With her red bow, yellow heels and polka dot dress, we’ve long though Minnie Mouse was the most stylish of the Disney cartoon crew. We’d go as far as to call her our style icon when we were eight (we had a huge bow just like hers, and a t-shirt with her face on it).
Now, in one of the most unexpected collaborations of the season, the fashion world is honouring the cartoon mouse - by giving her an haute make-over just in time for London Fashion Week.
The Minnie Mouse Must-Haves, a collection of one-off garments and accessories will be created by impressive roll-call of designers, all offering their own spin on Minnie’s signature look – from LFW regulars Giles, Michael van der Ham, and Richard Nicoll creating the garments, to Katie Hillier, Lulu Guinness, Tatty Devine and Terry de Havilland designing accessories. Each piece will be unveiled at London Fashion Week, and auctioned off by eBay to support the BFC/Bazaar Fashion Arts Foundation, a British Fashion Council initiative that aims to nurture relationships between the creative industries and support fashion innovation.
Avant-garde London designers Meadham Kirchoff will also be collaborating with Disney, but revealing the ‘extraordinary’ efforts at their Spring/Summer 2013 show (their last collection was a 1970s disco extravaganza, so we can’t wait to see what they do with Minnie).
Marc Low, Vice President of fashion and Home at Disney said of the collection:
“Minnie Mouse and her unique style continue to inspire fans across the world. Surpassing trends, Minnie Mouse’s iconic silhouette, signature bows and polka dots always remain in style which is why she is as relevant today as the day she first appeared on the fashion scene”
Can't wait for September to get a glimpse of Minnie's makeover? We've been given a sneak peek at Lulu Guinness, Michael Van der Ham and Richard Nicoll's designs - take a look at the sketches below.
ABOVE: The Lulu Guinness Minnie Mouse bag
ABOVE: Richard Nicoll's designs for the Minnie Mouse Must-Haves Collection
BELOW: Michael Van Der Ham's Minnie-inspired top and skirt
BELOW: Minnie in all her glory at Disneyland Paris
