What I Wore To Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park!
After what turned out to be an incredibly hectic summer, I finished off the month of September by taking a mini vacation with my family to Orlando, Florida. While there, we knew we had to take my 10-year-old son to Magic Kingdom since it’s such an unforgettable experience for any kid. I was hoping he’d be overcome with the type of wonder I felt when I was a wide-eyed six-year-old and I first laid eyes on Minnie, Mickey and Goofy (according to my mom, I was so excited that I literally threw up, which I find hilarious) but, at 10, he’s way past the point of being fascinated by the sight of life-sized, plush versions of cartoon characters. He was, however, thrilled by the roller coasters and the incredibly realistic imaginary worlds within the theme park — from the pirate-infested waters in The Pirates of the Caribbean ride to the 19th century Old West-inspired backdrops in Frontierland, the spooky gothic decor of the Haunted Mansion, and the futuristic, space-themed vibe of Tomorrowland. Luckily for my son, he’s rather tall for his age, so he was more than able to get on every ride, never being plagued with the soul-shattering sensation of being turned away from an amusement ride line due to an unforgiving height chart (as I was until I was about 12 or 13!).
As we prepared for a full day of walking, standing in line, riding in roller coasters, and perusing through souvenirs, I realized that figuring out to wear to a theme park isn’t as easy as one might imagine. First, we had to consider that our day would involve plenty of walking and so comfortable shoes were of the essence. It was really hot and muggy in Orlando (it neared 80 degrees every single day), but I had to rule out thong or gladiator sandals since it was raining every afternoon and, as anyone who has walked on slippery outsoles knows, it can be really uncomfortable and make each step feel like an ordeal. I also took into account the fact that some tourists can be more polite than others — and, with open-toed shoes, your totsies are left completely vulnerable to injury. I decided, then, that the key was a pair of slip-on sneakers with enough tread to help me navigate slippery streets, thick enough soles to prove supportive, a low profile to keep my feet cool, and no laces for added convenience. I instantly thought of my Mossimo slip-on sneakers, which feature a funky leopard print on their faux suede uppers.
Since it was so hot and humid outside, I opted to wear my favorite Lucky Brand jean shorts and a simple black H&M tank top, and I jazzed these basics up via my choice of accessories. I started by wearing a thin leopard print belt I bought from Target and then added a major statement piece via a gold collar necklace with leopard print insets that my parents gifted me after a trip to Kenya.
To keep the look youthful and urban, I wore a pair of Jules Smith gold hoop earrings shaped like curved screws and my treasured black House of Harlow 1960 sunglasses.
I then finished the look with a stack of Amrita Singh mixed metal bangles and a black Treesje cross-body bag with golden zippers and hardware.
As we all know, a red or orange pout is pretty much tantamount when wearing leopard so the final touch in my look was a bold red lip created using Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge in 8 Iconic Red.
I wound up feeling cute and stylish while also being comfortable enough to endure everything the day had in store — including a major thunderstorm and a long episode of “Where in the world did we park?” Hopefully, if you’re contemplating a similar outing, this post will give you some ideas on how to look casual without compromising your sense of style!
