princess

Rose Dinner Dress: Princess Trousseau

A princess fantasy dress inspired by the 18th century and trimmed with roses. The shoes have matching garters and there is also a rose choker.

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Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
This dress is one of four I designed together. I wanted to create some rather traditional “big skirted princess dresses” for the Jewels and Gemstones paper dolls. Two of the dresses are Patron exclusives (join here) and the other two are being shared on the blog. This is the second one.

I have more in the works, but I started with four.

They all have the same muted color scheme. I really love muted colors, but I find I don’t use them that often. I think on computer they can get muddy really fast. I really liked the idea of having the same colors for all the dresses in the collection.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
This dress is the dinner dress of the set. It’s more formal than the music dress, but less formal than say the ballgown I shared with my Patrons. There’s something 18th century going on here, I think, but I didn’t really look at any reference images.

Specific Source Images: I doodle this before I drew it, but I can’t find that piece of paper- so you’re just going to have to believe me.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls & More of the Princess Trousseau
Around the Internet: The “Rococo/Big Skirted Absurdity” section on my Fantasy Pinterest Board & some actual 18th century dresses

Last Thoughts
I love drawing big skirted fantasy gowns. The width of the skirt gives space to explore decorative elements that are harder at a smaller scale. Plus I grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, so I am somewhat a child of the big skirted Disney Princesses.

If you’re a Patron, remember that there’s a ballgown in this series here for you all. If you’re not a Patron, here’s how to join.

The Music Frock with a Draped Skirt: Part of the Princess Trousseau

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Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
Today’s dress is one of four I designed together to be classic “big skirted princess dresses” for the Jewels and Gemstones paper dolls. Two of them are Patron exculsives (join here) and two of them are going up on the blog here. I plan to create more, but at the moment, I just have the four.

Four dresses doesn’t make a full trousseau though, so stay tuned for additional dresses for this collection.

Princesses get a bad rep. It’s easy to look at the idea of a Princess and argue they have no automony, they get rescued and they are valued only for their appearance. Despite that, and despite being a feminist, I continue to draw regularly and often my Princess dresses.

It’s not that I’m not aware of the issues surrounding the concept of the Princess. It’s not that I don’t have serious issues with Disney and the commodification of girlhood. It’s not that I don’t occasionally prefer the idea of full-plate armor over full-skirted gowns. It’s that I don’t think femininity should in anyway be associated with weakness.

The only problem with Princesses is when they are offered to young girls as the only acceptable way to be.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
I really did have a lot of fun designing this one. It pretty much came out of a doodling session on my phone using the Procreate app on my phone, which I am sort of enjoying when I don’t have pen or paper with me.

Specific Source Images: This doodle

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls & More of the Princess Trousseau (which at the moment is just this dress)
Around the Internet: I do keep a “Rococo/Big Skirted Absurdity” section on my Fantasy Pinterest Board

Last Thoughts
As my long time readers know, I have a strange obsession with the idea of different dresses for different activities. I think I read to many Victorian novels at an impressionable age. So, this is kind of an excuse to indulge in that fantasy.

Yes, I know actually having to change my clothing for each activity of my day would really be annoying. I don’t even like putting on gym clothes.

If you’d like an extra paper doll each week, check out Patreon. It’s a great way to get more paper dolls and support PTP.

A Super Pretty Empire Fantasy Gown

A pretty fantasy gown with an empire silhouette and over the shoulder puffed sleeves. Printable in color or black and white for coloring.

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Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
Occasionally, I just kinda want to draw a pretty dress. I mean, sometimes I like to draw complex things with nuance and stuff, but sometimes, I just want to draw a pretty dress. Years ago, I read an article about Oscar De La Renta (an amazing fashion designer) who when asked what he did, he said something like, I make pretty dresses.

