contemporary

Ms. Mannequin Printable Paper Dolls Get Fall Fashions 2016

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:  Fall Fashions 2016
Wide legged trousers, cold shoulder top and a brocade skirt are the latest Fall 2016 fashions. Here they are for the paper dolls in black and white or in full color. Print and play with them from paperthinpersonas.com.

Wide legged trousers, cold shoulder top and a brocade skirt are the latest Fall 2016 fashions. Here they are for the paper dolls in black and white or in full color. Print and play with them from paperthinpersonas.com.

Today’s post is a chance to go back to where the the Ms. Mannequin printable paper doll series began and once again embrace the original idea. Wide legged trousers, cold shoulder tops and a brocade skirt are all taken straight from my fashion magazine collection.

When I first started the Ms. Mannequin paper dolls, the idea as that they were models. Their pose and body build were both intended to evoke the idea of a contemporary fashion model. In fact, when I first posted them, I didn’t really intend for them to become a series. I figured I would post a few pages for them and move on.

But, as it turned out, the response to Ms. Mannequin paper dolls was very positive.

Plus, I found I enjoyed drawing contemporary fashion for them. Over time, that contemporary fashion has expanded into fantasy, history, cyberpunk and steampunk paper doll clothing.

I must confess I am curious through, what do you like more? Contemporary clothing or other stuff for the Ms. Mannequins? Let me know in a comment.

As I announced Wednesday, I now have an Etsy Store! So, there is a coupon code good for 25% off an order of 4.00 or more until the end of March. Visit the shop and use the code: READER2017

And, as always, if you love the blog, think about becoming a patron or liking the blog’s facebook page, or both.

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

Marisole Monday & Friends Printable Paper Dolls Get Cocktail Dresses

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Fashion Magazines and Cocktail Dresses
A pair of pastel paper doll cocktail dresses with some Victorian inspired lace up booties. Free to print from paperthinpersonas.com.

A pair of paper doll cocktail dresses with some Victorian inspired lace up booties. Free to print from paperthinpersonas.com.

I gotta confess this has been a wide ranging week for printable paper doll themes. We’ve gone from Monday aliens to Tuesday Little Bo Peep and now we’ve got some cocktail dresses. Well, it can never be said that I don’t have a lot of variety and diversity in my little paper doll populated corner of the interwebs.

I love fashion magazines. My favorites to draw from are People Style Watch and Instyle. Both of these magazines are pretty easy read and you can see the images of the clothing well. After all, I might not ever buy a 600 dollar blouse, but I like to see it clearly for drawing purposes. I have noticed I draw a lot less modern stuff now that I have the new format. Not really sure why that is, but there you go.

Anyway, this fall there was a whole pastel cocktail dresses for wintertime thing going in the fashion magazines I read. So, I wanted to create a pair of pastel winter paper doll cocktail dresses for holiday parties. Now, I realize it is February and most holiday parties are past, so maybe a Valentine’s Day date night option?

Yeah, I kinda missed the boat on when to post this pair of dresses, but that happens to me on occasion. No shame.

I am curious though. Do people miss modern paper doll clothing? Would you like to see more of that? Let me know in a comment.

I’m also super pleased to announce that there is now a Paper Thin Personas Etsy Store! You might have noticed the addition of the Shop tab at the top of the page a few days ago. I had fantasized about doing some big perfect announcement, but you know what? Done is better than perfect, so I am releasing the store into the wild today.

Just for my blog readers, there is a coupon code good for 25% off an order of 4.00 or more until the end of March. Visit the shop and use the code: READER2017

Plus, remember that becoming a patron has some great benefits and helps cover the blogs costs each month.

Need a Marisole Monday & Friends Lady Paper Doll to wear today’s outfit? Pick One Out Here. 

Ursula’s Modern Clothes: A Printable Paper Doll

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:  What I see College Girl’s wearing
A black paper doll with her dreads in an updo and cute contemporary clothing. Free to print in color or black and white from paperthinpersonas.com.

First off, my favorite thing about this Ursula paper doll is her hair. I love dreads and I particularly think they look cool when they are styled up into an updo.

Because the lady Sprites have much smaller stands then the guy sprites, I could fit two pairs of shoes onto this page with with Ursula. So, I did a pair of white shoes and a pair of black shoes. I figured that covered all the basic shoes a person might need.

All the Ursula dolls have the same skintone, so she had borrow some sandals from her mermaid version if she wants too. If there are more Ursula paper dolls (and there probably will be eventually), then you can pick out shoes from those dolls as well. Any of the shoes that don’t show skin tone, of course, will fit any of the Sprites ladies.

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Looking for something for today’s Sprite paper doll to wear? Pick out some clothing here.

Zachary: A Modern African-American Guy Paper Doll

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:  What I see College Guys Wearing, But With More Color
A casually dressed African-American guy paper doll with shorts, sandals and short hair. Part of the Sprites series, he can share clothing with of the other Sprites guys. Free to print in color or black and white.

