And Then There Was a Fantasy Gown

A fantasy gown design for the Dames and Dandies printable paper doll series from Paperthinpersonas.com. Free to print in color or black and white.

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It’s hard to know with what paper doll dress to start a new paper doll series. It’s full of both excitement and worry. I decided to make the first outfit in the series a classic fantasy gown design. It’s actually the first gown I drew for the new series after I had the dolls finished, so I suppose it is a fitting place to begin. 

I picked a rich dark blue as the primary color scheme for the gown with red and ocher. It should come as no surprise that her accessory is a book. I do love drawing books for my paper dolls. It’s the librarian in me. The garters are very decorative and I don’t know how practical they would be, but they do look nice. 

Inspiration wise, the fantasy gown design owes a little to the 12th century dresses like the bliaut, but there wasn’t a specific gown I based today’s dress off of. If you’re not sure what a bliaut is, than picture the stereotypical medieval dress and you’re pretty much there. Historical bliaut’s were more loose and less fitted. 

 Today’s design probably owes more to Victorian interpretations of the bliaut like the one in The Lady of Shallot by Waterhouse or The Accolade by Edmund Leighton than actual 12th century bliauts. It’s astonishing to me, sometimes, how much the visions of the medieval era are shaped by the romantic paintings of the Victorians (and, to be technical, the Edwardians as Waterhouse was later.)

Meanwhile, I’ve got an alternative color scheme for today’s gown over on the Patreon page for my patrons to check out. Join if you’d like to support the blog! 

As always, I would love to hear what you think in a comment. 

Need a Doll to wear today’s outfit? All the A Pose Dolls & Clothing

Meet Alice: The First of the New Printable Paper Doll Series

A blond paper doll with three pairs of shoes. Free to print from paperthinpersonas.com.

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Happy New Year!

This is the first post of the new series, Dames and Dandies. I really should be calling it the only paper doll series, but we’ll stick with new paper doll series for now.

There will be three poses for these printable paper dolls. This is the A Pose. There will also be a B Pose. And a guy paper doll pose called the C pose. Right now, we’re starting with the A pose. Wednesday and Friday, I will be posting clothing for the A pose and then next Monday I’ll post the first doll in the B pose series.

C pose guy paper dolls will post the week after that. Nice and alphabetical, you know? Also right now, I have more guy content than either the A or the B pose ladies. Weird… that has never happened before in my paper dolling life.

This is Alice. She is the first of the A pose dolls and this is the first version of Alice. Other Alice versions will, I suspect, follow. In fact, I already have a few in process so… not only do I suspect it, I know it to be true.

While I would love to switch to a daily updating schedule, I just don’t think there’s really very sensible with my graduate school classes starting up again in a few days. So, right now, the blog will update Monday, Wednesday and Fridays.

And so, it begins… 🙂

Feel free to ask me any burning questions you may have or even just non-burning ones. The truth is that I might not have an answer yet, but I do want to hear everyone’s thoughts and concerns.

Need a clothing for today’s paper doll? All the A Pose Dolls & Clothing

The Last Collaborative Paper Doll Post for 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:Clothing for the Temp I prefer.
A printable paper doll coloring page from paperthinpersonas.com.
I can’t believe this is the last paper doll post of 2017 and the last of the collaborative paper doll I created with Boots of Popculture Looking Land, Julie of Paper Doll School,  and Miss Missy of Miss. Missy’s Paper Dolls. What a fun project it has been!

We are planning to continue in 2018, so fear not! I know I’ve had several people tell me how much they have enjoyed this little project and we’ve all enjoyed it too. Well, I hope everyone has. I have and that should be something.

For December, the theme was to draw clothing from the temperature/weather that you most enjoy. Personally, I am a temperate loving gal. I prefer long pants and not having to wear a coat all the time.

So, that is what I created for today’s Paper Doll Collaboration 2017 post.

While I haven’t seen anyone eles’s contributions to the December paper doll theme, I thought I would share my favorites from everyone’s year. So, I picked one from each blog.

From Paper Doll School I have to give a huge shout out to her Mythological Creature paper doll outfit. She drew a centaur. A centaur! (I can not draw horses and am wicked jealous.)

Julie also deserves props for stepping up and creating the doll pose we all used.

From Popculture Looking Land, my favorite was probably her amazing paper doll version of Cihuateotl for our Halloween Vampire themed edition. Those skulls! Those feet! That truly creepy Aztec Goddess.

From Miss. Missy’s Paper Dolls, I loved the set she created when we did the theme, last month, of personal heros. Her artistic inspirations were highlighted in a wonderful set of paper dolls. Plus, who doesn’t love a little Salior Moon in their paper dolls?

To see this month’s paper doll outfits, and all of those from this year, head over to Paper Doll School, Miss. Missy’s Paper Dolls and Popculture Looking Land.

A big thank you to Julie, Boots and Missy for making this such a wonderful project in 2017. Looking forward, my friends, to 2018!

Clothing Previews for Dames and Dandies

Top: Sketchbook penciled pages. Bottom: Cleaned up line-work.

