Lady’s Clothing

A Sci-Fi Marisole Monday Paper Doll Outfit

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Possibly the Cyberpunk/Sci-fi Pinterest Board

A 15th century dress for a paper doll with a headdress based on manuscript illustrations to print and color from paperthinpersonas.com.

I usually try to keep pretty good track of where things come from. I’m frankly not totally sure if I had reference images for this. I went back through my Cyberpunk/Sci-fi Fashion Pinterest board and I didn’t see anything that reminded me of it. But I also drew it a while ago, so I can’t be totally certain.

So, I was thinking a lot about layering and the interesting dynamics that layering can create.

It’s also an outfit that I am a little worried might work better in concept than in execution. The idea is that the various bands wrap around the paper doll’s body and the shorts are layered under the dress/tunic thing.

Given the way the dress/tunic thing is cut it would be rather exposing if there were no shorts involved.

I mean, sure if that’s what your paper dolls are into, no judgement from this corner, but my paper dolls are going to wear the shorts.

I had a really hard time coming up with a color scheme for this set. This color scheme I really liked. I reminds me a little of the 1990s Star Treks- The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager. If it was in more neon colors than I think there would be a Fifth Element vibe.

I also created a pink a teal version. That version is posted over on my Patreon page for my patrons to enjoy. If you’d like to see it, consider becoming a patron. It really does help keep the blog on the internets.

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

Marisole Monday’s Printable 15th Century Dress

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Boccace, Des cleres et nobles femmes, traduction française anonyme circa 1488-1496, Boccaccio, Des cas des nobles hommes et femmes circa 1475 and Maria Maddalena Baroncelli Christus circa 1470.
A 15th century dress for a paper doll with a headdress based on manuscript illustrations to print and play with from paperthinpersonas.com

A 15th century dress for a paper doll with a headdress based on manuscript illustrations to print and color from paperthinpersonas.com.

Today’s Marisole Monday paper doll gown is a 15th century dress. Women’s fashions of the 15th century included a long gown worn over a kirtle or under-gown. These gowns were in a high-waisted style with fullness over the belly decorated with a super wide belt. The belt often had a decorated buckle.

The deep low neck was enough to reveal the decorated front of the kirtle beneath. The neckline was sometime filled in with a sheer linen partlet.

I used a partlet on today’s gown, but getting the transparency was tough. So, it’s not as transparent as it should be.

This headdress is known as a hennin. It was usually cone shaped or a flattened cone. They got pretty extreme over the course of the century, I have to say. If you think of the stereotypical princess than you are thinking of the hennin headdress.

The sources of today’s 15th century dress were Boccace, Des cleres et nobles femmes, traduction française anonyme circa 1488-1496, Boccaccio, Des cas des nobles hommes et femmes circa 1475 and Maria Maddalena Baroncelli Christus circa 1470. One is a painting and the rest are manuscript pages, mostly from France.

I really wanted to play around with color as well. The colors in today’s gown are based on Boccace, Des cleres et nobles femmes, traduction française anonyme. I really loved the green, red and the blue belt. There’s more images of 15th century dress on my 15th century Pinterest board.

The hardest thing to draw for today’s paper doll outfit was the hennin headdress. I must have re-sketched the angle of that headdress a dozen times. The drape on the headdress should be transparent, but I didn’t really want to try

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

Marisole Monday’s Fantasy Peasant Costume

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Um… Not Suew What to Put Here
A paper doll fantasy dress with a corset top and full skirt. Matching shoes with white stockings from paperthinpersonas.com. Free to print in color or black and white.

A paper doll fantasy dress with a corset top and full skirt. Matching shoes with white stockings from paperthinpersonas.com. Free to print in color or black and white.

I’m not entirely sure how to describe today’s paper doll outfit. It’s a fantasy outfit, but it is not really a princess theme. I tend to think of princesses as being more formal. This is less princess and more something a charming milk maid wears in an opera.

Opera costumes are on the list of things I’ve never drawn, but kinda want to draw someday.

Anyway, I’d love to say something deep and meaning full about this one, but I really don’t have anything. I don’t even remember if there was a specific inspiration.

I’d love to say it was operatic milk maids, but it wasn’t.

(Also, is it just me or would Operatic Milk Maids be a pretty good name for some sort of feminist punk band? Sort of Emilie Autumn, but with more cows.)

Anyway, the top is kinda 18th century-ish. The skirt is sort of 1980s. The stockings and shoes have a vague 19th century thing going on. Mostly with the garters, as elasticized garters with metal fasteners were a thing in the 1890s.

Elastic is actually much older than most people think. It was invented in the 1820s for fastening gloves and such.

Oh, before I forget, there’s a second version of today’s design on the Patreon page for my Patrons.

By the way, this week is a themed week. I really enjoy sorting things and organizing them into themes. (Yeah, not really shocking given that I’m a professional librarian.) This week’s theme is fantasy and especially different styles of fantasy. So, today we have a fantasy peasant dress, tomorrow there will be an entry into the B&B Sorceress series and on Friday a medieval fantasy set for the Sprites.

