Designer Sandy Powell Reveals the Inspiration Behind the ‘Snow White’ Costumes
Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White will land in theaters in just ten days.
Starring Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, and Andrew Burnap, the film will be a modern retelling of the Disney classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Photo: Disney
“In the heart of a dark forest, the lovely young princess Snow White seeks sanctuary in a quaint cottage belonging to seven dwarfs, escaping the wrath of her envious stepmother, the wicked Queen,” the film’s synopsis reads.
Meet Sandy Powell
To help bring the iconic characters of Snow White to life in live-action, Disney turned to Sandy Powell. Having previously worked her magic on Disney’s Cinderella remake, the costume designer knew exactly where to start.
“I knew I couldn’t deviate too far from the iconic color palette of the original Snow White but wanted to create a new version nonetheless,” Powell explained to PEOPLE.
Photo: The Female Lead
The Oscar-winning designer who has also worked on films such as Shakespeare in Love, Hugo, The Young Victoria, and Shutter Island, did a ton of research when creating Snow White’s costumes. Here is the story behind the final results.
Dressing Snow White
When discussing Rachel Zegler’s costumes as Snow White with PEOPLE, Powell explained the thought process behind her different looks.
Photo: Disney
“When she is first given the dress by the Evil Queen, it has a blue overskirt attached to the bodice, which gets ripped off as she runs through the forest, revealing the yellow skirt and creating a similar silhouette to the animated version,” she explained.
Photo: Disney
“I also decided to give her long sleeves to give a more period feel reminiscent of the Middle Ages.”
The Evil Queen’s Costume Was Inspired By the Golden Age of Hollywood
For Gal Gadot’s Evil Queen, Powell drew inspiration from the gowns worn by Hollywood stars in the 1930s.
Photo: Disney
“Since this was also the decade of the original animated version, it felt appropriate as an homage,” she mused.
Photo: Disney
“It also had to have a clean silhouette without too much detail to showcase the jewels she accumulates. The crown was inspired by stained-glass windows and the colors of the jewelry she wears.”
Magical Results
Seeing the final results, both Gadot and Zegler were amazed by Powell’s dedication to her craft.
“She was able to keep the class and what makes the original classic but also gives it a spin that’s just incredibly Sandy,” Zegler gushed.
Photo: Disney
“The amount of research and all the different images she showed me was mind-blowing,” Gadot added.
Soon, fans will be able to see what all the fuss is about, when Snow White hits theaters on March 21.
