As Shanghai Disney Resort celebrates Lunar New Year and the Year of the Tiger, it also has created some new costumes for Mickey and his friends. While these are new looks for these characters, they also reflect the time-honored traditions of Lunar New Year. The entertainment costuming team develpoed these new looks by pulling from traditional Chinese styles. The “haute couture” costumes were hand-sewn and also inspired by stories and motifs of the season. Take a look at what they made below.
When designing these 15 different outfits for not only Mickey, but also for Duffy and Friends, the costuming team began by looking at all of the occasions in which these garments would be worn, such as during the “Mickey Avenue Drum Ceremony,” gathering inspiration from time-honored Lunar New Year designs and wishes for the season. From there, the team worked together on rounds of conversations and revisions to land on the perfect design for each character. This year marked the team’s first time designing traditional Chinese costumes for these characters, featuring details such as cross-collars, wide sleeves, and special touches for each character, like Mickey’s hat and jade pendant. Known for her spectacular sense of style, Minnie is sporting a Chinese fan in her bow and a deer pattern representing good luck for the year ahead – in Chinese, “Deer” is homophonic to “Lu,” meaning good fortune and a successful career. This quacky couple, Donald Duck and Daisy, are dressed from head to toe in Lunar New Year apparel that dazzles. Donald’s outfit draws inspiration from traditional Chinese opera costumes, with a pin-shaped embroidery on his shoulders, representing wishes for a long and prosperous life. Daisy’s attire includes a Chinese hairpin, floral embroidery, and charming tassel decorations. Our favorite dynamic duo, Chip and Dale, are tumbling in wearing unique tiger-print acrobatic suits and tiger mask hats. Each look features a lucky orange, which are exchanged as gifts during the season to bring good luck. Goofy and Pluto’s outfits represent justice and peace in the New Year, starting with Goofy’s look, inspired by traditional uniforms worn by swordsmen throughout ancient Chinese history and adorned with patterns of Chinese coins to symbolize auspicious luck and a peaceful and abundant New Year. Sporting a calabash-shaped pendant, Pluto’s collar also references motifs that bring good fortune. And as it’s the Year of the Tiger, Tigger is ready to celebrate as well in a two-piece suit featuring long sleeves and a Chinese-style vest, inspired by clothing of the Qing Dynasty. A keen eye will notice the embroidery appears to be a carp jumping over a dragon gate, referencing a Chinese idiom about achieving success through hard work and perseverance. The outfits worn by Duffy and Friends feature pink hues, which symbolize the advent of spring, and elements to honor the Year of the Tiger, with costumes representing seven important well-wishes for the season. Together, these friends make up a theatrical troupe, each playing a different role. Duffy is leading the team, ready to deliver excitement to the celebration as the “Tiger of Promotion,” while ShellieMay is bringing happiness as the “Tiger of Love.” Gelatoni is the protector of all as the “Tiger of Protection” and ‘Olu Mel is wishing a prosperous New Year as the “Tiger of Wealth.” StellaLou is filling the air with love as the “Tiger of Peace” alongside CookieAnn who’s calling for good fortune as the “Tiger of Luck.” And last, but certainly not least, LinaBell is carrying the well-wishes of prosperity and harvest as the “Tiger of Blessing.”
What do you think of these Lunar New Year costumes at Shanghai Disney Resort? Which one is your favorite? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
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