#moderngurlz

The Disney Princess franchise is one of the biggest brands in the entire world, but did you know it was start not that long ago?

Today we decided to take a look at the Disney Princess lineup and some of its biggest mistakes.

watcher boys in what you missed in april 2024 🗓️😈🎶 (april 2024 pop culture recap) by ModernGurlz

Like everyone else, I'm freaking sick and tired of Disney's adorkable problem with it's modern heroines and them being allergic to exploring different personality types in the revival era. So instead of explaining why the problem is bad, I tried to fix it by giving these characters more individual personalities that would still work in their respective stories. Please like, share, comment, and subscribe. What do you guys think? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. You can also follow me on these social media accounts.

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Credit for my character stills goes to my good friend, @gem-among-gems. If you would like some stills for yourself, she can make some for you and can do it in any style.

Also check out the video that inspired this video by the mermazing ModernGurlz.

Are you neurotypical or do you have a comfort video essay?

I fell down the biggest ModernGurlz rabbit hole this morning (always been a fan of the channel but it’s been a while since I’ve binged it like this) and it made me want to do a costume analysis for Kory, including s1-3 with some speculation about what we’ve seen so far of s4 and personal hopes for s5. In spite of my long term interest in costumes, this is my first time doing an actual full length analysis, I had fun with it.

Kory’s character traits: Smart, maternal, tough, kind, sexy, playful, emotionally mature

Constants in Kory’s wardrobe: Leather, purple, black, armored looks, high heels, distinctive belts

Season 1: S1 is all about self-discovery and experimentation for Kory. Unaware of who she is, her identity as an alien warrior princess is conveyed only through her ostentatious clothing, including her iconic fur coat and purple mini dress, fur and purple being styling choices that are often associated with royalty and called back to at different points throughout the series. While her bright curls, pink nails, and heavy make up give off a confident “look at me” vibe, her initial outfit also hints at a sense of guardedness that is present at different points throughout the show. This is fitting, as Kory is still somewhat grappling with who to trust and let in in spite of her sweet and accepting nature.

The dress has a fragmented pattern reminiscent of armor, while the coat offers coverage and protection that she doesn’t shed for the first time until her initial sexual encounter with Dick, a notable moment of openness for both characters. After this encounter, you see Kory without her coat more and more, and a switch to lighter, flowier, albeit still metallic fabrics.

s1 also includes the first appearance of Kory’s partiality to black, taking Donna’s clothing without permission (lol), Kory suits up for her first mission upon discovering her identity. This choice highlights her serious, tactical side, but also foreshadows her ongoing struggles with her identity and place in her chosen new home world.

Season 2: Is about self actualization. For the first time we see Kory away from her found family, and figuring out what she wants for herself. More sophisticated and streamlined, Kory’s new fashion sense denotes an air of independence and cosmo girl chic. With a greater emphasis on dark color palates than the previous season and darker, straightened hair, Kory takes on a less flashy, more “human” appearance, while still maintaining the strongest sense of style among her peers. Kory has fallen in love with Earth and wants to claim her place here, thus eschewing or toning down her royal aesthetic, wishing to leave behind that part of her life or at the very least, unsure of how it fits into her new life.

Her first outfit after the three-month time jump maintains hints of the armored pattern that her initial dress in season one had, highlighting her image as a fighter, and the sense of self-protection she once again adopts when she’s away from her teammates.

Notice when she goes to the tower for the first time, the armor patterned top is replaced with a lighter, flowier one, as seen in her conversation with Dick in the tower. Later on in the house, we see her in a fully relaxed outfit for the first time, a cropped hoodie and satin cargo pants, a decidedly domestic look that highlights her sense of comfort in these surroundings.

There is less of an emphasis on sexuality in her s2 outfits a well, while still mostly covered in s1, there were more provocative details showcased, like her short, slitted dress and thigh high boots. In s2, her overall look is more modest, with the exception of a midriff baring outfit later in the season that follows a severe emotional blow for Kory. The fact that she’s showing more skin in these sequences could be an indication of her feelings of vulnerability in those scenes.

Season 3: Is about conflict. Here we begin to fully understand and appreciate Kory’s sense of personal style as defined by her competing life experiences. An amalgamation of her past and present, the royal elements of Kory’s style are back in full force, including a return to dresses, brighter purples, the inclusion of corsets and --as seen in one episode, and a blink and you’ll miss it moment in another-- fur. This shift makes sense as it’s the most we’ve delved into Kory’s auspicious past. Her supersuit in particular practically screams alien warrior princess, brimming with purple, jewels, gold accents, and a rich print evoking fantasy afro-futurist themes.

However, the influences of her time on Earth are still visible, with darker curls, the occasional appearance of black clothing first fully adopted at the end of s1 and the odd casual (for her) get up. This range in style choices and alternating between dark and bright colors drives home her sense of conflict between two worlds.

This is also the most skin Kory has shown so far, appearing in very short dresses, cleavage bearing tops, and high slits. But these outfits never feel exploitative or as if they’re wearing her, there’s a sense of high class and elegance to every outfit she rocks. Additionally, this is one of the first times we see Kory in a print (aside from her supersuit), I’m hoping for more of that going forward.

Season 4 speculation: I know very little of what’s happening in this season, but a few different things can be speculated on according to the outfits we’ve seen so far. Her hair, while straight again, is brighter than in the previous season, with more volume and length than in s2, signifying her versatility and continued embrace of bold styling choices. Like s3, we’re seeing Kory in both bright and dark colors, sometimes worn together and sometimes worn separately. Her overall sense of style seems a bit more covered up than in s3 as well, electing instead for very form fitting silhouettes as seen in at least two outfits spotted on set.

A return to the occasional lighter, flowier pieces, as seen in s1 and 2, appears to be a thing in s4 as well, possibly foreshadowing a focus on her softer maternal side, while superhero mainstays like powerful shoulders, chevrons, and vaguely capelike shapes can be spotted in other outfits (which I could not find photos of), foreshadowing her fully embracing her superhero side.

Notably missing is her iconic jewelry, and while we don’t know the story reasons for this yet, or even if there are any, her replacement of a three-strand necklace and several rings with bright green gemstones, feels lighter and freer, perhaps an indication that she’s fully ready to rid herself of her Tamaranean obligations.

One of the most striking elements of her s4 fashion though, are the assortment of motorcycle jackets, which could be a sign of her changing dynamic with Dick, who’s iconography includes a motorcycle as a vehicle of choice. It’s worth mentioning that the first time we ever see her in a moto jacket, during s2, coincides with a pivotal moment in her relationship with him (saving him from Slade Wilson)

In general her s4 style has an ‘on the move’ quality to it, I can imagine it being a more physical, utilitarian season for her, while still incorporating the glamour and femininity that is crucial to her character.

hopes for season 5- I’d like to see her in brighter colors and romantic silhouettes that are still sexy, but with a greater emphasis on comfort and lightness, denoting a positive, happy, and carefree turn for the character. I’d also like to see her curly hair return, while it looks great any way she wears it, the curls have a sense of freeness and fun that I can see working well for the direction I see her character going in.

I’m ready to see her fully embrace her quirky hot mom era, complete with crop tops, mom jeans, ruffles, nature prints (give me Kory’s garden!) and dangly jewelry (a nod to princess Diana, who wore such jewelry for kids to play with while she held them).

However, I still want the harder, darker elements like leather, biker jackets, sunglasses and stiletto boots to stick around, maintaining the air of toughness and protectiveness that defines the character as well.

Some examples of the type of outfits I’d like to see her wear in s5