Breath of the Wild sparked a new era of designs for Princess Zelda both in-game and fan made. Gone are the pretty-in-pink princess designs; in its place is a shade of blue perfect for adventuring around Hyrule. But what would happen if the two designs are combined? Hannah Alexander has the answer.
Hannah Alexander is a popular artist who creates highly detailed and gorgeous original outfits for beloved characters across many genres and fandoms. Princess Zelda has received many different designs from the artist as there are many different Zelda’s to take inspiration from. Her Breath of the Wild Zelda not only creates a new beautiful dress for the princess but also combines elements from previous designs, crafting something entirely new. Many are inspired by her designs and bring them to life through the art of cosplay. Mackenzie Morrow Foster, who goes as itskenziemf on Instagram, is one such cosplayer who recreated Hannah’s blue Breath of the Wild gown.
The design of the new dress starts with a light blue corset embellished with a gold Hylian Royal Family Crest. More gold swirls down the sides of the corset, fanning out slightly towards the skirt. The thicker gold detailing was crafted with EVA foam, a lighter and cheaper material that’s easier to manage then forging gold itself. From the corset, a flowing skirt of ombres down to the ground, swirling in a circular train. The ombre fabric was dyed by Mackenzie herself, starting with the light shard of blue to match the corset and coming down to a darker blue eventually a blue shade of purple. Further gold detailing can be found at the bottom of the skirt, not a single swirl, shape or crest left behind. If you look close enough you can see the golden script detailed in the darker sashes of fabric. Each detail is a mirror image of the line work in Hannah’s art.
There’s more to an outfit than a dress and Mackenzie doesn’t disappoint in bringing each accessory from Hannah’s original design to life. Golden pauldrons sit upon her shoulder, with a similar pattern to a butterfly’s wing or the lines of a leaf. The pauldrons here hold a decorative purpose rather than a practical one. However, with Zelda’s light powers and use of the Sheikah Slate as seen in Age of Calamity, Zelda has no need for practical armour like Link. The pauldrons shadow purple and blue sashes, the ombre effect once again dyed by Mackenze herself, and tie the dress together.
Lastly, Mazkenize commissioned a short blonde wig from Alyssa, who also goes by the cyber zombie. The short style of the wig is reflecting the updated hairstyle of Princess Zelda as seen in the trailers of Tears of the Kingdom. Mackenzie took some initiative, redesigning the headpiece in Hannah’s artwork to something with her own little touch. The flowers are brighter and bigger, bringing out the darker shades of blue found in the dress. The centre jewel is reminiscent of many of previous Zelda’s designs but with a simpler and more elegant take. She may not hold a crown, but this Zelda is a princess ready to be a queen and rule over her kingdom.
As an illustrator, Hannah Alexander never fails to disappoint in her costume redesigns. Each character is given highly detailed designs that bring out various elements from their story and brings a new, glamorous look to empower how they are. Not a single detail was left behind in Mackenzie’s creation of Hannah’s artwork. From the gold details on the dress to the accessories bringing the piece together, Mackenzie showcases what a physical version of Hannah’s work would be like in the real world, and it doesn’t disappoint.
