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Blue ball gown worn by Lily James as Cinderella in the 2015 live-action film of the same name. Courtesy of The Henry Ford

Disney heroes and villains’ costumes spotlighted at The Henry Ford

Sheila Gibson Stoodley
Sheila Gibson Stoodley
Blue ball gown worn by Lily James as Cinderella in the 2015 live-action film of the same name. Courtesy of The Henry Ford
Blue ball gown worn by Lily James as Cinderella in the 2015 live-action ‘Cinderella’ film. Courtesy of The Henry Ford

DEARBORN, Mich. –  The Henry Ford museum is hosting Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume in partnership with the Walt Disney Archives. Through more than 70 original items including ball gowns, sorcerers’ capes, military uniforms, tiaras and – of course – glass slippers, the exhibition invites visitors into the world of Disney and shows how our understanding of its iconic characters is shaped through the artistry and creativity of its costumes. The show opened on June 25 and continues through January 1, 2023.

The exhibition includes costumes from some of Hollywood’s preeminent designers past and present, including Academy Award®-winners Colleen Atwood, Sandy Powell and Tony Walton as well as Emmy® winner Ellen Mirojnick and Emmy nominees Eduardo Castro and Penny Rose.

Dress worn by Mindy Kaling as Mrs. Who in the 2018 film version of ‘A Wrinkle in Time.’ Courtesy of The Henry Ford
Dress worn by Mindy Kaling as Mrs. Who in the 2018 film version of ‘A Wrinkle in Time.’ Courtesy of The Henry Ford

Visitors will experience Cinderella’s Workshop, a gallery featuring the beloved fairy-tale character’s dresses from her numerous Disney incarnations, including 1997’s Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella; 2014’s Into the Woods; the 2015 live-action reimagining of the animated masterpiece Cinderella; and the ABC hit series Once Upon a Time.

Red leather coat worn by Luke Evans as Gaston in the 2017 live-action version of ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ Courtesy of The Henry Ford
Coat worn by Luke Evans as Gaston in the 2017 live-action ‘Beauty and the Beast’ film. Courtesy of The Henry Ford

The exhibition is divided into three sections: Disney Heroes; Disney Villains; and Spaces Between, reserved for the antiheroes whose fascinating journeys place them among Disney’s most complex characters. There will also be interactive elements and plenty of chances for photo-ops.

Yellow ball gown worn by Emma Watson as Belle in the 2017 live-action version of ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ Courtesy of The Henry Ford
Yellow ball gown worn by Emma Watson as Belle in the 2017 live-action version of ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ Courtesy of The Henry Ford

Among the costumes included in the Disney Heroes section are Belle’s village dress and ball gown from 2017’s Beauty and the Beast; Giselle and Prince Edward’s costumes from Enchanted; and two iconic Mary Poppins traveling dresses, one from the 1964 original film and the other from 2019’s Mary Poppins Returns.

Outfit worn by Bette Midler as Winnie Sanderson in the 1993 film ‘Hocus Pocus.’ Courtesy of The Henry Ford
Outfit worn by Bette Midler as Winnie Sanderson in the 1993 film ‘Hocus Pocus.’ Courtesy of The Henry Ford

Disney Villains ensembles include the trio of wonderfully wicked witches from 1993’s Hocus Pocus; the duo of dresses worn by the stepsisters in 2015’s Cinderella; and the dress worn by the incomparable Bette Davis in 1978’s Return from Witch Mountain. Spaces Between includes Maleficent’s gown from the 2014 film, as well as the Evil Queen and Hook’s costumes from Once Upon a Time.

The Henry Ford is the second museum to show the exhibition following its run at MoPOP in Seattle. It originally premiered at the 2019 D23 Expo – the biennial event of the official Disney fan club. Admission to the exhibition is free for members and included in the general admission to Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation.

Visit the website of The Henry Ford museum and see its dedicated page for Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume.