It’s the second week of Sinister September, and this week’s ears pay homage to possibly the most relatable of all the Disney Villains: the overworked and under-appreciated would-be-empress Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove.
I recently took a position as the unpaid Head of Public Relations for Her Exaltedness after a series of…. shenanigans… left the Emperor’s former advisor in a precarious political position. And, let me tell you, this is not an easy job! Yzma hasn’t gone out of her way to win the hearts and minds of her people.
But look at what she was working with! As the long-suffering advisor to Emperor Kuzco, who might generously be called “a little self-centered,” our girl Yzma had to put up with a lot of workplace discrimination without recourse to a union rep or HR department.
Being called a dinosaur by your infantile boss and then summarily dismissed from your job without just cause or a severance package is enough to drive anyone to nefarious plotting! And when you have a henchman with a spinach-puff addiction to keep fed and clothed, your expenses can really start add up.
Anyways, the past is in the past, hakuna matata, etc. Emperor Kuzco has agreed to let bygones be bygones and pardoned my boss. It helps that the culmination of Yzma’s aborted assassination attempt was her transformation into an adorable animal; who could possibly say “life in prison without the possibility of parole” to that face?
Since it’s now my job to rehabilitate her image, I’ve started by spamming the kingdom with images of Yzma post-kitten-transformation. Any art, clothing or Minnie Ears that feature her feline form are getting the Fancy Floridian stamp of approval. I’ve even started wearing Yzma-cat attire around the Kingdom as a walking billboard for her current cuteness!
My favorite tool for pro-Yzma proselytizing is this headband from MouseTiara. These adorable ears feature a Tsum-Tsum-ified Yzma in both human and kitten form and have even her staunchest political opponents going “awwww!”
So, now that you know that Yzma is (if not reformed) harmless now, you can wear these ears without feeling too guilty about supporting a villain. My work as a publicist is finished!
Get yourself a pair of
Yzma ears here!
EAR REVIEW
What We Loved
Ear Shape/Size:
These ears are a bit larger than you might assume from the photos online, but that really makes them stand out above the crowd at a Disney park.
Unique Theme/Style:
I’m a die-hard fan of The Emperor’s New Groove, and every detail down to the vial of poison for Kuzco (Kuzco’s poison) is perfect for me. Though a security guard at Hollywood Studios said he loved my Vampirina ears sooooo… maybe these are a deep cut.
Wearability:
Because they are a bit taller than average, I wouldn’t wear these on rides or in a stiff breeze. But the stuffed ears mean that they are light and very easy to wear all day with no pinching!
Bow:
Fabulous! The bow is overstuffed just like the ears, so it is large and solid (and doesn’t flop around!) The vial of poison (for Kuzco. Kuzco’s poison) is large, glittery and stable!)
Headband:
Excellent. Professional-looking with a sewn-in label and neutral lining. The headband was large enough that it didn’t pinch and balanced out the larger ear size.
Shipping/Packaging:
These were the first pair of custom ears that I ever purchased a long time ago, so I didn’t take pictures of the box they were shipped in. But they arrived in a hard-sided box and were well-padded.
Stitching/Gluing:
Excellent. I loved that the majority of the design was stitched instead of glued; they feel much more durable and the stitching is neat and professional.
Turnaround Time:
Seven days (from Puerto Rico during the pandemic) which was impressive!
Who would love these?
90s kids, villain fans, and anyone who loves cats! But be warned: random strangers will shout “Pull the lever, Kronk!” at you as you pass them in these ears, so you must be prepared to shout “WRONG LEVER” back to them.
What Needs Work
Materials:
The only downside to these ears is that some of the glitter foam on Yzma’s headdress and ruff is prone to bending. A little tear started to form in one piece of foam after a day of wear and tear on the rides at Disney.
Pricing: $$$
$75 is the most money I’ve spent on a pair of ears, but these are so cute and unique that I will (and have) bought from this shop again!
Where should future FashionEarstas be seen in these ears?
My pick would be Villains After Hours at the Magic Kingdom! This special ticketed event is a celebration of all things sinister, so Yzma fits right in. Try the drink “Yzma’s Llama Potion” while you’re there (if you dare)! Check out FashionEarsta’s review of Villains After Hours for more details!
Overall Score: (4.8/5)
These soft tsum-tsum inspired ears are both heartbreakingly adorable and fantastically unique. I received tons of compliments from other guests and cast members alike, and had a ton of fun trading The Emperor’s New Groove quotes with fellow fans. The only downside is that there isn’t a themed land or ride at which to wear these! Be right back, starting a petition to build an Emperor’s New Groove roller coaster ASAP!
Get yourself a pair of
Yzma ears here!
I hope that you found this review helpful! I’d love to hear what you think of this review, these ears, MouseTiara, or who YOUR favorite villain is! We want to know, comment below!! Make sure you check us out on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram, chances are you will see our ears in action!
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