Today we’d like to introduce you to Brianna Francis.
Hi Brianna, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always loved to play “dress up.” My love for costumes led me to work at Disneyland in their Entertainment Costuming Department shortly after college. Here, I got to help Mickey & the princesses get dressed! I even got to help Ariel with her fin, which was definitely a life highlight! (If you’re in college and love Disney, check out the Disney College Program! It was a BLAST!)
Since my days at Disneyland, I’ve made a few career changes, but my love for costumes, wigs, and taffeta only grew. Though as I’ve gotten older, I find that there are less and less opportunities to wear silly, extravagant gowns! It seems that big, beautiful dresses are reserved for one-time moments like weddings and prom. These milestones are far and few between – but just because we are getting older, why can’t we have fun trying on a ballgown or costume?
When I first traveled to Japan in 2017 where my boyfriend and I were visiting family, we came across businesses that allow tourists and locals to transform themselves into historically accurate figures through dress, hair, and make-up. This concept – that you could experience a transformation through one-of-a-kind, sacred garments and learn about their history – really left a mark on me.
I came back home with an excitement to create a magical space where we could all escape and intentionally “play dress up” as adults.
Unlike when we were kids, this time, “dress up” comes with an appreciation of fabric & craftsmanship, an enthusiasm for the idol you’re channeling, and a chance to delight in being a kid again.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This has been a labor of love for sure! It’s been joyful and challenging. I tested my idea at pop-up in San Francisco in 2018. 6 years later, it’s amazing to see how far the business has come! I chose to grow the business slowly. I was the only one working on it. Up until Jan 2024, I had a full-time job and was not able to dedicate as much time or money into the business. Then COVID hit in 2020, right when we moved into our first brick-and-mortar space in Oakland, and our business was halted. We opened our doors to Oakland in 2022. After a wonderful year there, we moved our business to LA in 2023 to be closer to family. It’s been lovely expanding our offerings here in LA and getting to know the local community interested in having fun with fashion!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m most proud of the magic I’ve been able to create and share. When guests come to our space (whether for a 30th or 40th birthday or bachelorette or just for fun), and I see them having so much fun trying on silly costumes, wearing the pouffiest pink gown they can find, trying on giant pageant-style crowns, and squealing over our space, I feel so proud and happy. I get filled with so much emotion thinking that our guests are creating a magical memory that they’ll maybe remember for a long time. They’re having a unique, one-of-a-kind experience that I hope ignites creativity, inspiration, self-love, and joy. Thinking about how I helped create these memories and experiences is the most fulfilling for me.
How do you think about luck?
Both good and bad luck have played a big part!!! COVID felt like bad luck for everyone, and it definitely put a big wrench in our plans when we moved into our first space in Feb 2020 (!), and we were not able to open our doors until 2022/2023. But we made the best of it and launched our merch line so people could play dress up at home in our t-shirt dresses.
I’m definitely privileged and am so grateful to have the means, family, and support growing up. I feel lucky to have parents who inspired me through their own entrepreneurial projects. They made it feel possible to own your own business. We were always talking about creative business ideas around the kitchen table.
Pricing:
- $40 per person to play dress up in our space for 1.5 hours. (Try on as many costumes and wigs as you can and take photos in front of our backdrops.)
- $150 for Professional Photography. Just purchase this add-on once to cover everyone in your session.
- Complimentary coffee, tea, sparkling water, and champagne are served.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dressupstudioevents.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dressupstudioevents/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Dress-Up-Studio/100064605949675/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dress-up-studio-glendale-2?osq=Dress+up+studio&override_cta=Get+pricing
Image Credits
Shelby Preston
