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victorian inspired
Ruby, A Steampunk Fashion Paper Doll in Stripes
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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.
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A Little Mermaid in the 1830s
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Download Black and White PDF | Download Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones 2.0
To end the month of Mer-May, I wanted to share this Little Mermaid paper doll. As you probably know, the Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen is the classic tale of a mermaid who becomes obsessed with a prince, gives up everything for him, ends up in agonizing pain until he marries someone else, nearly kills him, kills herself, and gets to spend 300 years doing good deeds for humans, so that she might someday win a soul to go to heaven.
Most illustrated versions of the tale I’ve seen place the story in a orientalist fantasy setting, but I wanted to draw on fashions from around 1837 when the story was written. So, the paper doll’s dress is based on this dress from 1837, this dress from 1833-1837, plus this dress from 1837-1839. Her hair is from the early 1830s and I love those silly hair styles. I used this fashion plate. Despite appearances, it’s actually simplified.
The men’s outfit references a line in the story where the Prince has a page outfit made for the Little Mermaid, so she could ride with him. My paper dolls’ riding costume is based on this coat from 1830 to 1840 and this suit from the 1830s. Though the cut is a bit more regency than it is 1830s and the boots are very regency, I confess.
The knife with the paper doll is the one that the Little Mermaid’s sisters trade their hair for to try to save the Little Mermaid’s life by having her stab the Prince to death. By the way, if you’ve never read the original, I think you should. It is not the Disney tale most people think of.
If you’d like, I do have a lot more mermaid paper dolls. Check out my Mermaid tag and another Jewels and Gemstones Mermaid, if you’d like more mix and match mermaid options.
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A Steampunk Paper Doll with Sapphire
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Download Black and White PDF | Download Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones 2.0
This steampunk paper doll was put together from a few older sets that I resized and new pieces. I loved these striped trousers and the hair and shoes from my first Sapphire Steampunk Doll. I love everything Victorian inspired. I have no idea if steampunk is still in, but I do very much enjoy drawing it. So, I hope it is.
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1860s Fashion Paper Doll & Her Dresses to Print
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Download Black and White PDF | Download Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones 2.0
My patrons on Patreon voted for the 1860s to be my next historical paper doll foray. (Join here if you’d like to vote next time.) I hadn’t drawn anything from this era in years, so I had some fun breaking out my costume history books, doing more research on 1860s fashion, and then crafting is 1860s fashion paper doll and her dresses. There’s another 1860s paper doll who will be the March exclusive for my Patrons.
My Newsletter this week will be a special issue all about 1860s fashion with sources!
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A Gothic Lolita Paper Doll
Every year I ask my patrons for ideas. I don’t promise to draw those ideas, but I always like to know what my patrons are interested in seeing. Plus, I run out of ideas sometimes.
One of my long time patrons, Denise, asked for some Gothic fashions and let me decide what genre to explore in that larger subgenre. I have been wanting to draw some Gothic Lolita clothing for a long time, partly because I really wanted to draw a bonnet.
So, Denise, here is a gothic Lolita paper doll for you.
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Gothic Lolita clothing is often called “Victorian Children’s Clothing Inspired”, but it is not really Victorian clothing. It is a ruffle and lace obsessed fever dream of Victorian clothing. And that’s part of the fun!
Historical accuracy has no place here.
If you hop over to my Lolita Fashion Pinterest Board, you will see a lot more of this style. A few specific sources for these dresses include this gothic look and this purse and this dress and this dress. I actually drew a few more dresses that didn’t fit on this page, so they’ll be going up for my Patrons in the next few weeks.
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A few things I love about Lolita fashion, in no real order-
- I like drawing ruffles
- There’s a super high level of coordination, so I tied everything together with ruffles and roses.
- There’s something really refreshing about a fashion style that is both super modest and super feminine. It’s not something you see a lot in fashion, I feel like.
The color scheme here is black, red and lavender. I feel like if there’s one downside of doing gothic fashion it is that it is… well, it’s black. Don’t get me wrong- black is a perfectly nice color- but it is all black. I try not to make my paper doll clothing all black, because I feel like it obscures the line-work a lot. However, since you have a black and white version of this gothic Lolita paper doll, you can make this one all black (or all purple, or all green) if you wish.
In fact, with a different color scheme, this set could totally be sweet Lolita or classic Lolita.
In the words of the college students I work with- You do you.
And on that note, I wanted to pause here to thank my Patrons who have supported me. Consider joining us if you want! You could get your idea drawn.
Steampunk Paper Doll Costume For The B Pose Dames
At least I’m honest, right?
Meanwhile, I really wanted to design a steampunk paper doll costume that wasn’t “fancy” and felt a little more like what a working person in a steampunk world might wear. I decided to do a similar color scheme for today’s outfit as I did for steampunk Changrui which was a big inspiration, I confess.
Sometimes when I am drawing one paper doll set quickly brings me to another paper doll set in a sort of paper doll cascade.
What do you think? Do you prefer your steampunk more “street” or more “fancy” with ruffles and top hats? I’d love to hear your thoughts in a comment.
Need a doll for today’s clothing? All the B Pose Dolls & Clothing
Happy Halloween!
I have been trying to do a paper doll for most holidays with the Dames and Dandies series, because I have such fond memories of my Grandmother sending me paper doll holiday cards when I was a child.
I have a Thanksgiving version planned and I want to do something for Veteran’s Day. I’ve never done a paper doll for that holiday before, but I think a World War 2 ladies uniform would be super fun to draw. (Or a World War I ambulance uniform, those intrigue me too.)
I digress.
So, anyway, the A pose paper dolls here are are getting corsets and long skirts for their Halloween attire.
What are people dressing up as? I confess I’ve never been a big Halloween person. I do like handing out candy, but ever since I moved into an apartment I don’t seem to ever get tricker-treaters.
It makes me kinda sad.
Anyway, it’s probably best I don’t have a big bag of candy in my house anyway. I would end up eating more of it than the kids, I suspect.
If you need a way to pass the time waiting for young ghouls or goblins, why not color or cut out Halloween paper dolls? It keeps up manual dexterity and is a lot of fun. You can see all the blog’s Halloween paper dolls in that tag.
Need a doll to wear today’s paper doll clothing? All the A Pose Dolls & Clothing