Back when the Sprites started, I had planned to start with a lady paper doll as the first Sprite. However, I’d decided to name them in reverse alphabetical order. I find if I have a naming scheme it makes coming up with paper doll names easier.

So, I was stuck with starting with Z. There just aren’t that many names that start with Z, so I started with Zachary here instead of starting with Yumiko.

I’m sure you all really cared about this random piece of paper doll blog history.

Anyway, I do think there are advantages to contemporary dolls. I think they sort of act as basic options. There’s no colorful hair here, so this version of Zachary could be a mermaid or he could be going to the park or borrowing this nifty elf armor, The point is that he’s a bit more neutral than the two pervious Zachary versions I have created.

Tomorrow, there will be a contemporary fashion Ursula to join Zachary.

Meanwhile, if you want to support the blog on Patreon I would be mighty appreciative. If you are interested in the process of how I work, there’s a behind the scenes blog there.

Alternatively, you can follow the blog on facebook for blog updates, some random sketchbook photos (which my Patrons see first, I confess), fun historical fashion things I find, and picks from the Archives.

Looking for something for today’s Sprite paper doll to wear? Pick out some clothing here.

B&B Girls Get Some Cute Workout Clothes

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Cute Work Out Clothing and Sweating a Lot

The B&B paper dolls are hitting the gym in some cute paper doll workout clothing. They get a pair of leggings, shorts and tanktop combo. Available in black and white or in color from paperthinpersonas.com.

I am spending most of January 2017 posting things I drew in 2016 to clear out my image archives and I came across this set of cute paper doll workout clothing that I drew. I really am not a fan of exercise, but I know I need to do it. I tend to approach it the same way I approach a lot of things, “You can do anything for 25 minutes, even if you hate it.”

And while I don’t like the actual exercising part, it does wonders for my mood and I always feel better the next day, even if I am stiff. When I first started working out, I just wore some old sweats and a t-shirt. Eventually, I bought some real workout clothing and I discovered that it was much easier to work out when you have real workout clothing on.

Since I, like the B&B paper dolls, am pretty buxom, it is hard to find cute sports bras in colors that still give me the support I need. However, the fun thing about paper dolls is that you can create things for them that you can’t find for yourself. Therefore, I gave my B&B girls a fun teal sports bra under a tank, leggings and shorts to wear while she hits the gym.

My workout clothing does not coordinate nearly as well as this, but as I have said before- fantasy fulfillment is a big part of paper doll drawing.

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

Min-Seo And Her Red Carpet Evening Gown- A Printable Paper Doll

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: This gown from Pinterest
A black and white red carpet evening gown and Asian paper doll with an updo and matching shoes. Printable paper doll in color or black and white.

Punk paper doll

Every paper doll needs a look to wear on the red carpet, you know? Sure, jeans are useful, but they are not as much fun as evening gowns. So, here’s some paper doll red carpet evening gown love for Min-Seo.

As I often feel with paper dolls with black hair, the linework on her hair (which I am quite proud of) got quite obscured. Check out the black and white version to see it better. I think if you wanted, this updo would also make her a pretty good steampunk base doll. It feels sorta Victorian to me.

Anyway, I think I did this dress in a dozen color schemes, before settling on this one. I decided that I liked the graphic quality of the black and white. The original is in white and blue, but that felt too casual for a red carpet evening gown.

Also, I love her shoes. No shocker to anyone, I’m sure.

Tomorrow, there will be another Min-Seo paper doll (shocking, I know). She’s got a pearl and fur trimmed winter fantasy gown.

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Need a more outfits for today’s Marisole Monday & Friends Paper Doll? Find More Clothing Here. 

Marisole Monday & Friends: The Gents Get Some T-Shirts and Jeans

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: T-shirts and Jeans, Nothing More, Nothing Less
A pair of paper doll t-shirts and a pair of jeans for the boy printable paper dolls. Available in black and white or in color. Free to print from paperthinpersonas.com.

A pair of paper doll t-shirts and a pair of jeans for the boy printable paper dolls. Available in black and white or in color. Free to print from paperthinpersonas.com.

Maybe this isn’t the most “thrilling” set of guy paper doll clothing. I mean, maybe if you were like, “I want to go fight a monster” than you might want to reach for something more like this or this. However, if your paper doll guys want to go to the store or take one of the paper doll ladies or gents out on a nice casual date, than they need some gear for that.

While I wouldn’t want to spend the rest of my life drawing nothing but paper doll t-shirts and jeans, today’s versions are pretty fun. I am trying to learn to think of them as blank canvases which have options for dynamic design. The basic form of a t-shirt is always the same, but there are cool things that can be done with one.