And well, sometimes I want to draw pretty dresses. Nothing more, nothing less. Remember that I draw extra pretty dresses (and other things) for my Patrons.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
As I said above, I just kinda wanted a pretty dress. There’s something sort of 1980s fantasy princess happening here, I think, but I don’t recall a specific source of any kind.

Specific Source Images: Nothing that I remember.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls
Around the Internet: Hmmmm…. I’m not sure. If you want to see more pretty dresses, I do keep a board of Fantasy Clothing on Pinterest which is full of them.

Last Thoughts
Clearly, this isn’t my most “complex” blog post. Sometimes I think a lot about what I create and sometimes I just draw. Not everything has a complex history.

I’d like to take a moment here to thank everyone who pledges on Patreon. You make this little corner of the web possible and I am very grateful to you all.

By the way, at the moment, there’s a lot going on with my world, so please know that while I love the blog and I love creating paper dolls, I’m keeping a lot of plates spinning at the moment.

Nebula Gown: Space Princess Collection

A futuristic princess gown with a armored bodice in gold and a layered skirt. Part of the Space Princess gown collection from Paper Thin Personas for the Jewels and Gemstones collection.

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Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
I know you’re not supposed to have favorites among your children and I probably shouldn’t have favorites among my paper dolls, but I did sort of save my favorite Space Princess Gown for last. Sure, I love them all, but today’s gown is my favorite.

I don’t know if my Patrons would agree, but I am a sucker for the high-waist and the reflective bodice which, in my head, is armored.

While I never thought Space Princesses would win the poll I gave my Patrons, I am sort of over joyed the theme won, because it has been so much fun to draw these over the top outfits.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
As some of you may recall, my affection for Space Princesses dates back to this card. My grandmother sent it to me when I was a kid and ever since, I’ve had a thing for Space Princesses. I don’t know what a space princess is… but it sure is a good excuse to draw futuristic fantasy gowns and who doesn’t want an excuse to do that?

I chose Jade as the model for the Space Princess, because there has one been one Jade paper doll on the blog so far and it was very nice and very modern and I thought… clearly, she needs a super absurd hairstyle and fantasy gown. After all, doesn’t everyone?

Specific Source Images: This gown from my Pinterest Sci-Fi fashion board.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls & Jade: Space Princess
Around the Internet: My Pinterest Cyberpunk/Sci-Fi Fashion Board

Last Thoughts
I have one more big piece of travel in June and then hopefully things will quiet down for a little bit. Or not. I keep thinking… soon I’ll have more paper doll time, but paper doll time has been in short supply. I am drawing a lot, but I’m not finishing much. Follow me on Instagram if you want to see my progress on the #100dayproject where I’m drawing #100daysofpaperdolls along with some other amazing artists.

There was an extra Space Princess outfit for my Patrons (join us if you like), but this is the last Space Princess piece for the moment. Maybe I’ll draw more later.

Should I draw more Space Princess content? Let me know in a comment. I love to hear from y’all.

Galaxy Frock: Space Princess Collection

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Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
So, I am a little annoyed at WordPress at the moment, somehow it missed posting all the stuff I carefully had scheduled for last week. As a result, I am posting those things this week. Sigh.

My Patrons chose this theme of Space Princess dresses back in January. In case you are wondering how long it take me to finish things, well… I started this back in January. See, I am clearly not a very fast paper doll creator.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
I love the work of Guo Pei. She’s a Chinese fashion designer and there’s something that just feel Space Princess to me in so much of her work. I could have drawn the whole Space Princess wardrobe from her designs. They are amazing.

Specific Source Images: This gown from Guo Pei Spring 2019 and this gown.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls & this paper doll, this paper doll and these paper doll clothes
Around the Internet: Guo Pei’s collections are all amazing. She has a wonderful, almost fantastical style with a strong traditional Chinese influence. A nice article on her called Guo Pei: Couture Beyond

Last Thoughts
Be sure to come back next week on Tuesday for another Space Princess design, unless WordPress once again decides it hates me. I think I got the problem fixed. I think…

As always a big thank you to my Amazing Patrons, they make the blog possible.

