Happy Halloween: Here’s a Little Gothic Fashionista

Download Black and White PDF | Download Color PDF | More Paper Dolls from the Ensemble Eclectica Series

I created today’s gothic themed paper doll for Halloween. So, I hope you enjoy this little paper Halloween dress up doll. Clearly, I’ve been digging into drawing skulls which I did here. One of the wonderful things about digital drawing is that it is so easy to work with reference images and you can resize them with much more ease, so the skulls are a big part of that.

One thing I’ve noticed about most alt fashion scenes is that there are endless nuances. It seems to me that there’s often “formal” alt-fashion and then also sort of street level alt-fashion. Things people wear and then also go onto the train, rather than just get photographed posing beautifully next to a headstone.

Last week’s three Ensemble Eclectica: Gothic Glamor Collection paper dolls were all more over the top and this paper doll is more street level fashion. While I know very little about where someone buys gothic fashion, The brand Fantasmagoria inspired both the paper doll’s cropped red corset top and also her hairstyle. The brand Heavy Red inspired the corset over the t-shirt look

Anyway, I hope everyone enjoys this little foray into paper dolls and has a safe, happy, slightly spooky Halloween! Or Samhain or Día de Muertos or anything else that’s happening around this time of year.

Vintage Vamp: Gothic Fashion with Retro Flair Paper Doll

Download Black and White PDF | Download Color PDF | More Paper Dolls from the Ensemble Eclectica Series

Today’s creation is a retro gothic fashion printable paper doll with a mix and match wardrobe. Her purple hair is rolled up in some slightly over the top victory rolls. Her wardrobe is a little more colorful than a lot of the other gothic paper dolls I created. I really wanted to expand to other colors that I tend to fall into with gothic clothing. Plus, I can only draw so much black clothing before I get bored.

All of the Ensemble Eclectica: Gothic Glamor Collection clothing works together, as do all of the dolls. You could easily borrow the short skirt from Haunting Couture and pair it with today’s lavender top or grab one of the tops from Dark Demigoddess and match it with the skirts in this set.

Vampira is one iconic figure who seamlessly embodies the ways in which gothic fashion is always a little retro. Vampira, famously portrayed by Maila Nurmi in the 1950s, epitomized the dark allure of gothic aesthetics with her dramatic black gowns, cinched waistlines, and bold makeup. Her macabre elegance and haunting glamour had a absurdist humor edge. There’s a wink and a nod going on, always. I only recently learned about Vampira, because the Addams family movies of the 1990s are what I grew up on.

Morticia who inspired Vampira which in turn inspired Elvira are all the reigning ladies of gothic for me. Of course, Mortica is ruling queen. I’m fascinated by the ways different eras interpret her distinct black gown. As you may have noticed, the first three of the Gothic Glamor Collection‘s contain a lot of mermaid skirt silhouettes all owing something to Morticia Addams.

Next Tuesday’s addition is a little different, so stay tuned for that one.

Haunting Couture: A Foray into Gothic Fashion

Download Black and White PDF | Download Color PDF | More Paper Dolls from the Ensemble Eclectica Series

Today’s paper doll with her gothic wardrobe was inspired by a lot of different things from my my gothic fashion pinterest board, including this corset, this top and this dress. I really wanted to do a take on Morticia Addam’s famous dress, but I added a bit of a puff sleeve, as those are very popular right now. Of course, Morticia Addams is timeless, but I didn’t want to copy the gown in all the details, in part, because I don’t love the bottom of the skirt. It reminds me a little too much of tentacles (true to the comic, but still.)

(Speaking of Morticia Addams, Julie Matthew’s did a nice write up about her paper doll of Morticia Addams.)

Lastly, I wanted to make a gothic baby doll dress which was 65% just a chance to play around with lace and a new procreate brush set. My first plan was to do see through lace sleeves, but then I couldn’t seem to get a version of that which I liked, so I ended up abandoning that idea. I did keep the lace around the neckline with the openings for some detail.

I can’t claim that I meticulously assembled my gothic wardrobe paper doll, because really this was not that organized (am I ever that organized?). I do think of all the pieces of the Ensemble Eclectica: Gothic Glamor Collection as sort of. mixing and matching together. I think the ruffled skirt from Dark Demigoddess, for example, would go well with any of the tops in this collection.

Anyway, stay tuned for more gothic paper doll fun Friday and Tuesday of next week.

A Stylish Paper Doll July: A Strawberry Lolita Dress

A strawberry themed dress with tights and a purse. A paper doll coloring page.

