Emma Watson, a contemporary feminist icon, wanted her version of Belle to reflect the modern-day woman. The Beauty and the Beast writers accomplished that by giving the Disney princess an empowering new backstory in the 2017 remake: she's an inventor, just like her father. But her wardrobe also helps bring the message across.
Belle's look in the opening scene has some major upgrades, costume designer Jacqueline Durran told WWD. Instead of heeled pumps, she wears boots. Her apron doubles as a tool belt. She occasionally tucks her skirt into her waistband so she can freely roam in her bloomers.
From the start, Watson didn't want her Belle to be a "corseted, impossible idea of female beauty." So they removed the corset from her iconic yellow ballgown, and replaced it with a flexible bodice. "Nothing she wears is inhibiting," Durran explained. "She can do whatever she would want to do in any of her costumes. She rides a horse."
Though active-friendly, the dress is still an intricate and delicate piece—it took 10 people and 238 hours to create. They tested multiple yellow fabrics before finding the right shade, embellished the gown in feathers, gold leaf and glitter, and completed the look with hand-painted 18th century heels (that are comfortable enough to run in), Durran previously told Entertainment Weekly. The team also replaced most of the cage under Belle's voluminous skirt with layers of organza so it was lighter and easier to move in.
Even Watson's environmentally conscious style played into the costumes. According to Durran, Belle's deep red cloak—from the snowy "Something There" sequence—was crafted from "eco-sustainable and organic" material. Leftover blocks from the stage set were recycled and used to print patterns on the cape.
See Belle's modern-day costumes in all their glory when Beauty and the Beast to hit theaters this Friday, March 17.
