It seems that the girls just want to have fun. The staggering popularity of Walt Disney’s version of Tinkerbell has endured since the studio released its film in 1953, even leading to a sequel in 2002, nearly fifty years after the original. Tinkerbell even starred in her own prequel, so while people love Peter Pan, the breakout star of the movie, thanks to Walt Disney, seems to be the mischievous little pixie. So it stands to reason that little kids everywhere would want to dress up as Tinkerbell for any particular occasion; Halloween, costume parties, parades, you name it. But even if you’re determined to give your little love what he wants, what do you have to do to put together a Tinkerbell costume?
First of all, it’s worth starting by sitting down with your kids and watching a few versions of Peter Pan. Start with the Walt Disney version, of course, but Paul Hogan’s 2003 live-action film is worth watching, plus read the book. This is a great way to get a feel for the character and see what your child really enjoys about the character, which you can then accentuate in the costume.
Next, you need to think about the hairstyle. Sure, she may be Walt Disney’s interpretation of Tinkerbell, but the movie character is really the iconic representation of the fairy. There is nothing wrong with being a brunette or a redhead, but Tinkerbell is neither a brunette nor a redhead. If your child is blonde (or if you, as an adult, dress up as Tinker Bell), you can cut it into a pixie-ish cut. Tink has short bobbed hair, a style that is eminently on trend today. It would definitely be a good look for everyday life. However, if you don’t want to cut your hair or dye your hair blonde, you can simply buy a wig. Costume stores will have a variety of wigs available so you can easily spruce up your hairstyle.
In terms of a dress, you will need a short green dress. Obviously, it’s not as short as Tinkerbell’s actual dress: in the Walt Disney movie, she wears a dress that barely covers her modesty. For women and children, this is not a good look; however, adults might be able to get away with cutting the dress a bit shorter if they’re going for a sexy take on the Tinkerbell look. Cut the hem in an irregular pattern to give it a bit of fairy authenticity. The fairy doesn’t wear much in the way of accessories or jewelry, so keep it simple: a basic necklace, with earrings, particularly ones with a pearl effect, or earrings that sparkle. This will help create a fairy feeling.
Now her costume is almost complete, just a few extras are required to make it a perfect Tinkerbell costume. You could use a glittery hairpiece to give the outfit a bit more sparkle, or use body glitter for a shimmery effect. While there are a range of weird and wonderful variations on fairy wings available, keep it simple: Tinkerbell’s costume is instantly recognizable; you will not need to exaggerate. A standard pair of swamps will suffice, especially since they can get damaged on a night out. When it comes to shoes, adults can get away with green or gold heels, while kids should opt for ballerinas. And there you have it: a perfect Tinker Bell costume.