Today, we have some clothing previews. I’m actually pretty far along at this point (thank goodness) or I would be having a panic attack at the moment.

I’ve been working on layouts for everything and getting the first few weeks of January scheduled.

So, it’s a short update for today!

The Poppets’ Purple Princess Dress & Headdress

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Burgundian Gowns,
Sorta Kinda
A purple princess paper doll dress with matching headdress from paperthinpersonas.com.

A purple princess paper doll dress with matching headdress from paperthinpersonas.com.

I’m a sucker for an over the top princess dress. Always have. Always will be. One of my favorite sticker paper dolls when I was a kid was called Storybook Princess.

You can still get it from Dover, should you like.

I bought it more than once and played with it for hours before the stickers would wear out and I would have to buy a new one.

My other favorite was a cat sticker paper doll that had outfits for each season. I don’t think they make it anymore.

I digress.

So, the whole idea with today’s princess paper doll dress was to have fun and draw something that I imagined a little girl would love.

The basic silhouette of the dress and the headdress are both Burgundian, but really… there’s nothing historically accurate in either. Last year, I did a snowflake Burgundian inspired fantasy Poppet gown which could definitely go with this one.

For my Patrons, there’s an different color scheme of today’s dress. Join if you’d like to see it and/or support the blog.

Need a paper doll to wear today’s outfit? Pick a Poppet Paper Doll Here.

Ms. Mannequin’s Winter Princess Gown with Boots

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Snow, Snowflakes,
the Usual

A winter princess gown trimmed in fur with matching boots.

I have been so wrapped up working on new things that I almost forgot to get this post done. It was rather embarrassing.

Anyway, here is a fantasy set for the Ms. Mannequin series celebrating the winter time. The boots are trimmed in fur and the dress is decorated with a snowflake motif. Just for my readers who tell me that not every dress has to be worn with heels, I made these flat soled boots.

I went back and forth on colors. Once I realized it was going to be posted on Christmas Day, I sort of felt bad that I didn’t think to color the dress in greens and reds. Oh well… I’ve not been very on the ball with my holiday themes anyway.

Merry Christmas to anyone who is celebrating.

And for those who aren’t, like me, I hope you enjoy your day.

If you’d like to give the blog a Christmas present, than think about becoming a patron. 

Need a paper doll to wear today’s outfit? Pick out a Ms. Mannequin Paper Doll Here

Winter and Spring Sorceress Paper Doll Dresses

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:Vintage Santa Claus Illustrations and Layers

A fantasy paper doll gown inspired by the renaissance with stockings and shoes.

After I finished my Autumn sorceress gown, I began working on designs for a winter version. I knew I wanted fur and heavier looking fabric. After a few drafts (and with some inspiration from old illustrations of St. Nick), I came up with this design. I wanted it to feel lavish, but also warm.

Like the other dresses in the Sorceress Gowns Project colors really mattered. Initially, I wanted to make her fur trimmed coat red, but that felt a little to Father Christmas for me. So, instead I chose colors that reminded me of my visit to Alaska in November. Blues and greys that evoked the cool peacefulness of a winter day.

I wanted some big statement jewelry for her to really stand out against the turtle neck of her dress. So, I had fun designing that big gold bib necklace.

For her magical staff, I wanted snowflakes and the north star. I also added a ski poll like pointy bottom for hiking through the snow and being safe while doing so. I couldn’t decide between gold and silver for the colors of the staff, so I used both.

Her boots are fur trimmed. The soles are meant to reflect ice skates.

I also had a lot of debate about what color to make her stand. I almost made it white, but then I felt like it looked “unfinished” somehow, so blue won.

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:Crocuses and Melting Snow

A fantasy paper doll gown inspired by the renaissance with stockings and shoes.

When I think of spring I think of crocuses. Perhaps, because I grew up in a snowy place. I think of their little flower heads poking out through the melting snow, seeking light and warmth. So, when I set out to draw a Spring inspired Sorceress gown, I knew crocuses were going to be featured.

Beyond the crocus, I knew I wanted drape and layers. I wanted something that was soft and warm, the way I think of spring sun as being soft and warm.

The pattern on the dress is meant to invoke the melting snow. The white dripping down and off the grass and the slow emergence of color again. I love winter. I love the stillness and the peacefulness, but spring is a time of transformation.

Color wise, I returned to the crocus. I wanted greens and purples and rich yellow. I wanted things that were soft and sweet, but also vibrant. Spring is not peaceful to me (unlike winter).

Her corset features a crocus, of course, and so does her staff.

So, today’s two Sorceress Gowns Project paper doll dresses were about two very different seasons. I am deeply proud of both gowns, though there is a lot of diversity in them.

What do you think of today’s gowns? Do you have a favorite? Let me know in a comment.

Need to get a Bodacious & Buxom paper doll to wear these fabulous clothes? Pick one out here.

Meet the Dames in Dames and Dandies

So, I’ve been coloring paper dolls like a mad woman all week, super enjoying myself.

Here is the first set of girl paper dolls.

