How to Dress Like Belle from Beauty and the Beast

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: May 2, 2019 References

Belle from Beauty and the Beast is a true natural beauty. Belle's style is very simple and effortless. Her sensible but fashionable style is always "in" and always will be. Dressing like her doesn't mean that you have to throw on a costume, however; it simply means that you wear colors and styles similar to what she wears.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Creating Belle’s Peasant Dress

1
Find a pattern for an ankle-length dress with thick shoulder straps. Chances are, you won’t be able to find a pattern that looks exactly like the dress in the movie, but you can certainly get close. Ideally, look for a dress that is fitted in the bodice with thick shoulder straps and a long, A-line skirt.
- Keep in mind that you may also have to do some alterations, such as shortening or lengthening the skirt.
- For a more realistic version of the outfit, find a pattern for a medieval woman’s costume with a skirt and bodice. Look in the “costumes” section of a pattern book.
- You may be able to find a licensed pattern for Belle’s peasant dress from the live-action version of the film. It should also be in the “costumes” section.
2
Find a pattern for a simple blouse with a rounded, V-neck collar. Belle’s blouse has a very specific design, especially in the collar, so you may have to do more altering for this one. Look for a sewing pattern that has full sleeves, with an open collar.
- Belle has ¾-length sleeves. You may have to shorten the sleeves on your pattern.
- Alternatively, you can modify and existing white, button-up blouse.
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3
Plan to buy or make a white apron. Belle’s apron is very simple. It is just a rectangle attached to a band that wraps around your waist and ties in the back with a bow. It does not cover the chest or have any fancy gathers. You can buy one from a costume shop, online, or make one using a large rectangle for the base, and a skinny strip for the strap.
4
Sew the costume according to the pattern using cotton or linen fabric. You will need white for the blouse and blue for the dress (or bodice/skirt combo). If you are making the apron, white linen would work especially well.
- If you are using an existing shirt, you need to cut the corners of the collar off so that they are more rounded. You can cut the sleeves shorter, then add elastic to the cuffs.^{[1]
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- Consider adding a white, cotton petticoat or peasant skirt under the blue dress. You can sew it from scratch, or buy it from a store. Don't get anything that's too poofy, however.
5
Wear ballet flats, mary janes, or boots. In the animated film, Belle wears simple black ballet flats, while in most theatrical productions she wears black character shoes, which are similar to mary janes or low heels. In the live-action film, however, she wears a trusty pair of brown boots that cover her ankles.
- When choosing mary janes or character (dance) shoes, don’t go more than 1 or 2 inches (2.5 or 5.1 cm) for the heel height.
6
Wear your hair in a low ponytail. Start with a center-part, then pull your hair into a low ponytail at the base of your neck. Stick your finger up through your hair, just behind the elastic, and pull the ponytail down through the hole. Finish the look with a blue bow or ribbon.
- This style is also known as the flipped ponytail or topsy turvy ponytail.
- Don’t worry about making the style sleek and neat. One of Belle’s most distinctive features is a strand of hair that falls across her face.^{[2]
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- To do the live-action movie style, you want to do a flipped half-up ponytail first, then gather everything into a second flipped ponytail at the base of your neck.^{[3]
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7
Keep your makeup simple. Belle is one of the more practical Disney princesses, and doesn’t wear makeup until she dances with the Beast in her ballgown. This doesn’t mean that you have to go bare-faced, however. If you want to wear makeup, feel free to do so, but try to keep the colors neutral. For example:
- Instead of wearing full-on foundation, try a tinted moisturizer.
- For your eye makeup, eyeliner and mascara is all you really need. If you want to step things up, choose eyeshadow in shades of brown and ivory.
- Skip the lipstick, and instead wear tinted lip balm. You can also try lip gloss, if you really want to.
- Don’t get too carried away with the blush and bronzer. It would be best to leave it off, but you can use a small amount to give your face a hint of color.
8
Consider bringing a basket or book with you. While not absolutely necessary, these can really add that final, special touch to your costume. A book is a great option, especially if you like to read. A basket would be also a good idea. Not only can you store your book(s) in it, but you can keep your other items in it too.
- Skip the jewelry, unless you are doing the live-action version. In this case, add a leather cord necklace.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making Belle’s Ball Gown

