Tag: Alice in Wonderland

Fashionably Alice

The international and intergenerational appeal of Alice in Wonderland seems to keep growing with increasing pace and attitude for everything from themed weddings to Mad Hatter Hen parties, quirky vintage shops, handicrafts and artworks through to bloodcurdling video games.

What it is about this particular story that enchants us so much? We thought we’d share some of our favorite Alice fads and fashions.

Loved the book… adored the movie… ate the tea party… wore the styles… tapped through the ballet… & slaughtered the x-box? This post is for you!

The Book

Alice in Wonderland has always been a great tale – reinvented time and again to appeal to modern audiences. With strong visual characters and timeless themes that play on our fears of lost childhood and the growing & shrinking ups-&-downs of adolescence its no surprise that a Wonderland which engulfs madness and chaos continues to appeal.

The story “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” began on 4th July 1862. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Lewis Carroll), the reverend Canon Duckworth, and the sisters Alice, Lorina and Edith Liddell were on a boat trip in Oxfordshire when Alice grew bored and begged Dodgson for a story “with lots of nonsense in it”. The famous story began and subsequent additions were added later.

Alice eventually asked Dodgson to write the whole story down and after many editions he called it “Alice’s Adventures Under Ground”. Dodgson presented the manuscript to Alice as a Christmas gift, on 26 November 1864 and an extended version renamed Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland with illustrations by Sir John Tenniel, a cartoonist for Punch magazine was published by Macmillan on 4 July 1865 exactly 3 years after the boat trip.

The Films

The most famous of the Alice in Wonderland movies are perhaps the Disney version released in 1951 after many years of work by the most famous of studios developing and editing the tale – and again Disney prevails with the Tim Burton remake in 2010

There are also hundreds of other films though including parodies, very bad re-makes and horrors!  The music for Disney’s original “Alice in Wonderland” was provided by a 50 piece orchestra and the film comprises more than 350,000 drawings and paintings from over 750 artists. The Tim Burton version grossed over $1 billion worldwide and as such is currently the 9th highest grossing film of all time.

Mad Hatter Tea Party

The opportunity to dress up, bake cakes and bring Wonderland to life through the guise of a Mad Hatter Tea Party seems to be one of the most popular of all themed party ideas with appeal for children and adults alike.

Having supplied accessories for Mad Hatter Hen Parties, Alice inspired birthday teas for kids to 20 year olds alike, a Mad Hatter 80th Party, Alice in Wonderland weddings and even the most elegant of Mad Hatter Ball, Vintage Dorset has gathered together loads of decorations, props and accessories that are perfect for setting the scene.

Our accessories include gorgeous vintage tea sets and cake stands, bunting and tablecloths through to cute invitation cards and lots and lots of eat me drink me labels.

But there are also hundreds of great designers out there producing Alice in Wonderland decorations, artwork and Alice ideas to make yourselves. Here are some of our favorites:

Anissalee paper artist

Anissalee specialises in freehand cut paper artworks inspired by storytelling. Her designs are featured on her website and include an incredible new collection entitled Paper Wonderland. She works to commission or check out her Etsy shop here

Knots and Kisses wedding stationery

Nikki Ward is another very talented stationer whose wedding and party stationery are full of vintage influence and Wonderland quirkiness. Look for the Wonderland range on Nicki’s website and check out her blog here.

Everything Alice

If you’re looking for a book of ideas for Alice in Wonderland things to make yourself then the recent book “Everything Alice” by Hannah Read-Baldry and Christine Leech is a great place to start – but we also love the research information, DIY tips and ideas found on the long established Lenny’s Alice site at Alice in Wonderland.net.

For Vintage Dorset help with your party check out our Mad Hatter tea parties pages and shop for more ideas.

Style me Alice

Dressing up in Alice in Wonderland inspired style lets you slip quirkily between fancy dress into vintage fringe at the drop of a hat… For vintage lovers in Dorset there are an array of vintage stores offering fabulous clothes and trinkets perfect for an outfit.
Our favorites include the Vintage market at Old Albion, Bridport, The Curiosity Centre in Dorchester and particularly “What Alice Found” in Boscombe. This beautiful vintage shop includes loads of traditional vintage clothing together with fabulous gloves, hats and accessories perfect for the most elegant and curious of adventures.

Alice in Wonderland – the ballet

2011 saw the Royal Ballet stage its first new full length ballet since 1995. And wow – what a choice! Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon premiered at the Royal Opera House early this year.

Alice, the rabbit, the butchering Cook, Duchess and Mad Hatter Tapper

The Youtube clips are just appearing – and with these fantastical scenes and incredible dance it seems the ROH has robustly claimed Alice in Wonderland as an ongoing spectacle for ballet

The Red Queen

Alice and Alice Madness Returns – xbox

But, if you thought Alice in Wonderland was confined to genteel peculiarities then American McGee’s version of the story unravelled on the xbox well and truly dispells that myth. Following his original video game in 2000 the return of the insane knife-wielding Alice in 2011 is darker than ever
Not one for the children … this game is all blood and fighting but the characters are incredibly animated albeit in sharply disturbing forms – don’t try this one to accompany a vintage tea party – you’re likely to smash something! If you can bear the violence and rather “emo” Alice then the fashions and graphics are inspiring!