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

Marisole Monday’s Paper Doll Steampunk Outfit in Bright Colors

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: My Steampunk Fashion Pinterest Board and This Photo
A steampunk Marisole Monday & Friend's printable paper doll outfit in bright colors to play with from paperthinpersonas.com.

A steampunk Marisole Monday & Friend's printable paper doll outfit in black and white to play with from paperthinpersonas.com.

When I was creating today’s paper doll outfit, I was thinking about steampunk fashions. I was heavily influenced by this steampunk outfit I found on Pinterest. I particularly liked the two-tone skirt design, which I hadn’t seen before. In truth, I think I copied it a little more closely than I usually feel comfortable with, but that is neither here nor there.

I am still learning to draw top hats, so today’s steampunk paper doll outfit was good practice. I am getting better at them, but I also think hats a generally challenging for me.

Still, I will not get better if I don’t try.

When it came time to color this Marisole Monday & Friends paper doll outfit, I knew I was not going with a traditional steampunk color scheme. I just get so bored with browns and creams after a while.

Of course, if you are looking at this and going, “That is not what I want from a steampunk outfit.” Never fear!

There’s a very traditional steampunk color scheme version on the Patreon page for anyone to download. And of course, if you decide you’d like to donate to support the blog while you’re there, than I would certainly appreciate it.

As always, I’d love to hear what you think in a comment!

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

Marisole Monday’s Early Fall Shirts & Jeans

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Fall Fashions
A pair of light colored jeans and two shirts for paper dolls to print.

Paper doll clothing from paperthinpersonas.com.

Growing up in Alaska, autumn came very quickly. As soon as there was fresh snow on the mountain, known as termination dust, it was time to pull out boots and give up on summer. In Alabama, autumn comes in more slowly. It’s a gradual shift from the humid tropical weather of summer to a damp crisp autumn. While I don’t think the weather will last into this week, last week really felt like fall. Mostly, because we got rain from Irma, just rain- nothing serious where I live, and it made everything cooler and grey.

Of course, for a paper doll drawer like myself, the change of seasons gets me thinking about clothing. So, today, I wanted to share some transitional pieces. I’m not sure tank tops are really autumnal, but since it was in the 80s yesterday, I think they could be.

The colors are more autumn than the paper doll clothing designs. In the fall, I think of wines, rich purples and dark teals. To counter balance, the rich colors, I did light washed jeans. Apparently, bleached denim is back, so I thought I would share some.

I hope everyone is having a great autumn. I’m settling into my routine with grad school and work. The students have returned to campus (yay!) and I am enjoying working with them. I don’t know what it is about college students, but I adore interacting with them.

Meanwhile, what’s your favorite thing about autumn? Food? Weather? Getting to finally wear boots again?

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

A Fantasy Gown for Marisole Monday

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Marchesa Notte Spring 2018 Wedding Dresses Collection

A lavender gown with full flared sleeves, a high waist and flowing skirt. To go with the gown, there is a crown and a book. Free to print from paperthinpersonas.com.

A fantasy gown with full flared sleeves, a high waist and flowing skirt. To go with the gown, there is a crown and a book. Free to print from paperthinpersonas.com.

Today’s Marisole Monday fantasy gown is sort of Ancient Greek inspired, but also a bit wedding dress inspired. A dear friend is getting married in November, so I guess wedding gowns have been on my mind. I’ve become particularly smitted with Marchesa Notte’s designs.

I’ve had as soft spot for Marchesa Notte’s work for a while. It’s so delicate and lavish, that I’ve never felt comfortable trying to reproduce it on paper. Her Resort 2018 collection and her Fall 2016 collections are pure eye candy.

(Actually, all her collections are, those are just two of my favorites.)

Boots took on the challenge and drew 2 plates of Marchesa Notte evening gowns (Plate 12 and Plate 14) for her Catwalk Couture Collection. They are glorious.

Anyway, for my fantasy version, I took off the lace (because I hate drawing lace) and added some additional sleeve details and jewelry. I wanted the gown to feel like the sort of thing you could walk on the beach wearing a perfume commercial. You know, the kind filmed with exotic music and soft focus lighting.

Accessory wise, she has a crown and a book, mostly because I love to draw books.

If you’re a patron, there’s a different color version of this gown up there to see. If you’re not a patron, consider joining. It really helps offset the blogs costs.

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

Summer Time Sun Dresses for Marisole Monday & Friends

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Sun Dresses
A pair of paper doll sundresses to print, cut out and dress up a printable paper doll in. The dress on the left is warm grey with a teal and pink pattern. The dress on the right is pale pink. There is a coordinating purse as well.

A pair of paper doll sundresses to print, cut out and dress up a printable paper doll in.

Personally, when it comes to sundresses, I am strictly a maxidress kinda girl. However, paper dolls get to wear anything I feel like, so we have a mix of two sun dresses today for Marisole Monday and her Lady Friends. These dresses will not fit the gents, I’m afraid.

