In celebration of Women’s History Month, The Walt Disney Family Museum is honoring one of the earliest Imagineers and Disneyland costumer, Renié Conley.
Renié Conley
Conley made her mark on the industry with Academy Award-Winning costumes in 1959’s The Big Fisherman and 1963’s Cleopatra. She used that experience to create the earliest versions of iconic Main Street costumes. Two examples of Renié Conley’s work for Disneyland are currently on display in the Happiest Place on Earth: The Disneyland Story exhibit, courtesy of The Walt Disney Archives. The images showcase the vision Conley had for costumes worn by Cast Members working on Main Street, U.S.A. , down to the swatches used to create them.
The park we know and love today would not be the same without the hard work of Renié Conley and many other women Imagineers and designers who shared in early concepts and execution of Disneyland Park.
An article published by D23 in 2020 shared this about Conley’s work:
The beautifully detailed (and fluidly effortless) costume concepts helped illustrate the rich attention to detail sought after from Walt’s early Imagineers, including one very talented costume designer…Conley utilized her keen eye and accomplished motion picture experience to design functional, yet thematically appropriate, garments that helped promulgate the immersive concept of “show” Walt and his staff were after.
Conley’s lasting Disney legacy can still be found at the park, too––a window above the Carnation Café on Main Street, U.S.A. bears her name—an honor bestowed to only a select few who have helped bring the “show” of Disneyland to magical life.
Watch the Instagram video honoring Renié Conley below.
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