By Chevaun Jackson
Disney Consumer Products and Forever 21 are joining forces to collaborate on a new fashion line of apparel and accessories called “Minnie Muse” exclusively for Forever 21 Twist (a collection that began July 2010 with an emphasis on the “circus-inspired world of sassy frocks, tulle skirts, cropped jackets, and fancy tees. Lighthearted prints include oversized polka dots, hounds tooth, stripes, and checkers…”). The new collection is inspired, of course, by the Disney cartoon icon Minnie Mouse. This is the first celebrity muse for the fast fashion retailer’s Twist Collection of clothing and accessories. The collection will be available at Forever 21 stores nationwide and online at Forever21.com starting November 2010 just in time for the holiday season. It will follow Minnie Mouse shopping and visiting fashion capitals — London, Paris and Tokyo — in preparation for her line. The fresh style line portrays Minnie Mouse in a way no has ever seen her before, leggy, modern and glamorous. Get ready for polka dots and lots of ruffles as well as glam and sexy as Minnie enters the 21st century, modern fashion world.
Pieces include apparel, accessories, and even stationery and gift items, such as notebooks, journals, eau de parfum. From what I’ve seen of the apparel, it seems to be unflattering—simple garments with Ms. Minnie’s silhouette, or large graphic tees. Some are cute but overall it appears a bit childish and more something out of the 1980s hit Flashdance as opposed to modern fashion. Yet, the accessories and stationary are well done. Perhaps Forever 21 should have done with Minnie Mouse what many do with Betty Boop, instead of trying to use her as a fashion muse for apparel they should have stuck with just using her image (in traditional Minnie garb or more updated styles) on graphic tees to make bold, blatant statements, accessories and stationeries—with which they hit their mark in the collection. We anticipate highly the unveiling of this collection, which has been kept seriously under raps, to see the extent of where this venture headed.