vintage Archives • Page 9 of 17 • Paper Thin Personas

Ms. Mannequin Printable Paper Dolls Get 1970s Dresses

April 21, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: The dresses of 1974 like Simplicity 6605 and McCall’s 3936

Let me be frank, I don’t really love the fashions of the 1970s, but they are starting to grow on me a little. There’s something about the bold colors and the big collars that I kinda have a fondness for.

So, I might never been a die hard “1970s YAY” kinda girl, I am at least learning to enjoy some of the looks of the era.

Last year I drew my first 1970s stuff and this year I wanted to continue dabbling in the era. While I think the Ms. Mannequin dolls look kinda odd as Vikings (their pose just doesn’t work), they make much better swinging cats of the 1970s.

Both of these dresses are based on pattern cover designs. I love using vintage pattern covers to design paper doll dresses. They are usually pretty easy to draw from too, which I am grateful for.

The dress on the left is from Simplicity 6605 and McCall’s 3936 and McCall’s 3936 which was apparently a “carefree pattern” which I think meant it was supposed to be easy to make. The dress on the right is from Simplicity 6605 which was a “how to sew” pattern. It would teach you, apparently, how to make set in gathered sleeves.

These days, I use online videos when I don’t know how to sew something, but I suppose that wasn’t exactly an option in 1974.

Also, I don’t sew people clothing. I am strictly a doll clothing sewing kinda girl.

Well, what do you all think of today’s 1970s dresses? Is this a decade of fashion you really love? Do the Ms. Mannequin dolls need maybe a jumpsuit or something to do with their dresses?

Let me know in a comment.

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

The Poppet’s Springtime 1920s Dress

April 25, 2017April 6, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: 1920s Children’s Clothing

This is the second dress of a bunch of 1920s stuff I have drawn for the Poppets paper dolls, so much so that I actually think I should really start a special series for it.

I mean, I already have two 1920s paper doll outfits and a doll finished to go up and I have another batch of it penciled. Basically, I think it is time to accept one simple fact, “I am completely obsessed with 1920s children’s clothing.”

So, I have created a new on-going Poppet’s series called the 1920s Children’s Wardrobe Collection.

I know, it’s not a very creative name.

And I failed to carefully note where I got the images for the batch of 1920s children’s clothing I have finished, but I am going to get better at citation in the future.

Also, because I am me.

Anyway, I’d love to hear what people think of a flood of 1920s children’s clothing, so let me know in a comment.

Today’s 1920s paper doll dress was based on one from I think a Sears catalog. I really loved the floral detail on the bodice and I chose bright fun spring colors. I probably should have made the shoes brown or black, but once I start coloring sometimes it gets away from me.

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

A 1930s Dress to Color & Dress a Paper Doll In

March 30, 2017March 29, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Simplicity 1781 from 1935

So, this is my first 1930s dress for the Mini-Maidens paper dolls. That surprised me, but it is true. I even went through the archives to confirm- I’ve done 1920s and 1940s, but never a 1930s dress.

The dress is based on this pattern cover from Simplicity 1781 designed in 1935. The two part dress had an optional coat which I did not end up drawing. Mostly, what I liked about the dress’s design was the super cool square belt buckle.

Yes, sometimes I’m that easy to please.

I should add that I also really liked the pockets on the button of the top and the very art deco feeling of the whole piece, but mostly… mostly I liked the belt buckle.

One problem of doing my first mini-maidens’ 1930s dress is that I don’t have a really good Mini-Maiden doll with the right hair for the era. This Hazel has 1940s hair which doesn’t quite work. The closest two choices are probably my 1920s Faye paper doll whose wavy bob is not too far off or my steampunk Greta paper doll.

Clearly, this is evidence that I need to draw more than one 1930s dress for the Mini-maidens printable paper dolls.

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The Reader2017 coupon for 25% off in the Etsy store is good for just two more days. So, if there’s something you want, I’d grab it.

Now, I am curious. Should I do more 1930s stuff for the Mini-Maidens? Is there another decade you’d like to see? Let me know in a comment.