Download Black and White PDF | More July Project Paper Dolls

So, when I did my strawberry doll I somehow got in my head that I wanted to draw a strawberry coordinate in the Japanese street fashion of Lolita. I really love how detailed these styles can get and it was great practice for working on my linework in Procreate. I got a new tablet recently. It’s bigger (which is amazing), but it is also much more sensitive. I am having to learn how to use the stabilization features a little more.

Anyway, this was a challenge for me, but I am happy with how it came out and, as I always do with Lolita fashion, I had lots of fun coming up with ways to include strawberries. I wish I’d gone a little further with the pattern on the dress, but I am still not very confident with patterns in Procreate.

Post-Apocalyptic Fashion With Dawn

A black and white printable paper doll with seven clothing pieces based on post-apocalyptic fashion.
A printable post-apocalyptic paper doll with a mix and match wardrove of seven different clothing pieces. The doll has many tattoos.

Download Black and White PDF | Download Color PDF | More Dolls Du Jour Paper Dolls

At the height of the pandemic, I just couldn’t draw post-apocalyptic fashion. It felt somehow too much.

But now that things are starting to feel “normalish” again, I decided I could maybe slip back into that genre for a little paper doll set for the Dolls Du Jour. So, here’s Dawn and her post-apocalyptic fashions.

Also, is post-apocalyptic an oxymoron? Isn’t there not supposed to be anything left after an apocalypses by definition? That maybe overly pedantic.

Let’s move on.

The styles were inspired by my Post-Apocalyptic Fashion pinterest board which is, in turn, inspired by things like Mad Max and Tank Girl and Fall Out (even though I’ve never played Fall Out.)

I need to get to work on the OPDAG prompt for plaids. I am not much of a plaid drawing person, but I have an idea of how I might be able to make plaid work. Julie Matthews has a plaids in photoshop tutorial.

For those keeping count (which I am 95% sure is just me), this is Dolls Du Jour paper doll number seven. Three to go before I hit my 2022 goal.

A Little Slide into Punk Fashion with Pearl

Download Black and White PDF | Download Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones 2.0

Last week, we did Gothic fashions, so for this week, we’ve got some more alt fashion adventures with some punk looks for Pearl. As I know I’ve mentioned before, both my Cousin and my best friend in High School were super into the early 2000s punk look. Looking back, I wish I had the nerve to dress in the style, because I always really liked it, but I never wanted to call much attention to myself.

Anyhow, as is my habit occasionally, this paper doll and some of her clothing comes from here, I am slowly expanding and occasionally reinterpreting my early Jewels and Gemstones into the new format this year.

Meanwhile, there’s a few things to look forward to- I’ve got some evening gowns and some fantasy stuff and some historical stuff all coming down the road soon. Meanwhile, I hope everyone is safe and warm, as the weather turns colder.

Ruby, A Steampunk Fashion Paper Doll in Stripes

A printable steampunk fashion paper doll coloring page and a 13 piece mix and match wardrobe with over 30 outfit combinations
A printable steampunk fashion paper doll with dark hair and a 13 piece mix and match wardrobe with over 30 outfit combinations

Download Black and White PDF | Download Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones 2.0

Back in March I did a steampunk fashion paper doll set. This feels like a lifetime ago when I thought the pandemic would be over by now and I would be once again frolicking through life mask-free. This clearly hasn’t happened, but you know, back in March I was living the dream. I digress.

So, this set is made up from some things I did a few years ago, few new items and some Patreon things. I did a second color scheme just for my patrons, but you don’t need to pay for Patreon to see it. Just set up an account and you can view them.

Like all my steampunk fashion paper dolls, I try to design sets where there is some mix and match options making it a little micro-wardrobe and I think that really worked in this set in ways I am quite proud of. This isn’t my most Halloween paper doll ever, but stay tuned. I do have one ready for later this month.

Want to know more about my paper dolls and get a free paper doll? Subscribe to my Newsletter!

Want to support the blog and access to more paper doll every month? Join us on Patreon!

Diamond Exploring the Nautical Cuteness of Sailor Lolita Fashions

Download Black and White PDF | Download Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones 2.0

Lolita fashion is a Japanese alternative fashion style that is based on Victorian children’s clothing and all things cute. Let me be clear- if you know anything about actual Victorian clothing, this is not Victorian clothing. It’s Victorian clothing taken to the absolute extreme of ruffles and matching and theme. Like anything in this world, there’s a lot of sub-genre’s of Lolita fashion.

