gothic

Happy Halloween: Here’s a Little Gothic Fashionista

Celebrate the October season with this little printable Halloween dress up doll and her gothic wardrobe. A coloring page, this paper doll has a 14 piece mix and match wardrobe.
Celebrate the October season with this Halloween dress up doll printable. She has a cute modern gothic wardrobe and lots of mix and match clothing options.

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

A retro gothic fashion printable paper doll with a mix and match wardrobe.
A retro gothic fashion printable paper doll coloring page with a mix and match wardrobe.

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

A gothic wardrobe paper doll template printable for coloring. She has a 13 piece mix and match wardrobe. A little Halloween fun.
Gothic wardrobe paper doll template printable. She has blond hair, blue eyes, and a mix and match wardrobe. Some fun halloween things for you to enjoy.

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.

Dark Demigoddess: Some Classic Gothic Fashion

A gothic fashion paper doll printable with a little mini-wardrobe of 15 different pieces.
A gothic fashion paper doll printable coloring page with a little mini-wardrobe of 15 different pieces, long straight hair, and lots of outfits you can make.

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

Not sure what to wear to a graveyard? Need something to carefully cut the roses off a bouquet? Consider this gothic fashion paper doll printable, because even if I think swaning around a graveyard would just get my skirts dirty, I can at least pretend. (Seriously, graveyards are muddy.)

Sources of inspiration for this gothic fashion paper doll printable include Evangeline Ghastly (a Tonner doll I used to want when it first came out and I was broke college student who never could have afforded it.) There’s not a lot about Evangeline Ghastly online, so I used the Evangeline Ghastly Archive. There’s also a nice detailed review of the doll on Toy Box Philosopher. Also, things on my gothic fashion pinterest board, particularly photos of fantasy headdresses like this one and this one.

This all started with me wanting to draw something for Halloween. I had this idea in my head that I would get this done earlier in the month, but that clearly didn’t happen. Anyway, since I work best in “groups” there’s actually four of these dolls which are all part of the Ensemble Eclectica: Gothic Glamor Collection. The librarian in me really values linking together sets that people might correlate with other sets. It’s a little bit Dr. S.R. Ranganathan’s fourth law-Save the time of the reader.

(For the non-librarians among my readers, Dr. Ranganathan’s 5 Laws are core to the mission of libraries and still apply almost 100 years after he created them. Soap Box Moment: Libraries are really under attack right now in the USA, and if you value your public library and the librarians there, please pay attention. It’s a scary time to be a librarian.)

Anyway, not that we’ve had a quick diversion into library science 101, we can return to paper dolls!

The Gothic Glamor Collection was originally planned to contain three dolls, but I ended up with enough content to expand out to 4. Originally, I planned for a “skirts and corsets”, “fancy gowns”, “modern goth fashion” as my themes. So, much fun was being had drawing the various pieces that I ended up with a fourth set.

What can I say? I like drawing corsets and fishtail skirts.

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.

A gothic lolita paper doll with curled hair, 3 dresses, tights, shoes and accessories.

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

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.

A gothic lolita paper doll with lavender hair, 3 dresses, tights, shoes and accessories.

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

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.

Pink Stripes In Cybergoth

Today's paper doll clothes are inspired by cybergoth fashions. There's shorts, a tank and an under-bust corset, plus platform boots and striped tights.

Black and White PDF | Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
And today is the last day for cybergoth week on the blog (but there is a Friday additional post on Patreon for my backers).

One thing I noticed in my cybergoth research was a real prevalence of black with a strong accent color and an aesthetic that emphasized matching clothing pieces. So, for example, if the accent color was pink than I wasn’t seeing a lot of deviation from that pink. That meant, that I stuck to just five colors- black, white, pink, blue and green for this whole week.

All of those colors are in the Lapis’s cyberlox if you’re wondering. I did think about that.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
As I often do, I cobbled together several different outfits and pieces to make today’s outfit. Since I used pretty much the same sources for this whole week (because it was a project drawn all at once), I seem to be linking to the same things every time. But that’s okay, because who knows how people will view these posts in the future.

Specific Source Images: This Lovely Lady (her corset over tank) from Pinterest, this Other Delightful Person (her tights) from Pinterest, & these pants from Rebels Market

Learn/See More
On the Blog: My other Foray into Cybergoth & More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: Wikipedia’s Article on Cybergoth, Cyberdog (clothing brand), Lip Service (clothing brand) & Cyber Goth (On Tumblr, Rather NSFW)

Last Thoughts
I know striped tights are kinda of a 90s/2000s thing, but I still love them. Probably because I was in high school back then. Well… early 2000s really. I graduated in 2003.

Over on Patreon there will be an exclusive cybergoth outfit for my Patrons. It’s maybe my favorite one for this whole week.

If you’re ever wondering what my sketchbook looks like or seeing little videos of me inking, than follow me on Instagram. That’s where I tend to share that stuff… Well, Instagram and Patreon.

As Cybergoth Fashion Week Continues Blue Bones

A super fun set of white shorts and blue top for my paper doll cybergoth week. Nothing says paper dolls like cybergoth?

