How to Make Alice in Wonderland Costume from Disney
Dress with White ApronBlonde Alice WigBlack Bow HeadbandWhite Opaque TightsBlack Mary Jane FlatsSaveTap any item in the photo to shop itClick any item in the photo to shop it
| # | Item | Description | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dress with White Apron | Adult blue dress with short puffed sleeves, a round blue collar, a white apron and a full skirt | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 2 | Blonde Alice Wig | Long golden-blonde wig with soft waves and a swept fringe | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 3 | Black Bow Headband | Thin black band with a small bow on top | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 4 | White Opaque Tights | Solid white tights, worn under the skirt | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 5 | Black Mary Jane Flats | Round-toe black flats with a single ankle strap | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
Alice's look in Disney's 1951 film is simple, which is why it works for Halloween and for cosplay: a blue dress, a white apron, a black bow in her hair. Get the colour and the shape right and everyone will know who you are.
Alice in Wonderland dress
The dress is the part to spend time on, and it is what most people are looking for when they search for an Alice in Wonderland dress. In the film it is a mid-blue, closer to cornflower than sky blue, with short puffed sleeves and a small round collar in the same blue. The skirt is full and falls to about mid-calf. Over it goes a white apron that ties at the waist with a bow at the back; the blue of the dress shows down each side of the apron bib and around the hem.
The dress in the table is an adult one-piece with the apron attached, in a mid-blue with the round collar and puffed sleeves, so it is the closest budget match. It is sold with a maid-dress cut and has a white ruffle at the hem, which the film's dress does not have, so trim or tuck it if you want to be exact. Some ways to change it up:
- Higher-end match: this Alice dress with lace-trimmed apron has the right cornflower blue and collar, and comes with a headband and a gold clock bag.
- Officially licensed: the Disney Alice in Wonderland costume is a satin dress with a printed apron and comes with the headband. The satin is lighter and shinier than the film's flat colour, but it is the real Disney product.
- Build it from regular clothes: a light blue dress with a Peter Pan collar and puff sleeves plus a plain white pinafore apron gets you very close, and you can wear the dress again afterwards. It is shorter than the film's skirt, so add a white petticoat underneath if you want the fullness.
Watch out for the many cheap "Alice" dresses with a short skirt, lots of lace and a bright turquoise blue. The film's dress is knee-to-mid-calf length with no lace, and the colour is a deeper periwinkle.
Adult Alice costume
Adult Alice costumes come as one-piece dresses in women's sizes, and most include the apron, headband and sometimes white stockings. The one in the table is a single dress, so use the size chart and measure your bust and waist rather than picking your usual letter size. A deluxe Alice costume for adults with a blue collar, a lace-edged apron and a full skirt is a good pick if you want the costume in one box. Its blue is a little brighter than the film's.
Flat Mary Janes make a long party or convention day bearable, and clean white tights and neatly brushed hair keep the adult version looking like the animation rather than a generic maid outfit. Kids can wear the same look: search the same terms in a child's size, or let the kids go as another Wonderland character from the group ideas below.
Getting the details right
- Hair: Alice has long, golden-blonde hair, swept off her face and falling past her shoulders, held back by a black headband. The wig above has the soft waves and a side-swept fringe. Wear the headband over the wig, close to the hairline, with the bow sitting on top.
- Headband bow: in the film the bow is small and flat, not a big cheerleader bow. A thin band with a small bow is more accurate than an oversized one.
- Legs and feet: plain white tights with no stripes, and black strap shoes. Alice's legs are solid white throughout the film.
- Props: Alice does not carry anything iconic, but a small bottle labelled "Drink Me" is the easy photo prop. These Drink Me bottle labels are sticker wraps for a regular water bottle, so use a clean plastic bottle and keep it empty for the party.
Alternate look: Alice in the 2010 film
Tim Burton's 2010 film gives a completely different Alice. She is nineteen, played by Mia Wasikowska, and her main gown is a pale, dusty blue with sheer puffed sleeves and a fitted bodice over a full skirt, worn with loose golden-blonde curls falling past the shoulders instead of the ribbon and apron.
There is no exact replica of that gown on Amazon, so this is an approximation. A pale blue tulle dress with puff sleeves, such as this light blue tulle midi dress, gets the colour, the sleeves and the soft skirt. Add a long curly blonde wig and leave off the headband, apron and bow. If you want a plainer, more period-looking option, a light blue Regency-style dress with puff sleeves works too.
Group and franchise ideas
Alice is the centre of a group costume. The Mad Hatter is the natural partner for a tea-party pair, and the guide covers the Hatter as he appears in the 2010 film, so pair him with the 2010 look above rather than the 1951 apron dress. From the other side of Wonderland, add the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, and a few card soldiers for a full Wonderland group.
If you like Alice's blue dress and want another Disney heroine in the same colour, Cinderella is the other famous one, in a pale satin ball gown. Browse the rest of the Alice in Wonderland costumes for more.
About Alice
Alice is the heroine of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass (1871). In Disney's 1951 animated film, which combines both books, she is a curious girl who follows a White Rabbit down a rabbit hole and meets the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts. Kathryn Beaumont provided her voice. The film was directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson and Hamilton Luske, premiered in New York City on July 28, 1951, and was released across the United States on September 14, 1951.
Beaumont also voiced Wendy Darling in Disney's Peter Pan (1953), so if you like this look, a Wendy costume is the other Disney classic she voiced.
