So, I am traveling and it’s the end of my grad work semester, so I am giving myself the week off. I shall return on May 7th.
Best,
– Rachel
Paper Doll Collaboration April 2018 Favorite Flower- The Tulip
The April theme for the Paper Doll Collaboration was to draw a dress or outfit based on our favorite flowers. My favorite flower is hard to pick out, because I love so many. I love peonies, gerber daisies and tulips. I chose the tulip for this dress.
Stylistically, this dress is based on the 1960s little swing dress. To really complete the look, I drew the paper doll some 1960s hair.
For more of the paper doll collaboration, check out Paper Doll School and Miss Missy Paper Dolls for more paper doll content. I can’t wait to see what other folks have done with this wonderful fun theme.
Need a paper doll to wear these clothes? Grab her and more clothing here.
A Fantasy Warrior’s Pulpy Armor for The A Pose Paper Dolls
For this armor, I wanted a thematic shape that could hold the whole design together and I chose this very simplified paisley/leaf motif that you’ll see on the belts on her trousers and in the pummels of the weapons. Once I had that shape, I tried to add color and create something that felt like it could be from one of the old Prince Valiant comics. I confess that I ended up thinking there was something a little East Asian in the whole design, but I can’t really explain why it feels that way to me. It certainly wasn’t my intention when I started.
Few things I should mention, I am traveling over the weekend and my life is about a crazy as it can be right now. I am really trying to avoid putting the blog on haitus as I work through the end of the semester and some major work things. So, wish me luck as I juggle flaming swords and/or herd my ducks into a corral. (My ducks are never in rows, but on good days I get them corralled.)
Meanwhile, support the blog through Patreon if you enjoy it.
And I am curious, should I draw some full plate armor for my lady and gent paper dolls? Let me know what you think in a comment.
Need a doll to wear today’s paper doll clothing? All the A Pose Dolls & Clothing
And Now… A Paper Doll Outfit Inspired By Robin Hood For the Guys
So, I saw this image on Pinterest and I thought “Robin Hood” and then I decided to draw it.
Nothing more complex than that I’m afraid.
I usually try not to copy things as closely as I did on this one, but I just really loved the tunic design. I changed the colors to green (though there’s a blue version on my Patreon page for Patrons).
That’s really all I got. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think. I always love hearing from you guys.
Need a a Doll to wear today’s clothing? All the C Pose Dolls & Clothing
1940s Week: The 1940s Summer Paper Doll Dresses from Vintage Sewing Patterns
Laura Jay asked: Where do you get your inspiration?
Well, Laura, that’s a short answer to that and a long answer. The short answer is: Everywhere, but mostly Pinterest.
The Long Answer is: I believe inspiration is a myth. We become inspired by doing. Don’t know what to draw? Just start drawing. Don’t know what to cook? Just start cooking. The word ‘inspiration’ conjours images of fairies who come and provide the perfect idea.
There is no perfect idea.
Take today’s 1940s paper doll dresses. The sources were Simplicity 1628, McCall 4280, and a hat and purse from The Met. But those weren’t what inspired me in the first place.
What inspired me in the first place was that I drew the straw hat, because I was looking for 1940s hats and I thought it was super cute. But I didn’t think it went well with Wednesday’s dark eggplant dress, by the time it was done. So, I decided to draw a pair of summery dresses to go with the straw hat. That meant pouring through the Vintage Pattern Wiki until I found two dresses I liked- McCall 4280 came first and then Simplicity 1628.
Once they were done, I realized I needed a purse or something and I went looking for a 1940s purse that felt summery. I was completely unsuccessful and on a deadline, so I used this purse and made it white. I still think that was cheating a little. I store all the things I see on Pinterest boards, like my 1940s fashion one.
I’m not sure I did a very good job answering your question, but I hope I gave some insight in how my brain works when I’m putting together a set. Meanwhile, don’t forget that on Monday there was a 1940s paper doll to go with today’s 1940 dresses and Wednesday there were two other dress options.
Meanwhile, let me know what you think of today’s dresses in a comment whenever you have a moment and if you’d like to ask me a question, please do!
Need a doll for today’s paper doll clothing? All the B Pose Dolls & Clothing, but I would recommend the 1940s Beatrix if you want period underwear to match the era of these dresses.
1940s Week: The Winter Dresses for the B Pose Paper Dolls
This whole week of 1940s fashion would not have happened if it weren’t for the suit on the left from LACMA. Seriously, I feel in love with that suit and then I was like, Welp, I guess I’m going to draw a paper doll with 1940s underwear and things… they spiraled from there.
You can see the suit in photos here and it was designed by Gilbert Adrian. Who was Gilbert Adrian? Well, it was one of the names used by Adrian Adolph Greenberg, a costume designing legend of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Even if you’ve never heard the name Adrian, you have seen his work. He designed costumes for The Wizard of Oz,the 1938 Marie Antoinette and over 250 other films. During the 1940s, he began a commercial fashion line from which I assume this suit is related, based on the date.
Now, the dress on the right shouldn’t be neglected, just because it’s not from a famous designer. It’s from the McCall sewing pattern company, McCall 6533 to be specific. I liked how contemporary it felt, despite being from the 1940s. I am regretting that I didn’t draw a matching hat to go with it. Clearly, I need to do more 1940s clothing to fix that act of neglect.
The purse is a bit of a mystery to me. I noted the date 1940s next to it and usually I also write down the source, but I guess I didn’t. I’ve been through my 1940s Fashion Pinterest Board, where I try to keep these things, several times with no luck. I’m sure there was a source and I am going to leave things at that.
I tried to capture the strong shoulder of the 1940s with both these pieces, though I’m not entirely sure I was successful. The 1940s is much like the 1980s in that the shoulders are broad. If you missed it, on Monday, there was a 1940s version of Beatrix. Friday there will be summery 1940s dresses to round out the set.