Black and White PDF | Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
As we continue cybergoth fashion week, today’s outfit is one of less traditional. I noticed some cybergoth images used white as the neutral color rather than black. I didn’t want to do a solid white outfit, because I wasn’t sure how well it would mix and match with the rest of the clothing designs. So, I settled on a white and black combination.

I titled this set “blue bones” because the piece over the shirt looks like ribs and a spine to me.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
I loved the original body suit this top is based on, but I had no idea how to make it a viable paper doll outfit!

Specific Source Images: This Fierce Fashionista (her body suit) and these Pants found on Pinterest

Learn/See More
On the Blog: My other Foray into Cybergoth & More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: Wikipedia’s Article on Cybergoth, Cyberdog (clothing brand), Voodoo Maniacs (German clothing brand),  & Cyber Goth (Tumblr, Also Rather NSFW)

Last Thoughts
I always try to remember to thank my supporters on Patreon, because they make the blog possible. So, thank you all!

There must be a term in linguistics for creating new words by combining other words like cyberpunk + goth = cybergoth. I have no idea what it is though. Too long since I took a linguistics class in college. Anyone know?

Cyberpunk Fashion Time! Green Goddess

Today's paper doll outfit is a cybergoth dress with boots and furry leg-warmers. It's meant to be printed in color or black and white for coloring.

Black and White PDF | Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
As we continue our cybergoth theme, I thought it would be fun to share a little fact that I don’t know how many of my readers know. My first cybergoth paper doll, Circuits and Fishnet, remains to this day the only paper doll I’ve ever had someone tell me was not appropriate for children.

As I said that the time, if you don’t think the paper doll is appropriate for children than might I suggest not giving it to any? That’ll solve the problem.

Seriously though, I’m fascinated that a paper doll (of all things) got an angry email from a reader.

I guess you never can tell what will set someone off.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
I didn’t have a lot of specific reference images. The dress was based on my own design, though I did use a lot of source images for aesthetic reasons. I’ve linked two below.

Specific Source Images: This Fierce Fashionista (her furry leg warmers) and this Other Fierce Fashionista (the top on the left) from Pinterest

Learn/See More
On the Blog: My other Foray into Cybergoth & More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: Wikipedia’s Article on Cybergoth, Cyberdog (clothing brand), Lip Service (clothing brand) & Cyber Goth (Tumblr, Maybe NSFW)

Last Thoughts
One of the challenges of cybergoth fashion for me is the styles love of pvc which is very shiny. So, this whole set was a great challenge for me in my “shiny” reflection skills. I love to challenge myself.

This week would have been random stuff, but my patrons voted for cybergoth. Supporting the blog through Patreon keeps it on the interwebs.

Also, when ever I see those furry leg warmers, my thought is- “Omg, someone skinned a Muppet.”

Lapis is Celebrating Cybergoth

A cybergoth fashion paper doll named Lapis with a dress and two pairs of shoes. She's free to print in color or as a coloring page.

Black and White PDF | Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
This week every post on the blog (and the Friday post for my patrons) will be cybergoth themed. I’m sort of excited, because I haven’t done cybergoth paper dolls in a long time- the last one was in 2012.

So, based on my limited understanding, Cybergoth is largely a European fashion style. It’s basically what might happen if rave fashion and goth fashion had a love child with an obsession with crazy hair pieces. Think a lot of torn fishnet and pvc, plus gas masks and googles. It’s not a style I would ever wear (but like, neither are 99% of my paper dolls) and that’s okay!

The hair pieces are really important to the style, so I knew I needed to make sure I had one.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
A lot of cybergoth clothing style is very close to being cyberpunk or rave fashion. The hairpieces are a big differentiator, so I spent a fair bit of time researching what are often called “cyberlox” which is a combination of the words cyber and dreadlocks. Some of them are even made of fiberoptic materials or rubber.

I rarely put a NSFW disclaimer on anything, because I draw paper dolls and they’re hardly X rated, but I will openly state that some of the Tumblrs I have linked too, while I didn’t see any nudity, there’s a fair bit of fetish fashion and sexy content. So, don’t be surprised by that.

Specific Source Images: These Lovely Ladies (one in the center) & these Amazing Shoes from Cryoflesh

Learn/See More
On the Blog: My Other Foray into Cybergoth & More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: Wikipedia’s Article on Cybergoth, Cyberdog (clothing brand), Lip Service (clothing brand), Cryoflesh (clothing brand), F*** Yeah Cyberlox (Tumblr site devoted to Cyberlox) & Cyber Goth (Another Tumblr)

Last Thoughts
Tomorrow, cybergoth week will continue with some clothing. I hope you tune in. I had a lot of fun designing these pieces.

A thank you to my patrons who voted for this week’s theme. Your support makes all the difference.

Lastly, cybergoth, what do you think? Strange? Okay, but not your taste? Super cool? Let me know in a comment!

Happy Halloween!

Printable Black & White PDF Printable Color PDF More Paper Dolls & Clothes
Just in case last Friday’s sheet ghost wasn’t your idea of a best Halloween paper doll ever. I wanted to create something else. So, here we have a bit more Gothic fashion take on the holiday. The only thing that really makes these “Halloween” is the color scheme, so you could recolor the black and white version if you wanted a more traditional Gothic fashion version.

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