Top: (L to R) Alice and Akiko. Bottom: (L to R) Benedita and Beatrix

The top two dolls are in the A pose. The doll on the left is Alice and the doll on the right is Akiko.

The bottom two dolls are in the B pose. The doll on the left is Benedita and the doll on the right is Beatrix. These girls are still in progress, obviously. I need to color Beatrix and finish coloring Benedita.

Each doll’s face will be used regularly and I’ll note each new style of doll with the term “version” so these are all version 1. The dolls won’t always come with just shoes, but these first ones will in order to establish and certain number of shoes seemed logical. I want to later do themed dolls with at themed outfit, like this Min-Seo punk doll, for example.

There will be guys as well, of course. They will be in the C pose and will all have C names. I am still working on them. Like often happens, the ladies took priority.

So, what do you think? Do you have a favorite already?

The Poppets Paper Dolls Get 1927 Dresses for School and Parties

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Montgomery Ward Fashions of the Twenties
A printable 1927 paper doll dress with matching hat from paperthinpersonas.com. The dress is a "school dress" with a blouse and matching pleated skirt. The hat is a cloche with contrast trim.

printable 1927 paper doll dress with matching hat from paperthinpersonas.com. The dress is a "school dress" with a blouse and matching pleated skirt. The hat is a cloche with contrast trim to color.

Today I am doing something special and posting two Poppet’s dresses- a school dress and a party dress from 1927. First up, the school dress.

When I was a kid, I loved the idea of a school dress. Despite my mother’s horror stories of wearing patent leather shoes to school, I imagined the idea of having a school dress as something very romantic and old fashioned.

Despite realizing that there’s nothing magical about having special dresses for different activities, I still love the concept.

As anyone who has been following this blog for any length of time has probably figured out, I love the idea of changing clothes several times a day for different events.

I do realize in reality, this would be a total pain in the butt, but hey, it’s a neat idea.

So, I knew I wanted to find a school dress for the Poppets for their 1920’s children’s wardrobe collection. This choice is from the Montgomery Ward catalog of 1927.

The pleated skirt makes me think school dress even though there’s no other reason to associate it with such.

I picked out the hat, because I thought the detailing was similar to the dresses piping details. The dress and the hat both come from Montgomery Ward Fashions of the Twenties. I don’t highly reommend this book, unless you already have a lot of 1920s books. It’s just from 1927, so it doesn’t really give you the range of years that some other books do.

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Montgomery Ward Fashions of the Twenties

A printable paper doll party dress from 1927. The dress is trimmed in ribbons and roses.

A printable paper doll party dress from 1927. The dress is trimmed in ribbons and roses.

When I was going through the Poppet’s 1920s Children’s Wardrobe Collection, I noticed that they didn’t have a party dress. I poured through the different books I have until I found this one in the book Montgomery Ward Fashions of the Twenties.

Something about this dress made me think of spring time, even though outside the weather is chilly and there was even snow a few weeks ago. Snow in Alabama is a big deal. Everyone buys milk and eggs. Even I buy milk and eggs and I don’t even like milk or eggs very much.

I digress.

The point is that I decided to color this dress pale green, because I thought it seemed like a summery dress. The ruched waistline was tough to draw and I am not sure I was entirely successful. I really had fun drawing the ruffles.

I like drawing ruffles.

Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing some clothing probably? I mean, I haven’t really decided yet what to share about the new series. So, I should get on that. 🙂 Friday will be B&B Sorceress gowns.

Need a paper doll to wear today’s outfit? Pick a Poppet Paper Doll Here.

The Sleeves Trend in Paper Doll Form

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Trendy Tropical Clothing

Trendy paper doll clothing to print for free for the Ms. Mannequinn paper dolls. A sweater, a pair of pants, and a floral blouse, plus a matching purse.

Some super trendy paper doll clothing coloring today! Sleeve details and floral prints for paper dolls. Free to print from paperthinpersonas.com.

The trend for this winter is sleeve detail. As I write this, I am wearing a flared sleeve sweater and that was a tame version of some of the things I have seen out there. I couldn’t imagine not creating some trendy sleeved tops for the Ms. Mannequins and here they are.

The sweater is pretty close to what I am actually wearing today (though mine is a tunic and has a lace up neckline, so maybe… not that close?). Anyway… I’ve certainly seen sweaters like the one I’ve drawn for them. The blouse is floral (also a trend) and has ruffle details on the sleeves. I tried on a blouse like that recently and I did not look good in it, but part of the joy of paper dolls is that they do not sure our own insecurities about their arms.

Nor do they worry they will get the ruffle cuff in their soup when they try to eat it. Life maybe, I confess, easier if you are a paper doll.

On the flip side, I suspect paper dolls have phobic feelings about puddles and being accidentally ripped in half.

So, perhaps paper doll life would be more wrought with terror than I thought.

Meanwhile, what do you think of today’s paper doll outfits? Would you wear crazy sleeves? Do you wear crazy sleeves?

Wednesday, there will be the last two 1920s dresses for the Poppets. Forever. (It sounds so dire when I put it that way.)

Need a paper doll to wear today’s outfit? Pick out a Ms. Mannequin Paper Doll Here