

via GIPHY

Growing up Cinderella was, like many others, my favourite Disney princess and I would play the original 1950 version over and over until I found a new movie to obsess about. When we think about Cinderella the image you probably envision is the blonde princess stood with the fairy godmother as she magically transforms into the crinolined baby blue ball gown as sparkles surround her. It is a truly ethereal image and the image that all later adaptations have taken their inspiration from. Hey, you can’t beat the classics!

2015

When the initial images for the 2015 live-action Cinderella first hit social media, there was outrage over Lily James and how small her waist was in the ball gown. Both the director Kenneth Branagh and James herself have both stated that there was no digital alteration in post-production to make her waist seem so small, instead, it was a simple visual illusion, known to us for centuries now. Do you really think women’s waists in the 1860s were that small? If you make your skirt and shoulder pads wider and wider then your waist automatically looks more cinched in, and this is certainly at play here. However, James said about wearing the dress that “The dress that [costume designer] Sandy Powell created — I mean I think she’s a genius and I’m grateful for that dress — but it was like torture,” James said. “It was so tight and delicate.” It is evident here that James was wearing an ill-fitting corset, which is a real shame as it somewhat takes away from how stunning the gown truly is. They managed to bring the 1950 gown to life while modernising it here and there.

2021

As previously mentioned, the upcoming Amazon Prime adaptation of Cinderella is taking a more modern approach which perhaps explains why her ballgown doesn’t really resemble any other Cinder’s gown we have seen before. It isn’t even blue! The gown has a purple-blush hue, is strapless and features intricate decorative embroidery. One classic design it does retain however is the overskirt seen in the 1950 version.

ONCE UPON A TIME

ABC’s hit show Once Upon a Time has in fact had two Cinderella’s in its time, Jessy Schram and most recently, Dania Ramirez. The blue ballgowns worn in this series are almost identical. Both feature a slight sweetheart neckline, deep pointed waistline, wide petticoated skirt and narrow puffed sleeves. The dresses are instantly recognisable as that of Cinderella.

ANOTHER CINDERELLA STORY

The title of this 2008 movie starring Selena Gomez sort of justifies the fact that Cinders’ dress is in fact bright red in this! Accessorised with a golden mask this look is like no other Cinderella dress and honestly, I sort of like it. Given how removed from the original this movie adaptation was, the dress isn’t at all surprising.

ELLA ENCHANTED

Another movie that wavered from the original plotline is the 2004 fantasy movie Ella Enchanted starring a fresh-faced Anne Hathaway. While Ella wears a ballgown-Esque dress in this film, it is more of a wedding gown, being white, not blue. While a very pretty gown indeed, it doesn’t really take one’s breath away.

INTO THE WOODS

It goes without saying that Into The Woods isn’t your stereotypical telling of the classic fairytales and Anna Kendrick as Cinderella in the 2014 hit movie is anything but usual. Wearing a shimmering gold gown that features 18th-century inspiration with matching gold slippers this dress is in a league of its own, and honestly, I adore it!