Paper Thin Personas • Page 62 of 173 • Rachel Cohen's Paper Doll Creations

The B&B Curvy Paper Dolls Get An Autumnal Sorceress Gown

November 8, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:Falling Leaves and Layered Gowns

After I finished the Elements dresses for the Sorceress Gowns Project I wasn’t sure what to draw next. The elements made a lot of sense to me, but then I was like… What other sorts of gown themes can I explore?

However, as autumn has come to Alabama and with it there are lots of leaves turning, I decided an series on the seasons would be a fun thing to work on next. So, today’s Sorceress Gowns Project paper doll outfit is based on the themes and colors of autumn.

I wanted to use colors that I see in the hills around town these days. The rich reds and yellows of turning leaves. I chose to do several different leaf designs.

The staff was inspired by a tree branch, though I’m not sure it entirely works.

And like all the Sorceress Gowns, she has some pretty cool boots.

I haven’t drawn winter, spring or summer yet, so this might end up the lone gown, but I plan on them. I just haven’t decided what I want them to look like quite yet. I’ve been working on thumbnail sketches for those dresses. I think I have a decent idea of what they might look like.

Of course, I tend to change my mind a lot, so it is also totally possible that I will before I do the final dresses.

Meanwhile, Friday there will be a super fun Sprites fantasy set.

As always, let me know what you think of today’s paper doll gown in a comment. I adore hearing from you all.

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

Marisole Monday’s Fantasy Peasant Costume

November 6, 2017November 6, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Um… Not Suew What to Put Here

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.

The Mini-Maidens Get Some Bloomers & a Top Hat in Today’s Paper Doll Steampunk Coloring Page

November 3, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: This Steampunk Outfit

While I was never a big colorer as a kid, I do love creating black and white paper dolls, like today’s steampunk coloring page. I never liked coloring big expanses when I did color. So, the paper doll designs with more detail would be, I think, more fun to color.

(I maybe wrong of course. I don’t work in non-computer media much anymore. Someone who does should feel free to correct me in the comments about my coloring assumptions.)

So, I was very much feeling that I didn’t want to draw another steampunk fashion paper doll set when I saw this wonderful steampunk outfit on Pinterest and changed my mind. At first, I confess, it was the hair that got me, but I also adore the bodice.

So, I set to work on the paper doll’s bodice and the bloomers. Then I did the tights and invented some shoes. Striped stockings might be cliche, but I still really like them.

The hat was a last minute edition, because I thought the outfit needed something else. The set just didn’t feel complete without it.

Personally, the garters at the top of her stockings make me smile the most. I think they are just so fun! Though potentially impractical, because if you must lock on your garters that would just be a pain in the butt.

Still, as I have often said, paper dolls are not a place for practicality. If they did, I don’t know if I could draw them anymore. Half the fun is creating things I think look cool but would never wear.

So, love today’s paper doll steampunk coloring page? Hate it? Let me know in a comment! I always love to hear from you guys.

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

A Pair of 1960s Vintage Paper Doll Dresses for the Ms. Mannequin Paper Dolls

November 1, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Simplicity 7203 and Simplicity 7852

The pattern covers for Simplicity 7203 and Simplicity 7852 inspired today’s 1960s vintage paper doll dresses. The dress on the left comes from Simplicity 7852. Described as an a-line dress, the pattern offered two different colors and sleeve lengths. I chose the bib and contrasting collar for my paper doll version.

I created Simplicity 7203’s tent dress on the right. The tent dress fell in a triangle away from the body and often featured a front pleat.

Because I wanted to showcase the transition between the 1960s and 1970s, I chose the stand collar and pockets to go with my tent dress which isn’t really as wide as maybe it should be. Drawing 1960s vintage paper doll dresses isn’t as easy as sometimes I think it should be.

Also, can we pause and consider the name “tent dress”? Has anyone ever thought to themselves, “I want to look great! I’ll go put on a tent”? I mean… really?

I digress.

As some of you know, I love the Vintage Pattern Wiki whenever I go looking for vintage pattern covers to draw. Pattern Covers provide a window into what the more everyday fashions of the decade might look like. Sure, I adore Yves St. Lauren and Rudi Gernreich, but most people couldn’t afford those looks. Plus, Rudi Gernreich could be a bit out there.

So, my question for all of you is this- Would you wear something called a “tent dress”? Let me know in a comment!