Starlight Leggings: Space Princess

Futuristic space princess paper doll outfit in pinks and purples. Free to print in color or black and white.

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Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
As I explained last week, I occasionally let my Patrons help me pick out my paper doll themes and I was both pleased and surprised when Space Princess won the poll I had put together. So, every Tuesday for the rest of the month, there will be a space princess post.

If you’d like some say in what I create hop over to Patreon and join us by donating. You get access to polls, and at two dollars a month, there’s extra paper doll outfits and you get to help support Paper Thin Personas.

Mostly when I think of Space Princesses I think of futuristic gowns, but I don’t think even Space Princesses want to wear gowns all the time. So, I wanted to create a non-gown based outfit for her.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
Before I start a collection like this, I tend to gather up inspirational images on Pinterest. Occasionally in that process I’ll find a single image that I really adore. In this case, it was this dress from Pedro Lourenço Spring 2011 collection. I don’t really know how these sleeves actually stay on, but I love it.

Specific Source Images: This dress from Pedro Lourenco’s Spring 2011 Collection

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls & Jade the Space Princess doll
Around the Internet: The whole Pedro Lourenço Spring 2011 collection is great.

Last Thoughts

If you are a patron, you might remember that on Friday I posted this bodysuit and jacket it can mix and match with today’s outfit perfectly. In fact, all of the Space Princess pieces have a shared color scheme for increased options when mixing and matching.

If you missed last week post, that was Jade as the Space Princess herself. Also, next Tuesday there will be another Space Princess piece.

Are you enjoying this Space Princess collection? Let me know in a comment. I love to get your feedback.

Jade: A Space Princess

A printable paper doll celebrating Space Princesses with pink hair and an elegant futuristic gown.

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Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
Way back in January, I asked my Patrons to vote on some ideas of theme weeks. I threw up some ideas I’d been considering and then I added Space Princess on a whim. To my own astonishment (I never thought it would beat out Lolita AND Regency), the Space Princess won the poll. I was both excited and, I’ll be honest, super surprised.

I then tossed up another poll just last week see how I should share my finished Space Princess creation and weekly won. So, for the rest of the month of May, every Tuesday, there will be a Space Princess post. We’re starting, logically, with the Space Princess herself and then we’ll go from there.

If you’d like to get into the poll voting activities, head on over to Patreon and join us by donating. You get access to polls and you get to help support Paper Thin Personas.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
Okay, so when I was kid my Grandmother would send me cards with paper dolls in them and I got this card at some point. And ever since I have had this strange affection for the idea of Space Princesses. I don’t know what makes a Space Princess, exactly, except perhaps a Princess in Space? I think that’s basically it.

I chose Jade as the model for the Space Princess, because there has one been one Jade paper doll on the blog so far and it was very nice and very modern and I thought… clearly, she needs a super absurd hairstyle and fantasy gown. After all, doesn’t everyone?

Specific Source Images: This hair, this gown, this gown from Dior 2006, and this gown.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls & this paper doll, this paper doll and these paper doll clothes
Around the Internet: There is an Adventure Time character called Lumpy Space Princess (I know very little about Adventure Time, FYI). Also, I’m in love with all of Dior’s 2006 Fall collection. John Galliano, I have mixed feelings about as a human, but I can’t deny his mid-2000s work is incredible.

Last Thoughts
Be sure to come back next week on Tuesday for another Space Princess design. I normally share these things on Monday, but I thought doing a Tuesday series would be a fun change of pace. Also, I was out of town Monday, so Tuesday was easier for me.

Meanwhile on Friday, there will be another Space Princess outfit for the Patrons, join us if you like.

Also, as always, I love to hear from you, so leave me a comment and let me know what you think of this month of Space Princess stuff.

