We all patiently waited for it: the reveal of Emma Watson's Belle dress in Beauty and the Beast [1]. Made with silk, the yellow princess ball gown is better than we imagined. The dress has a satin finish that glows for the camera while the layers of organza give the dress a light, bouncy lift. Though parts of the costume have a cage, one specific constricting piece was left out of the new design.
Beauty and the Beast's costume designer Jacqueline Durran revealed in an interview that Belle's dress in the live-action film does not have a corset, a change Emma pushed for herself [2].
"For Emma, it was important that the dress was light and that it had a lot of movement," Durran said. "In Emma's reinterpretation, Belle is an active princess. She did not want a dress that was corseted or that would impede her in any way."
Given that the birthday girl is a proud feminist and supporter of HeForShe [3], it's not surprising she spoke up and did away with a tight-fitting bodice in the name of comfort. Scroll through for a glimpse of Belle's updated gown and other outfits, check out the subtle ear cuff she wears in the film [4], then reminisce over Emma's green red carpet choices [5] on the press tour.