I have been neglecting the gents of the Marisole series as of late. I should really do something for them soon.

Until then, I created these dresses for Marisole. They are both based on lightweight knit t-shirt sorts of dresses I have been seeing in the stores and in the magazines I read. I am very proud of the pattern on the warm grey dress, but not completely happy with the purse. It feels too structured for the dresses, but too late for it to change now.

I confess that until school starts, I tend to not get a feel for what students are wearing. I work at a college, so when the classes are in session, I feel like I get a good feel for what college students seem to be into these days.

(At least, college students at a small college in the South, which is a pretty limited sample size.)

As always, I love to hear what y’all think in the comments.

Oh, and I hope people take 15 minutes out of their day to go see the eclipse today! I’ve got my glasses thanks to my Mom and am ready for the event.

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

A Printable Paper Doll Princess Ball Gown for Marisole Monday & Friends

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Fantasy Gowns
A fantasy princess paper doll ball gown to print, color, and play with. One of hundreds of paper dolls to print from paperthinpersonas.com.

Today’s Marisole Monday post is princess paper doll ball gown with a full skirt and double puffed sleeves. It’s pretty over the top, though not the most over the top thing I have ever drawn.

I love drawing what I think of a traditional princess paper doll ball gown. You know the type with big skirts and puffy sleeves. The kind of gowns you imagine being worn only in cartoon movies with musical numbers and never by actual people in the real world who need to get through doorways.

All paper dolls are about fantasy to some degree. After all, much of the armor I draw wouldn’t protect you very well and plenty of the gowns I draw would be hard to walk it or move in, but I still draw them. I do care about some levels of realism. I like the for my paper doll clothing to ‘make sense’ in so much as, I want them to actual be able to exist.

It matters to me that layers layer properly and such. Fabric looks like fabric. You know, those sorts of things.

But practicality belongs somewhere other than in the realm of paper dolls.

This dress went through three color schemes or so, before I decided I like this yellow, blue and orange option.

One of the other color schemes, is up on the Patreon page for my patrons. So, if you’re a patron hop over to see it and if you’re not, consider joining. It’s a fun time.

As always, I love to here what you all think in the comments.

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

1920s Pajamas for Marisole Monday & Her Printable Paper Doll Friends

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: 1920s Fashions from B. Altman & Company
A pair of 1920s paper doll pajamas for the Marisole Monday and Friend's paper doll series. The pajamas are based on a design from the 1920s and are pink trimmed in dark pink.

Paper doll Dress. Printable paper doll series from paperthinpersonas.com.

So, it was pointed out to me earlier this year that I had done very few sets of paper doll pajamas. As a result, I’ve been working on creating paper doll pajamas for the various series over the last year. Every paper doll needs pajamas, after all.

One of the things that always surprises me in my costume research is when I see something and I think, “Well, I didn’t know that was a thing.”

All of us, myself included, suffer from the tendency to see what we want to see in historical evidence. It’s very easy to get so used to a time period as to stop noticing it. When I found this pajamas in 1920s Fashions from B. Altman & Company, I thought to myself, “Wow, that’s awfully modern looking.”

Sadly, the illustration was in black and white, so I have no idea the true color of these pajamas. However, I know coral was a popular shade in the 1920s, so that is what I went with. I love the art deco floral design on the right side of them.

One pair a pajamas is hardly enough to make up for years of pajama paper doll neglect, but hopefully this pair helps a bit.

And I think it could pass as super comfortable lounge wear in the 21st century. I’d wear it.

(And I can’t say that about all the paper doll clothes I create.)

What do you think? Would you wear it? Let me know in a comment.

And if you want to support the blog, think about donating through Patreon.

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

Marisole Monday’s Qi Lolita Inspired Paper Doll Dress

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Child’s Vests from China Like This One and 1930s Cheongsam Like This One
A fantasy paper doll dress based on traditional Chinese clothing and inspired by Qi Lolita. Free to print in color or black and white from paperthinpersonas.com.

Paper doll Dress. Printable paper doll series from paperthinpersonas.com.

Most of my Asian fantasy stuff is inspired by kimonos, because I really love kimonos.

However,  this one is actually very much not about the kimono. It was heavily influenced by vests like this one from the Met, this one from the Philadelphia Museum of Art and this other one from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. And some really fun vintage cheongsam like this one and this one. You can see more traditional Chinese clothing on my Pinterest board devoted to it.

The other major influence was Qi Lolita, which is a style of Lolita fashion which adapts traditional Chinese outfits like qipao and combines them with the classic full skirted Lolita fashion silhouette.

Basically, imagine if a cheongsam and a big skirted prom dress had a love child.

Initially, I’d planned to use the floral pattern on the top of the dress. I didn’t actually like the flowers on the top of the dress, so I ended up placing them on the two tiered skirt.

The shoes I have mixed feelings about, I confess.

I created them to try to “fill-out” the post, but I am not really in love with them.

So, what do you think about today’s fantasy paper doll dress? Let me know in a comment.

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