As per stylist Zadrian Smith, the initial course of action when creating Ariana DeBose’s wardrobe for her “Wish” press tour involved addressing several “very important questions.”
For nearly four years, Smith and his business partner, Sarah Edmiston, have been designing DeBose’s wardrobe. This collaboration is especially significant because DeBose will voice Asha, the first Afro-Latina princess to appear in a Disney film, in the movie “Wish.”
Smith disclosed that they kept returning to the concept, considering the impact on young girls of color who would see Ariana.
Determining the message these girls wanted to convey was crucial because the main goal was to help them identify with the representation.
Zadrian Smith wants to showcase timeless classic Disney heroine dresses
In terms of styling, Zadrian Smith wanted to appeal to young girls by showcasing classic Disney heroine ensembles that are timeless.
This included an Aje minidress with a botanical pattern, a silver Brunello Cucinelli power suit, and a wispy ballgown. In order to create a variety of braided hairstyles for DeBose, Smith worked with hairstylists Takisha Sturdivant-Drew and Araxi Lindsey, realizing the instant cultural recognition in both African and Latina communities.
Disney’s 100th anniversary falls on Thursday, the same day as “Wish” opens in theaters.
Every ensemble that DeBose wore on the press tour was a tribute to a Disney character in honor of the franchise.
Ariana devised this creative plan, combining looks like the sequined denim Missoni suit that was evoking comparisons to Stitch from “Lilo & Stitch” and the pink turtleneck and green Oscar de la Renta skirt that were reminiscent of Rapunzel’s outfit at the New York premiere.
Styling Ariana DeBose was an experience for Zadrian Smith
Ariana DeBose is becoming more and more well-known; her most recent achievement is the movie “Wish.” Her journey started at the 2023 BAFTAs with a powerful rap performance that received over 5 million views on social media. She became well-known after taking home the coveted Oscar in 2022 for her performance in “West Side Story.”
Working with Ariana, according to stylist Zadrian Smith, has been a holistic experience that has given them room to develop their creativity. Her readiness to pose original questions encouraged them to think creatively and venture outside of their comfort zones.
Ariana DeBose defends the lack of romance in recent Disney movies
Ariana DeBose, the star of “Wish,” has defended the recent practice of Disney movies devoid of love stories.
The majority of Disney’s animated movies have featured princesses falling in love, but more recent pictures like “Encanto” and, most recently, “Wish” have eschewed these clichés.
Oscar-winning DeBose emphasized that meaningful and varied stories exist outside of romance. DeBose is Asha’s voice in the upcoming Disney film. In an interview with Digital Spy, she said she believed that in the current era of cyclical trends, it was critical to have a range of perspectives.
DeBose highlighted the value of telling tales about community and different kinds of love, as well as the fact that female Disney characters don’t always have to concentrate their goals on landing a romantic partner.
She underlined that by showing a familiar love, such as the bond between Asha and Star, “Wish” highlights friendship and community ties.
DeBose elaborated, saying, “Star and Asha share this beautiful connection,” highlighting how crucial it is to remind people that different stories can be told and that love can be explored in a variety of ways.
DeBose talked about Asha’s exceptional selflessness as the reason she isn’t viewed as a typical Disney princess.
DeBose asserts that Asha’s unique quality is her selflessness. Asha doesn’t only wish for herself; she also wishes for the neighborhood and everyone in it.
DeBose emphasized Asha’s unique role as an assistant while drawing a distinction between Disney princesses and heroines. As a sort of fairy godmother, Asha does more than just give answers or advice; she also helps people. DeBose emphasized how distinctive Asha is in this aspect of the Disney character ancestry.