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

Ms Mannequin and a 1960s Fashion Experience

March 15, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: This 1960s Fashion Design

Given how much I like 1960s fashion, it is a trifle weird how little of it has made its way onto the blog. I think part of that is the lack of online sources. Sadly, stuff created in the 1960s is still under copyright, because the open access date hasn’t moved forward as was originally intended. (Thank you, Disney for messing up that.)

I only have one book on 1960s fashion. To give a comparison, I have three on 1920s fashion. So, if anyone has a rec, leave it in the comments. I really should track down more, since I do enjoy the era. Today’s Ms. Mannequin outfit comes from this fashion design by Creators Studio.

The original dress was a blue and blue windowpane plaid, but plaid is my nemesis, so I omitted it.

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Meanwhile, there’s a 25% off coupon for my readers (Reader2017) good in my Etsy store until the end of the month. Nothing terribly 1960s in there, yet, but I have done some smashing evening gowns.

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

The Mini-Maidens Visit the 1950s and Drink a Cocktail

March 8, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:Cocktail Dresses of the 1950s, Specifically this one and this one

Today, the Mini-Maiden paper dolls are getting a pair of 1950s cocktail dresses. The top dress is based on a Vogue sewing pattern and the bottom dress is based on an example from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The style of skirt on both dresses is called a “barrel skirt”.

Central to my life philosophy is this: You can choose to look at the bright side, or you can not, but I try to look at the bright side. Which means, mostly, I try to see the things I am proud about in a paper doll set rather than the things that bug the heck out of me.

I succeed in this about 83% of the time, which isn’t bad, really.

So, when I see the floral print, I am trying to focus on the things I like about it and not the things that sort of annoy me. I am succeeding, mostly.

Meanwhile, both these cocktail dresses are based on the same basic silhouette. I’m always on the look out for styles that seem to show up repeatedly in the same time period. That indicates that they were common, rather than unusual. I loved the pattern on the illustration on the Vogue pattern envelope, so I tried to recreate something like it on the top dress.

I think my success was strictly mixed.

Moving on from my angst over the floral pattern, I actually am pretty pleased with these two cocktail dresses.

What do you all think? Floral or not floral? Let me know in a comment.

Meanwhile, I’m still running a sale on the blog’s Etsy Store. There a coupon code good for 25% off an order of 4.00 or more until the end of March. Use the code: READER2017

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

The New B&b Girl: A Vintage Styled Brunette Curvy Paper Doll

March 6, 2017March 6, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:The Pattern on a Mechanical Pencil from Target

The pattern on today’s printable paper doll dress was inspired by the pattern on a mechanical pencil I got from my boss as a Christmas present. I thought it was super cute.

I don’t judge where your art ideas come from. That’s all I’m saying.

Actually, that pattern was really the inspiration for the entire paper doll. Once I knew I wanted to draw the pattern, then the style of dress, something vintage looking, naturally followed. The black and white version, she just seemed brunette to me and I also couldn’t help but notice I hadn’t done a fair skinned B&B paper doll in a long while.

So, all these forces combined to bring you today’s vintage inspired brunette B&B printable paper doll.

Now I’m curious, what is the strangest thing you have ever based art off of? Anyone else gotten inspiration from the pattern off a mechanical pencil? Let me know in a comment.

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Need to get some more clothing for this Bodacious & Buxom paper doll to wear? Pick out some clothing here

Ms. Mannequin’s Summery Paper Doll Dress from 1935

May 28, 2020February 15, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: This 1935 McCalls Pattern & This 1935 Fabric

This is only the second historical paper doll outfit I have ever made for the Ms. Mannequin series. My last one was my second foray into Viking dress. This is a bit more current and I do think the paper doll’s pose works better with more contemporary fashions (if you can call the 1930s contemporary) than it did with Viking looks.

I suppose contemporary is really just a matter of point of view.

What I liked about the pattern cover that inspired today’s paper doll dress was the split sleeves and the wide white collar.

