LEGO Disney 43262 Maleficent’s and Cruella De Vil’s Dresses review

Two LEGO Disney villains team up to show off their wicked costumes in 43262 Maleficent’s and Cruella De Vil’s Dresses.

One set, two villains – and two brick-built outfits. 43262 Maleficent’s and Cruella De Vil’s Dresses sees Sleeping Beauty’s Maleficent and 101 Dalmations’ Cruella unite in the name of fashion, with a mini-doll version of each character – complete with a pet each – and a brick-built dress in the style of the characters.

Don’t think too much about what went into Cruella’s spotted skirt and let’s dig into what this LEGO Disney set is like up close.

Release: March 1, 2025 Price: £59.99 / $69.99 / €69.99 Pieces: 524 Mini dolls: 2 LEGO: Order now

Villains have more fun

When compared to its hero reflection set, 43266 Cinderella’s Dress, the creative building techniques, contrasting colours, and striking silhouettes in 43262 Maleficent’s and Cruella De Vil’s Dresses are far more eye-catching. They both fit perfectly with the style of the respective villains and you can choose to put your favourite on a brick-built display base (the pattern of which can be customised with extra elements included in the set).

The two dresses have remarkably different silhouettes, with Cruella rocking a shorter skater skirt and Maleficent a mermaid skirt, leaving enough room for bat-like wings. The inclusion of a dalmatian print (or stickers in this case) is perhaps an obvious one but no less fitting, while the references to Maleficent’s fairy background, with wings and horns incorporated into the dress, is a clever nod to her lore.

When placed on the stand, you can turn the dresses on the spot to appreciate every angle – and you’ll want to, with all of the Disney-accurate details included throughout.

Minifigures who?

While minifigures tend to be preferred by older LEGO fans, in this case of a display-centric set, the mini-dolls hold their own. The greater detail allowed in the printing on the faces, as well as the longer bodies more in keeping with the style of the dresses, means these mini-dolls look more at home in 43262 Maleficent’s and Cruella De Vil’s Dresses than minifigures would.

The capes also fall perfectly on the mini-dolls, wrapping around Maleficent to recreate her tattered gown, and sitting high on Cruella’s shoulders to represent her haughty demeanour. With LEGO Wicked and Wednesday last year, mini-dolls are becoming more commonplace in LEGO sets outside of Friends and Disney Princesses – and we’re not mad about it.

And they’re practical too

A large amount of the build time is spent on the base, which would be frustrating if it wasn’t so darn nifty. 43262 Maleficent’s and Cruella De Vil’s Dresses is likely going to be most popular among younger builders but the designers appear to have kept parents in mind with an easy way to tuck the mini dolls away when play time is over.

Each villain has its own dedicated space, complete with a printed face plaque, to spend the night with their accessories and their pets. The smooth hinges mean the hideaway sections click easily into place and, whether tucked away or on display, the entire base feels very secure.

The same can be said about the thin stands you place the dresses on. No matter how many times you switch which dress is on the base, the skirts don’t slip off and the rods stay together. It’s some impressively sturdy building, which will be reassuring for parents buying for a younger fan who might want to be swapping dresses out all day long.

At £59.99 / $69.99 / €69.99, it’s not the cheapest child-focused set out there and you can see the Disney tax at play. Admittedly there are two dresses included and the details are nice but, when geared towards younger builders, we’re left wondering how many of the aesthetic details might get glossed over. Undoubtedly a pretty set, it feels like a high cost when you take into account the limited play options.

Honest opinion: The contrasting colours and creative building techniques across the two dresses in 43262 Maleficent’s and Cruella De Vil’s Dresses make for a fun set to both build and look at.

This set was provided for review by the LEGO Group.

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