Nostalgic Fantasy Gown with Some Wedding Dress Influences

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Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
I am really not sure how to classify this dress. It could be fantasy. It could be steampunk. It could be princess.

I suppose it can be whatever you want it to be. I just wanted to draw a pretty dress and this was the outcome of that. I chose the word “nostalgic” for it, because the dusty colors reminded me of Victorian post cards.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
I don’t really know. I think the skirt shape probably owes something to dresses like this one. Since it is a pretty stiff aline, but there isn’t a specific source I can point to.

Specific Source Images: Nothing today.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls
Around the Internet: So, I am weirdly obsessed with Japanese bridal sites, because the dresses are so over the top. Kuraudia has the full Barbie wedding dress line. And it is amazing.

Last Thoughts
I am not lying when I tell you I love these Barbie wedding dresses. I would never wear them, but I am kinda in love with them. You can see the catalogs here.

A big thank you to my patrons for their amazing support. I know one of my patrons really loves it when I do full skirted fancy dresses, so I hope she enjoys this little foray into that style, though I don’t think this dress is that over the top.

How would you classify this dress? Fantasy? Princess? Steampunk? Let me know in a comment.

A Purple Fantasy Princess Frock With Shoes

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Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
The first paper doll outfits I drew for the Jewels and Gemstones were fantasy gowns. This was one of them. The other, I’ll be sharing on Friday for my Patrons.

I tend to return to these sorts of medieval inspired fantasy gowns when I don’t know what to draw. I don’t know why, exactly, but it’s a style I like and a style that doesn’t take a lot of thought for me. I think?

I’m not sure.

There are things  like these sorts of gowns (another example, and another, and another) that are simple and I can draw without having to look at lots of source images or worry about historical accuracy.

The paper doll equivalent of that recipe you make over and over again, because you know it will come out. Maybe not super innovative, but comforting. The pumpkin bread of paper doll clothing.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
Today’s paper doll gown lacks a real specific inspiration. Medieval clothing, I suppose, but only in a fantasy universe sort of way.

Specific Source Images: I haven’t got any this time.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Medieval Inspired Paper Doll Gowns & More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: My Fantasy Clothing Pinterest Board

Last Thoughts
I almost called this set “Purple Princess”, but I felt weird doing that, because there’s also a black and white version.

Did you know there are weekly process posts on Patreon? And monthly paper dolls and weekly paper dolls? Consider joining here.

Akiko: Space Princess!!

A space princess paper doll featuring a sci-fi inspired gown and shoes. One of hundreds of paper doll designs from paperthinpersoas.com

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I had several space princess paper dolls when I was a kid. I don’t know the exact source of the space princess obsession of the late 1980s and early 1990s, but I remember this paper doll card really well.

My grandmother often sent me paper doll cards as a child. I can recall nearly every one, which is astonishing when I think of all the things I can’t recall from my youth.

Anyway, I wanted to make a space princess paper doll and I was inspired by this gown designed by Guo Pei. Guo Pei is a Chinese fashion designer. Her work is amazingly inventive and creative. Much like Alexander McQueen (another designer I adore), Guo’s designs are often hard to imagine a person actually wearing, but that makes them all the more enchanting to me. Her designs are harder to find on the web (though perhaps not if you speak Chinese) and Vogue only has her 2016-2018 collections on their website.

I think this dress is from 2010, but I am not positive.

Anyway, that was the inspiration for the gown and everything else flowed from that. I love creating over the top hair styles, so I did one of those for Akiko and her shoes were inspired by her gown.

I did want to wish people a Happy Hanukkah to everyone who, like me, are lighting candles for the next week. I don’t have holiday plans for the blog this year. I totally forgot the holidays, so this will be a holiday free blog this year. But I have done Hanukkah paper dolls in the past. 

Let me know what you think of today’s paper doll in a comment. I’m super curious if anyone else was into Space Princesses as a child? And what do you think makes a Space Princess?

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