Tale as old as time

Well it feels as though it's been a long time coming (and with 16 years since the original film and 277 years since the original book, I suppose it is) but this week I finally got to see the new Beauty and the Beast film! Obviously it was every inch as amazing as I'd hoped it would be but I'll get on to that in a minute. Whenever you go and see something even remotely princess-related, it's a given that you should dress like a princess (a philosophy that I tend to apply in everyday life anyway). That means floaty skirts, statement shoes and pretty accessories. So that's exactly what I went with, in (not entirely intentional) French colours. This skirt is a primark bargain at only £10 and these shoes are an eBay bargain at £20 (dressing like a princess doesn't always mean you need the budget of a princess). I love these shoes because they're such a classic statement and the ultimate feminine shape (plus they look like the shoe emoji) - they are super painful though so it's a a good job I spent the whole time in them sitting down. I matched my shoes to my top and then added a matching statement bag; this Chanel boy bag dupe is the newest addition to my collection. Then I completed my French colour palette with navy duster coat and red lipstick by MAC in the shade Chili.

I am a girl who's been obsessed with Beauty and the Beast for as long as I can remember. These throwback photos were from 15 years ago and that was atleast the second Christmas that I got a Belle outfit. I also had the iconic gold dress (but I can't seem to find any photos) and my mum made me countless extras including a white pinafore apron to wear over a blue dress I had, and the red hooded cape with white fur trim that Belle wears in Something There. Not only have I grown up dressing as Belle, but I've grown up to believe that being different and standing out is always a good thing, a woman doesn't need a man to save her, intelligence and beauty are not mutually exclusive and that living the life that's expected of you is not your only option. It also taught me that beauty is only skin deep - what's important is that you're rich, tall and have a giant castle (not necessarily a euphemism). Given that this story is 277 years old (a tale as old as time, you might say), I don't really think that a spoiler alert is necessary but seeing as I'll be talking about the film in detail I'll give you one anyway. Emma Watson was, of course, perfectly cast. Not only because she looks exactly how you'd expect Belle to look but because of her real-life feminism and strong, fiery character. And all the costumes were amazing too (although I have to admit that I was kind of disappointed by the gold dress because it wasn't as off-the-shoulder as it should have been) - to be in the wardrobe or set design for this film must've been incredible. I especially loved how they made more of a thing of the film being set in late 16th century France - the men in wigs and make up and the historic references to the plague. The film stuck almost rigidly to the 1991 cartoon version - apart from a tweak as to why the Beast keeps Belle's father as a prisoner in the first place, how the relationship between Belle and the Beast develops, Gaston's reaction when Maurice shows up asking for help and how Belle escaped to go back and save the Beast. Other than that though it was re-made perfectly - even down to the pronunciation of the word 'gorgeous' in the song Belle. Luke Evans as Gaston was especially amazing - his songs Gaston and Kill the Beast gave me goosebumps. In fact, the whole film gave me goosebumps pretty much from start to finish and I barely stopped singing to myself the whole way through. Despite the long wait, it's safe to say it was worth it. So much so in fact, that me and my mum are thinking of going to the cinema to see it again!