I’m actually pretty happy with the jeans. I am still working on learning how to make folds look natural on men’s pants. I think today’s jeans are a pretty good middle ground.

One of my goals for 2016 was to create more guy paper dolls and I’ll confess that guy paper doll clothing has challenges. Truth is that I find it pretty much “same old, same old”. Still, as I said above, I am trying to learn to embrace it as a blank canvas.

As 2016 is coming to a close, I have to confess I am struck with how many things I “tried” on the blog this year. I’m thankful for everyone who stuck with me through trying to sort out what I wanted to blog to be. Also, everyone who supports the blog on Patreon or leaves a comment or who follows me on Twitter or who just comes to read. Your support means a lot to me.

And that leads me to the question, more guy paper doll content in 2017? Is that something y’all want to see?

Need a Marisole Monday & Friends Guy Paper Doll to wear today’s outfit? Pick One Out Here. 

Ms. Mannequin: Coats and Boots for Fashionable Winter Wear

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:  Sorel Boots, Coats and Boots Worn by College Students

Paper dolls need warm clothing, too! Here are coats and boots for the Ms. Mannequin series. Free to print in black and white or in color from paperthinpersonas.com.

I grew up in Southeast Alaska where the winter weather is so horrid that stylish winter wear is pretty much out of the question. One of the things I like about Alabama is that our winters are fairly mild and I can wear a coat that is cute, rather than waterproof and really warm.

As I mentioned last week, I am trying to post one “winter” themed piece a week for December. Today’s coats and boots are this weeks “winter” items. Not quite as ambitious as say Julie’s amazing 30 days of Angel paper dolls, but my little nod to the season. I do find since I just draw “one” thing for each day, it is much easier to do holiday/themed pieces, because finishing one paper doll outfit last minute is far simpler than finishing four or five that I needed to fill up a sheet in the past.

Needless to say, I am really enjoying this new way of doing things.

All right, so the white boots with the fur trim are based on some Sorel boots, but only in the vaguest of ways. The brown boots are based on some I saw a college student wearing and thought were cute. The coats are both based on items from various fashion magazines in my house.

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

Marisole Monday & Friends: On the Red Carpet

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Say Yes to the Dress and Gowns Like This One or This One or This One
A purple ruched evening gown for the Marisole Monday and Friends paper doll series. Free to print in color or black and white.

One of my guilty pleasures is the show, Say Yes to the Dress. I thought I would have to give it up when I gave up cable, but fortunately, you can watch it on Hulu and who doesn’t want to watch insane bridal gowns on TV?

This only important because the show was on when I came up with the idea of doing a ruched paper doll evening gown like today’s for Marisole Monday & Friends lady paper dolls.

I will openly confess that I didn’t want to do a paper doll wedding dress, so I chose a lavender color for today’s paper doll evening gown. I’m just not a big wedding dress person, even though I like the show. Even as a kid, I was never one of those people who imagined my own wedding day. Don’t get me wrong, I cry at every wedding, but it was never part of my imaginary world as a kid.

Now, I did totally imagine being at a ball as a kid. So, red carpet paper doll gowns was much more up my alley.

So, are you a wedding dress or evening dress kinda person? Let me know in a comment.

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Need a Marisole Monday & Friends Paper Doll to wear today’s outfit? Pick One Out Here. 

Sprites: Casual Jeans, Sweaters, Shorts and a T-shirt

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:  College Guy’s Clothing, Shirts Under Sweaters and Slightly Failed Color Schemes
Jean shorts, t-shirt for the guy paper dolls and a sweater with skinny grey jeans for the lady paper dolls. Free to print from paperthinpersonas.com.

This is the first of two outfits for male paper dolls this week. Shocking, I know.

The truth is that compared to women’s clothing, I confess I find a lot of men’s clothing boring. Despite that, I am trying to draw more for the guys and I do find this new format liberating in that regard. One guy outfit is much less pressure than say… three.

The Sprites are a challenge, because I want the guy and girl paper doll outfits to match in some way and I think in this set, I kinda failed to do that very well. The boy paper doll gets jeans and shorts and our lady paper doll gets a sweater and skinny jeans. I thought if I used the same grey it would kinda pull the outfits together, but I rather think it fails to do that. Never the less, not every coloring job is a success.

I work at a college, so I see what college students wear. 99% of the time, guys wear t-shirts. Sometimes they mix it up with a hoodie, but generally it is a t-shirt. In that respect, I enjoy trying to find interesting ways to pattern the t-shirts of my male paper dolls. Meanwhile, the lady paper doll is wearing one of my favorite looks which is a shirt under a sweater.

I haven’t got much else to day about these guys. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, so I am in full on pie making mode. I hope everyone who celebrates has a great Holiday tomorrow and everyone who doesn’t celebrate just has a lovely Thursday.

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Looking for some Sprite paper dolls to wear these outfits? Pick out Sprite paper dolls here.