I paid my own way for my Dapper Day trip. This is not a sponsored post in any way. Affiliate links may be used.
What most people don’t realize is that Minnie’s birthday is the same as Mickey’s birthday! Yes, back in 1928, she and Mickey graced the screen in Steamboat Willy as well as the subsequent (although animated first) Plane Crazy. Walt Disney used a “rubber hose” animation style that allowed Mickey to do pretty fantastic things as he entertained crowds. As their 90th birthday drew closer the Disney Parks Blog announced a Celebration Look for each of the mice. This was my homage to the Minnie Celebration Dress look while adding a Dapper Day flair! You can also find a few of my favorite Dapper Disneybound looks like Bo Peep, Orange Bird, and even Alice in Wonderland!
Shop the essentials for my Minnie Look
I got my sunglasses on sale from Lulus.com, but they have a bunch of sunglasses silhouettes that will work nicely for Dapper Day! My flats are bright yellow Tieks, in original leather. I broke them in before I took to the Parks, but they never fail me for a Dapper Day look! My “purse” is actually a 1990s Aladdin brand lunchbox – a vintage find that I ADORE! The bright yellow crepe-back satin came from my local Joann Fabrics, so I’m sure you can find some in your town, too! If not, Fabric.com has you covered. If you’d like to build your dress from the same stock one I started with, purchase this White Retro GownTown dress from Amazon. It’s extremely comfortable!
Guide to Building Minnie’s Birthday Dress
It only took me a few weeks with many breaks to create this dress. I ordered poms from Amazon (very plasticky) and mixed them with a few bags from my local craft store (much more soft) and prepped my paints. In order to save on weight and cash, I painted at least 50% of the visual “dots” that you see. I used a highlighter’s butt end to make a clean circle and then filled it in with a paintbrush.
The other poms were sewn on, with the largest poms on the bottom hemline. Don’t forget to attach your tulle layer (sewn in) before you glue or stitch your poms on, or you won’t have the correct space for your machine. If you don’t want to sew each pom, you can glue it on with E6000, which is a dry cleaner safe glue.
I refrained from painting the sleeves but added the tulle and poms to the sleeve using a self-drafted pattern, draping, and stitching. I added a cuff of yellow satin at the hemline of the sleeveline for contrast and color! My sash was ruched for volume and texture, and was about 3″ wide. I eyeballed the length and topstitched it so it would stay straight. 
Buttons at the neckline, a Dapper Day brooch, and a hidden Mickey in the skirt (made of pom-poms) completed the Minnie Celebration Dress. I was finally ready for Magic Kingdom in my Disneybound!
Minnie Celebration Dress VIDEO Tutorial
I made a short video to guide you through making a dress like mine. I started with an incredibly affordable Amazon dress (I could never have bought the fabric for this little amount!) and doctored it to my liking. I added tulle overskirts and sleeves, poms, paint, and created a sash and yellow hairbow to set off the outfit. While it’s very similar to Minnie’s dress, it by no means is a costume and that makes it a perfect Disneybound!
Meeting Minnie for OUR birthday!
I completely forgot to mention… Dapper Day at Walt Disney World was on my BIRTHDAY! I got to meet Minnie in her birthday dress, in my birthday dress, on my birthday. It was celebration inception and I was there for it! Minnie and Mickey’s reactions were everything I ever wanted as I wanted into the theatre.
Don’t forget to pass back through the theatre lobby and sign Mickey’s guestbook before you leave. There are all sorts of amazing little celebration items throughout the Park that you can participate in. Snack, activities, merchandise and more.
Southern California Vacation Giveaway
If you’re ready to plan your own Dapper Day, why not try your hand at winning this Southern California Family Vacation from Get Away today? One lucky winner will win a Southern California Vacation (2-night hotel stay in Anaheim or San Diego + 2 adult 1-day Disneyland or SeaWorld tickets. Prize will be fulfilled through Get Away Today. Winner will receive a certificate with all redemption guidelines. The winner will have the option to upgrade at their own cost if desired. Enter via the rafflecopter widget below, and I hope you have a wonderful Celebration!
I’d take my husband!