1
Find a pattern for Belle’s ball gown. Because her dress is so iconic, you probably won’t be able to find a regular dress pattern that is exactly the same. You will either have to use the licensed replica pattern, or you will have to use a similar pattern and modify it.
- For the licensed pattern, browse through the costumes section of a pattern book. The pattern will say “Disney” and “Beauty and the Beast” on it.
- Alternatively, choose a regular dress pattern with a skirt and corset. If this is for a little girl, a 1-piece dress with a full skirt would work well.^{[4]
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2
Choose nice fabrics for Belle’s ball gown. Since this is a formal dress, you don’t want to use plain cotton. Pale yellow satin is a classic choice for both the skirt and bodice. For the skirt and shoulder swags, you can use either satin or chiffon in a darker yellow color.^{[5]
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- Don’t be afraid to mix-and-match fabrics. For example, you can use jacquard or brocade for the bodice and a simpler satin for the skirt.
3
Sew the dress according to the pattern. If you are using a non-licensed pattern, you will need to cut and set 8 panels for the skirt—at least twice as long as you need them—then gather them along the seams to create the rucked look.^{[6]
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4
Buy or make a hoop skirt and cotton petticoat. Hoop skirts sound more intimidating than they actually are, but they are the key to creating a puffy princess dress. You should also make a fabric petticoat to wear over the hoop skirt; otherwise, the ribs on the hoop skirt will appear as unsightly lines on the finished dress.^{[7]
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- You can sew layers of stiff tulle under the skirt, but it won’t be as poofy. The tulle may also be scratchy and uncomfortable.
- When getting dressed, put the hoop skirt on first, then the petticoat and dress. If your dress is 2 pieces, put the skirt on before the bodice.
5
Match your shoes to your dress. Rather than wearing a pair of any old gold shoes, you should match your shoes to your dress instead. This means that if your dress is pale yellow, you should wear pale yellow shoes. If it is bright yellow, stick with bright yellow shoes.
- Close-toed high heels will look the best. Make sure that they are comfortable. After all, Belle is a practical girl who prefers comfort over aesthetics.
- Keep the heel low--something between 1 and 2 inches (2.5 and 5.1 cm) would work the best.
6
Finish off with long gloves that match your dress. Like with the shoes, don’t wear just any yellow gloves and call it a day. Try to match them to 1 of the yellow shades that’s on your dress. Ideally, the gloves should go past your elbow and hit the middle of your upper arm.
- The easiest option would be to buy a pair of lycra or spandex costume gloves, then dye them with fabric dye to match your dress.
- Alternatively, you can make the gloves using matching lycra or spandex fabric. Choose fabric with a shiny finish; it will look fancier than matte fabric.
7
Wear your hair in a half-up style. Start by pulling your hair into a half-up ponytail that’s about ear level. From there, you can make your look as simple or as fancy as you want. For example:
- To mimic the animated look, twist the ponytail into a bun, then secure it with a gold bun holder.
- To mimic the live-action look, leave the half-up ponytail loose, but add a delicate, gold hair clip to it. Something with vines, branches, or feathers would be ideal.
- Add gentle waves to the ends of your hair to mimic both the animated and live-action look. If you want the Broadway look, add ringlets to your hair with a curling iron instead.
8
Don’t be afraid to wear makeup, but keep your look simple. Even when she dressed up, Belle kept her makeup simple. You can certainly wear foundation and concealer, and if you know how to do contouring--all the better! Avoid going too heavy on the makeup, lipstick, and blush, however. You want to look pretty, but not like a porcelain doll. For example:
- Keep your eyeshadow neutral with browns and ivories. You can add some gold, however.
- You can’t go wrong with mascara and eyeliner. You can also add some false lashes, if you are going to a formal event, such as a prom.
- You can wear some blush, but keep it light. Use just enough to give your cheeks some color and life, but not so much that it becomes evident.
- Skip the red lipstick. Instead, choose a natural, pinkish shade. You can also wear some lip gloss over that.
9
Consider some accessories. While not absolutely necessary, these can add a nice touch to your outfit. For example, if you could wear some pearl earrings or a gold necklace. You can also add some details to your dress, such as roses or beaded trim.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Disney Bounding as Belle