Sailor Lolita, one of the many genres of this style, emphasizes pleats, sailor collars, and all things nautical. If you want to see more of this style, I have a Pinterest section for Military and Sailor Lolita Fashion. While I love a lot of different Lolita styles, the thing them I find most interesting is that (despite the name) it is a hyper-feminine style without being sexualized- necklines tend to be high, skirts are at least knee length, shoes are often without heels.

One thing I find interesting is that elements of Lolita fashion has become more mainstream as the cottagecore trend seems to be flourishing at the moment. I’ll be curious to see how these hyper-feminine styles evolve over time and if they stick around after the trauma of the pandemic. Cultural upheaval often seems to bring about a flourishing of feminine clothing styles- the Great Depression, the Aftermath of World War 2… etc.

Anyhow, this isn’t the first time I’ve done Lolita fashion for Jewels and Gemstones 2.0 paper dolls, I did a Gothic Lolita foray back in 2020. To fill out my themes, there are several other Lolita sub-genres I should explore like sweet, wa, qi, and classic. However, for the moment, here’s nautical. (And yes, some of these pieces came from a Jewels and Gemstones 1.0 set.)

Want a free paper doll coloring page in every issue? Subscribe to my Occasional Newsletter!

Want to support the blog and access to more paper dolls every month? Join us on Patreon!

Paper Doll Fashions of the Cyberpunk Future

A black and white cyberpunk paper doll coloring page featuring a black doll and her mix and match wardrobe of scifi fashions.

Download Black and White PDF | Download Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones 2.0

A cyberpunk paper doll coloring page featuring a black doll and her mix and match wardrobe of scifi fashions.

Download Black and White PDF | Download Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones 2.0

Today’s cyberpunk paper doll is a combination of some Jewels and Gemstones 1.0 content and some new content that I created to fill out the set. When I design a mix and match paper doll set I think a lot about layers. With four bottoms, three tops and two pairs of shoes, you’re getting 24 outfit combos out of nine pieces. However, I’m not 100% sure how well the black boots will layer under the skinnier pants, so I might feel more comfortable calling it 21 combinations. (I have a whole post here about how I do outfit combo math.)

Funny fact, that post is actually one of my most popular, because apparently people need help calculating clothing combinations? I don’t 100% get it, but whatever. A little algebra never hurt anyone and my middle school algebra teacher is no doubt very proud.

Want to know more about my paper dolls? Subscribe to my Very Occasional Newsletter!

Want to support the blog and access to more paper dolls every month? Join us on Patreon!

Lapis: A Cybergoth Paper Doll & Her Clothing

Cybergothic fashion is described by being a mixture of punk, industrial and futuristic fashion. I am fascinated by various types of alt fashion. My love of alt fashion is probably obvious if you spend much time around here.

My other cybergoth paper doll was my first foray into this style. She has the dubious honor of being the of the few paper dolls got me an angry email from a reader. Don’t worry- I didn’t take it personally. Last year, I did a whole Cybergoth Week, so I selected my favorite pieces from that series to use in this collection for Jewels and Gemstones 2.0.

A printable paper doll coloring page celebrating cybergoth fashion. The paper doll has 13 mix and match clothing pieces.

Download Black and White PDF | Download Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones 2.0

Cybergoth fashion is not as popular now as I think it was 20 years ago, however, as a child of the 90s, I still feel a kinship with it. If want to know more about the style Wikipedia’s Article on Cybergoth is pretty good. Cyberdog (clothing brand), Lip Service (clothing brand), Cryoflesh (clothing brand), F*** Yeah Cyberlox (Tumblr site devoted to Cyberlox) & Cyber Goth (Another Tumblr, sort of NSFW) are all sources for todays paper doll.

Specifically, these Lovely Ladies (one in the center), this Fierce Fashionista (her body suit), these Pants, these pants from Rebels Market. Unlike some of my other sets, I chose not to recolor this set much, because I noticed these were the colors most common in cybergoth fashion.

A printable cybergoth paper doll with clothing. The paper doll has 13 mix and match clothing pieces.

Download Black and White PDF | Download Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones 2.0

I am trying to share these Jewels and Gemstones 1.0 reboot paper dolls mostly on Fridays, but lord knows if I’ll be consistent. If you want totally new content on Fridays, join us on Patreon.

And speaking of Patreon, a huge thank you to my patrons who voted for this theme last year. Your support makes all the difference. And you can always print the Jewels and Gemstones 1.0 pieces at 80% if you want them to fit these new 2.0 versions.

Lastly, cybergoth, what do you think? Too much? Okay, but not your taste? Super cool? Let me know in a comment! I love hearing from you.

A link to the exclusive Friday paper doll content on Patreon