Meanwhile, let me know what you think about today’s 1940s dresses in a comment. I’d love to hear from you.
Need a doll for today’s paper doll clothing? All the B Pose Dolls & Clothing, but I would recommend the 1940s Beatrix if you want period underwear to match the era of these dresses.
Introducing 1940s Week: Beatrix, Her 1940s Underwear and Shoes
When I asked last week what people wanted to know more about, a lot of folks here and on the Patreon page said inspirations and sources. So, let’s start with Beatrix, her Hollywood inspired hair and 1940s underwear. I own several books on historical hair, but none of them discuss black hair styles. In fact, I don’t know of one that does (does anyone know of one?)
So, I went to look for the hairstyles of Hollywood black actresses of the time, as Hollywood was a leader in fashion during this era. I settled on this image of Theresa Harris. The still is from the 1948 thriller, “The Velvet Touch.” I don’t know much about Harris, except what I read on her Wikipedia page. She sounds like a strong interesting woman.
The paper doll’s 1940s underwear is based on a set sold from Sears in 1947. I used the Dover book, Everyday Fashions of the Forties As Pictured in Sears Catalogs. I chose this underwear to draw because I could draw the paper doll pants, someday. Most girdles I saw would not have made pants very viable and pants were finally coming into their own in the 1940s.
The paper doll’s shoes are all from various museums. She is wearing this pair from Gucci at The Met. And from top to bottom, she has a pair from 1942 from the V&A, a pair from the 1940s also from the V&A and a pair from 1942 from The Met. I tried to chose shoes that were interesting, but also typical from the period. You can see a bunch more shoes from my 1940s Fashion on Pinterest.
Any further questions? Let me know in a comment. I always like hearing from you guys.
Need a clothing for today’s paper doll? All the B Pose Dolls & Clothing.
Playing Around with Pantones Colors for Spring 2018
I love color. This should shock no one. One of my favorite things is looking at Pantones color reports each season to see what they’ve predicted for the coming season. The Spring 2018 color report had some really lovely colors in it. Ultra-violet is the Pantone 2018 color of the year. Since I love purple, I’m perfectly content with this choice. I’m not sure I buy all of Pantone’s hype about the color, but I think it’s pretty.
So, I used the Ulta-Violet color in every piece, except the pants (which I made one of Pantones suggested ‘classic’ colors) and the purse which is a very pale petal sort of mauve color. It looks white, I know, but I swear it’s a light pink. Very light pink.
I tried to be trendy as I could in these pieces. I’ve been seeing a lot of fringe on handbags and a lot of abstract, but almost tropical feeling florals. The off the shoulder top is still in, I think? And sleeve detail is still very hot. I enjoy sleeve detail, but I always worry I’m going to accidentally put a bell sleeve into my soup.
There’s a non-Pantone inspired color scheme over on my Patreon page. You can check that out here (it’s open to everyone.)
So, I’ve been having trouble coming up with things to write in these blog posts lately (I dunno why). So, I am asking for help. If you have a question they have been wanting to ask, or a topic you’re curious about, write it the comments and I’ll answer it.
Of course, you’re also welcome to just comment about today’s paper doll or any of the paper dolls. I love to hear from y’all.
Need a doll to wear today’s paper doll clothing? All the A Pose Dolls & Clothing
A Fantasy Prince Paper Doll Outfit C Pose Paper Doll
In my head, the tunic is velvet over a silk shirt. I’m not sure what the pants are made of. Maybe something like really thin fine leather? Or perhaps a very nice soft wool? Silk wouldn’t stand up well to any sort of wear. Rather than my usual sword accessories, I decided a book was more fitting, though I’m sure he can borrow a weapon from here if he needs one.
There’s an alternative color scheme available for my Patrons over on my Patreon page. Join if you want. It’s a fun group and I try to post content there every week from my sketchbook or other sources.
Also, if you haven’t checked it out, I am doodling a dress every day and posting them to Instagram.
Need a a Doll to wear today’s clothing? All the C Pose Dolls & Clothing
An 18th Century Round Gown for the A Pose Paper Dolls
I also knew if I was going to go to all the trouble of drawing underwear and affixing that underwear in Photoshop and printing the doll again, I was darn well going to make more than 18th century paper doll gown to go over it. After all, if I only drew one dress than the return on paper doll underwear time investment would be fairly low.
So, when I drew Alice in her 18th century underthings I drew two dresses. The first was the classic very formal gown I shared several weeks ago. Today’s 18th century paper doll gown is a lot less complex and generally seen as less formal. Today’s 18th century paper doll gown is a round gown. Round gowns were gowns that fastened in the front and had no stomacher.
But don’t be fooled, a round gown could be plenty formal if made of a sufficiently expensive fabric. The gown this dress is based off of is from The Met and is made of green Chinese silk. It’s lovely. Under the gown, she wears a chemise. The other round gown inspiration was styled this way from the FIT Museum. (They call it a Robe à l’anglaise which technically it is, but it is also a round gown. Aren’t clothing terms confusing?)
The bonnet with the dress is based on this portrait and lots of examples from my costume history collection. The matching shoes were also inspired by the Met dress, because that gown also has shoes that were made to match.
One more quick thing, if you hope over and grab 18th Century Alice, because an 18th century doll down might need an 18th century looking paper doll, the hoops will not fit under this dress. Round gowns did not have the huge wide skirts that those hoops were designed to support. So, just bare that in mind. Also the bonnet is designed to fit over Alice’s hair, I don’t know how well if would fit over the hair of any of the other A Pose paper dolls.
Need a doll to wear today’s paper doll clothing? All the A Pose Dolls & Clothing, but I would recommend 18th Century Alice with her period underwear.