1
Understand the Disney bounding is different from cosplaying. Unfortunately, most Disney parks no longer allow teens and adults to wear costumes. They do allow you to wear outfits that are inspired by the characters, however. This is known as Disney bounding.
- The key to Disney bounding is to wear similar shapes and colors that the character wears.
- Disney bounding is not cosplaying. If you look too much like the character, the park employees may ask you to change.
2
Pair a white blouse with a blue dress or skirt for Belle’s peasant look. A white blouse with ¾-length sleeves and a sleeveless dress that comes down to your mid-calf will look the most accurate, but you can do some variations. For example:^{[8]
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- You can wear a plain peasant blouse, a lace blouse, or a button-up blouse. Something with longer sleeves will work the best.^{[9]
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- A dress with thick straps will look the most accurate, but you can wear something with skinny straps. For a modern take, try a blue skirt instead; this would work well with a button-up blouse.^{[10]
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- Add a blue or white cardigan if you want to mimic the live-action look. Something with floral embroidery would lend a nice country feel to it.
3
Wear yellow dresses or skirts if you want the ball gown look. As long as you get the right accessories and hair, your dress should still give off the Belle vibes. You can make it more Belle-like by wearing something with lace in it. For example:
- For a casual look, pair a yellow maxi skirt with a lacy, off-the-shoulder blouse.^{[11]
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- For a dapper or vintage look, try a high-waisted full-circle skirt with a white or yellow puffed-sleeve blouse.^{[12]
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- For a girly look, try a full-circle or A-line dress made from yellow lace. You could make it more Belle-like with a gold or rose-red belt.
4
Match your shoes to the outfit or to the theme. Here is where you can get a little creative. If you want to make your outfit more accurate, you should wear the same type of shoes that Belle wears in the movies. If you don’t care about accuracy, then choose something with a rose theme instead. For example:
- Animated peasant dress: black ballet flats or black pumps.
- Live-action peasant dress: brown shoes
- Animated or live-action ball gown: pale yellow or gold flats, pumps, or heels
- Non-accurate shoes: anything with a rose or “Beauty and the Beast” motif.
5
Complete your look with a low ponytail or a half-up ponytail. Belle’s hair is simple, and when it comes to Disney bounding, you really don’t have to make it accurate. As long as you get the general shape of the hairstyle, you are good to go.
- For Belle’s peasant look, do a flipped ponytail. Finish the look with a blue bow.
- For Belle’s ball gown look, do a half-up ponytail. You can leave it at that, or twist it into a bun.
6
Keep your makeup simple. Everyday makeup is just fine for Belle, regardless of which version you do. Start with a base of foundation or tinted moisturizer, then apply some eyeliner and mascara. If you want to, add some eyeshadow, blush, and lip gloss, but keep it light.
- Stick with neutral eyeshadow colors, like brown, for Belle’s peasant look. For the ball gown, you can try gold instead.
- Pink lip gloss will work just fine for Belle’s peasant look, but if you are doing her ball gown, you can wear a deeper shade of pink lipstick.
7
Add rose or book-themed accessories to look more Belle-like. This is where you can make your Disneybound more recognizable without going into cosplay territory. For example, you could use bags, jewelry, or hair pins with the following themes:^{[13]
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- Books
- Roses
- Teacups
- Hand-held mirrors
8
Don’t be afraid to buy accessories based on the movies. If you look hard enough, you can actually buy a purse or necklace that looks like Chip, Cogsworth, or Lumière. You can find these items in stores like Disney and Hot Topic, but independent artists on Etsy may also sell them.
- You can also make your own accessory. For example, you can paint the characters on a pair of canvas sneakers with fabric paints or markers.

Community Q&A

Question

How I dress like Belle to school?

Community Answer

Her peasant dress will be the most convienant, as her ball gown would be difficult to move around in. If you want to do her ball gown, consider doing a modernized version where you wear a knee-length, pale-yellow dress with lots of frilled teirs.
Question

What shoes should I wear?

Community Answer

I would suggest wearing flats or heels, preferably in yellow, although white could work as well.
Question

How do I make a Belle dress?

Community Answer

You will need to purchase a pattern from a fabric store. If you want to make her blue dress, you can use a pattern for a peasant skirt, blouse, bodice, and apron. If you want to make her ballgown, you can find a similar pattern made by sewing pattern companies, such as Simplicity or Butterick.

Warnings

If you are Disney bounding, be careful not to make your outfit too costume-like, as this could land you in trouble with the park.^{[14]
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