The costume of Princess Anneliese from the animated film Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper is far more than a simple animated outfit; it is a powerful narrative device and a symbol of identity, duty, and duality. Unlike many royal cartoon gowns that serve purely aesthetic purposes, Anneliese’s wardrobe is intrinsically tied to the film’s central plot of look-alikes and swapped lives, making each piece a key to understanding her character’s journey.
The most iconic and recognized of her costumes is the dazzling wedding gown she is meant to wear for her forced marriage to the villainous King Preminger. This dress is the epitome of storybook royalty: a lavish, bright pink gown with a voluminous skirt, a fitted, off-the-shoulder bodice adorned with golden scrollwork and faux jewels, and elegant white gloves. The sheer opulence of the dress represents the immense weight of her royal duty and the gilded cage of her obligation to save her kingdom through marriage. It is beautiful, but it is also a costume for a role she feels compelled to play, not one she desires.
However, the true depth of her character—and her costume—is revealed in her "simple" day dress. This outfit, a lovely but understated lavender gown with a high neckline and puffed sleeves, often accessorized with a feathered hat or a book, reflects her genuine personality: gentle, intelligent, scholarly, and kind. This is the real Anneliese, the princess who would rather study and sing than attend stuffy state functions. The contrast between the overwhelming pink wedding gown and this softer, more personal lavender dress visually articulates the central conflict between her selfhood and her duty.
The genius of the costume design extends to her interactions with Erika, the pauper who is her identical double. Erika dons the iconic pink wedding gown to impersonate the princess, while Anneliese wears Erika’s simple mint-green pauper dress to escape the castle. In these moments, the costumes literally become disguises, challenging the very notion of identity and proving that true nobility is not defined by fabric but by character.
Ultimately, the Princess Anneliese costume collection is a masterclass in using fashion for storytelling. The pink gown symbolizes duty and sacrifice, the lavender dress reflects her true self, and the pauper’s clothes represent freedom and discovery. Each garment is a chapter in her story, making her wardrobe one of the most thoughtfully designed and symbolically rich in animated history.