Confession time: The dress fabric pattern is way out of scale for what was common in the 1930s, but I found this amazing pattern swatch from the V&A and I just had to use it. The tulips felt so modern and contemporary. Obviously, I heavily adapted the pattern, so it was more of a jumping off point than anything else.

Part of what I wanted to do was a spring dress in black which isn’t a color usually associated with Springtime fashions.

What are your favorite spring colors? I love corals and yellows. Let me know in a comment.

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

Marisole Monday & Friends Paper Dolls Get Some 1970s Clothing

December 11, 2017February 2, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Simplicity 9370 from 1971

So, I work in batches. This doesn’t just mean I tend to draw a batch of the same paper doll series together, it also means I sometimes draw the same themes together. For example, I drew today’s jumpsuit around the same time I drew the my 1970s Mini-Maiden. Sometimes, I get into a theme, like 1970s clothing, and want to spend some time there.

Then I promptly get over and am distracted by some other thing. That’s the nature of my brain.

Today’s jumpsuit was based on a 1971 Simplicity sewing pattern cover. Apparently the pattern was designed to be sewn quickly and only took two different pattern pieces. I loved the cheery bright yellow color in the cover art, so I kept it.

The wide brown belt was from the pattern cover, but it also was nice because it split up the jumpsuit. I think jumpsuits really need belts, don’t you?

This is probably the last piece of 1970s clothing for the paper dolls for a while. As I said above, I tend to be a bit flighty in my paper doll interests. I have been feeling very “over the top princess gowns” lately, so stay tuned for some of that, also I have been dabbling in the 1870s.

Out of the curiosity, which do you like better for the fashion- the 1970s, the 1870s or the 1770s?

I have so confess to being a pretty big 1870s fan. Let me know your favorite in a comment.

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

The Curvy B&B Paper Dolls Get Some Retro Sci-fi Madness

December 11, 2017February 1, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Retro Sci-fi Cover Art, Specifically Wandl the Invader

I’ve always had a soft place in my heart for pulp novels of all kinds, particularly their cover art. So, today’s sci-fi outfit for the B&B printable paper doll series was inspired by this cover art for Wandl the Invader. I mean, how could anyone see that cover art and not think, “Wow, I should draw that for a paper doll?”

Of course, I think that a lot when I see odd things in this world which goes a long way to explaining why I have PTP.

Anyhow, Wandl the Invader first came out in 1932, but the edition I found on Pinterest looks like it is from the 1950s, based on the style. The author, Ray Cummings, wrote over 750 novels and short stories which is pretty astonishing. Like a lot of pulp authors of his day, he was astonishingly prolific.

Along with pulp sci-fi cover art, I’ve also always had a soft place in my heart for retro-futurism. In fact, I recently started a Pinterest board devoted to the retro-futuristic fashions. I think this today’s outfit is a little retro-futuristic (is that a word?) along with being very pulpy.

A friend of my retro sci-fi look in theme, if not in paper doll series, was my astronaut from last October.

I wish I could think of more to say here, but I am writing this post after a thirteen hour day at work and I just want to wash this makeup off (I don’t usually wear makeup) and crawl into my bed.

So, I’m wrapping things up here.

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

Collaborative Paper Doll Project 2017: The Year I was Born

May 28, 2020January 27, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:A Dress from 1985

The first theme for our collaborative project was a dress from the year we were each born. So, for me that meant drawing something from 1985.

So, I went loooking for clothing from 1885 and came cross this Barbie dresses from Oscar De La Renta. I love Oscar De La Renta’s designs and I had no idea he’d done a series of Barbie clothing. Inspired, I combined this dress and this dress. You can see more of his Barbie designs here and here.

My mother was pretty anti-Barbie when I was a kid. She felt that it wasn’t a healthy body type for girls to aspire too, so she mostly bought me Ginny dolls. I did have a few Barbies, of course, but they weren’t my favorites.

Anyway, I’m sure Julie and Boots are posting great outfits over on Popculture & Paper Dolls and Paper Doll School, so go check those out to flash out your Collaborative Paper Doll Project wardrobe.

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Need a doll to wear this stylish outfit? Grab the Doll here.

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