In 2011, author Leslie Kay started a Tumblr blog that has popularized the practice of Disney-bounding, using Disney characters and other properties as inspiration for fashion-forward outfits with a special Disney flair. Originally, this was a space where Kay put together outfits that her favorite characters might wear on their “off days.” Within a matter of weeks, the blog gained enormous momentum and the popularity of dressing for Disney park visits (and more) exploded! Now, in addition to the blog, Kay runs a highly trafficked Instagram and is a fixture in the (mainly) social media-based community. As a frequent visitor of Disneyland who has been known to occasionally throw together a bound, I always have my eye on the swirling storm of Disney-related media, both in print and online. Needless to say, I bought a copy of her book DisneyBound: Dress Disney and Make it Fashion for my personal research library because it checks off two of the first and most important criteria for making those shelves: it covers both Disney AND fashion. I write a lot about fashion theory and history, but I am also consumed by all things Disney so it’s sort of a no-brainer that Disney-related fashion is in my wheelhouse.
Disney characters’ iconic outfits are explicable sources of fashion inspiration with bright colors, daring silhouettes, and stylish accessories which make individual characters easily recognizable. While Disneyland may not allow adults to wear character costumes in the park, character’s looks have been commandeered by fashionable park visitors around the world for stylish looks called Disney-bounds or bounds for short. Published earlier this year, DisneyBound: Dress Disney and Make it Fashion shares “how-to” tips for beginners and a plethora of suggestions for the already-initiated bounders on incorporating Disney elements into fashion.
Kay explains that “at its most basic, Disney-bounding uses color blocking, accessories, and your own added touch,” (Kay, 3) all of which are emphasized across the chapters. In the descriptions of many of the outfits, Kay offers styling suggestions that acknowledge the realities of spending all day at a Disney park. In addition to photographs of bounders in the parks, there are fun Illustrated outfits for each character Kay cases studies. Refreshingly, the photos look like they have come from submissions to the Instagram account and do a good job highlighting the Disney-bounding community’s diversity and sharing how different people can interpret the same Disney characters with their unique spin. The book guides novices on how to create a bound by studying one’s personal style and then building outfits from the foundation of one’s closet.
Getting dressed is a profoundly personal experience, so Kay makes it clear that her guide is more a series of suggestions rather than rules. Afterall, “You’re creating a vibe…not a replica,” (89) says Kay because bounders are dressing for fashion, not for to recreate an authentic costume. Disney characters represent a multitude of cultures and often their costumes invoke culturally specific dress. Disney-bounding does not propose appropriating traditional costume for fashion purposes, but rather encourages bounders to use the colors of the costume and character-specific details as inspiration. While most Disney-bounders are attending a Disney theme park, those trips, however, are only a jumping off point. Because of the focus on color blocking, bounders use favorite Disney characters as daily style inspiration for regular days at home, school, or special occasions.
The book also shares what bounding looks like in other areas around the world and helps readers gain insight and understanding of who the Disney-bounding community is. As the book wraps up, bounders share intimate stories about the value of the practice to their own lives. Things like gaining confidence, becoming part of a like-minded community, and, not least of all, the joy it brings to those participating are all touched on by bounders. At the heart of the trend, Disney-bounding is a creative and personal way for people to engage with fashion in a meaningful way and this book is a fun look into one of the most ubiquitous fashion cultures surrounding the "Happiest Place on Earth."
My formal review of DisneyBound: Dress Disney and Make it Fashion will be published in Fashion, Style & Popular Culture in June 2021. In the meantime, buy the book here and follow @thedisneybound to see creative takes on Disney characters around the world!
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