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

Monica in a Cyberpunk Future with Some Super Cool Shoes

December 6, 2020October 30, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: These Super Amazing Shoes That I Would Fall Over In

Every paper doll has a beginning. Sometimes, the beginning is more complicated than other times. Today’s paper doll and cyberpunk dress came about because of the shoes.

A few months ago I saw these amazing shoes on Pinterest and I immediately thought, “Oh, my goodness. I want to draw those.”

And so, I did.

But a paper doll set needs more than one rocking pair of shoes, so I tried to image who/where one might wear a pair of strap covered platform shoes. Strap covered platform shoes immediately equate with cyberpunk in my head.

I mean, you sure as shooting aren’t going to wear them hiking.

So, the amazing shoes obviously needed a cyberpunk dress. I designed the dress to try to match the shoes. The narrow straps on the dress mirror the straps on the shoes. The two tone colors on the dress highlight the narrow strapping details. After all, if I am going to draw tiny narrow straps than I darn well want them to be obvious.

Then I realized that I had drawn a fair number of paper doll outfits in the latest batch of Marisole Monday & Friend’s content, but I did not have a lot of dolls. So, I needed hair for Monica. The hair would also need to be to toned, I decided.

Because if you can match your hair to your shoes, why wouldn’t you?

Need a more outfits for today’s Marisole Monday & Friends Paper Doll? Find More Ladies Clothing Here.

Happy Halloween with the Paper Doll Collaboration 2017

October 27, 2017October 27, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:Halloween! Also, Bats and Vampires

For all of 2017, Julie of Paper Doll School, Boots of Popculture Looking Land and Miss Missy of Miss. Missy’s Paper Dolls and I have collaborated on a shared paper doll project. Each month we each post a paper doll outfit at the end of the month for a shared theme.

The October theme for the 2017 Paper Doll Collaboration was Vampire Masquerade. I wasn’t sure what exactly a vampire would wear to a masquerade and then I thought, “Of course, they’d go as a vampire. That’s the ultimate camouflage.”

So, I set to work to draw a very cliched gown. There’s even bats on it!

And the dress is stained with blood which she says is fake. She might be lying.

For those of you who haven’t seen all outfits from the Collaborative Paper Doll 2017 Project check them out here.

And when you’ve got a change hit up Julie of Paper Doll School, Boots of Popculture Looking Land and Miss Missy of Miss. Missy’s Paper Dolls. They should be sharing their own versions of this month’s theme.

I can’t wait to see what everyone came up with.

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

Poppet Paper Doll’s Get a 1920s Coat to Wear With Matching Hats

October 25, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: 1920s Fashions from B. Altman & Company

I’m writing this post on a Sunday night, as I often do. Outside, it is raining very hard and I am reminded of how much we all need outerwear. So, it seemed fitting to post a 1926 coat for the Poppet’s 1920s Children’s Wardrobe Collection today.

But paper doll outerwear poses a unique challenge, because paper doesn’t exactly conform to the shape of the coat in question. So, when I create outwear for paper dolls, I tend to size up in the hope that the layering will all work out all right.

There’s a lot of complex 1920s coats in magazines. Fur trimming was popular and so were asymmetrical styles. But I didn’t really feel like drawing all that. I just wanted a coat. Nothing too complex.

I haven’t really drawn many coats (or any?) for the Poppet’s. So, I figured if the coat could be both part of the 1920s Children’s Wardrobe Collection and serve as a regular coat than that would be useful.

This is the last piece I have ready to go for the 1920s Children’s Wardrobe Collection, but don’t worry. There’s four more pieces in my sketchbook that I inked today, including some really cute pajamas.

If you haven’t checked it out, there’s about 8 posts in the 1920s Children’s Wardrobe Collection including 2 different dolls.

Just in case you are curious, today’s paper doll coat comes from 1920s Fashions from B. Altman & Company by Dover. I now own all of Dover’s 1920s fashion books, so clearly they need to publish more of them for me. I am running out of places to find my 1920s children’s clothing designs.

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

Víctor Gets Some Contemporary Clothing

October 24, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Skinny Jeans for Boys

So, you might be thinking, “Hey… Wait a second, this is Tuesday? What is going on?”

And you are right! It is Tuesday and I don’t usually publish a post on Tuesday, but I didn’t want to make people wait an extra day for Víctor here. He’s the companion to Yumiko’s sundress on Monday.

Víctor’s not gotten much paper doll love this year. He’s not had a new paper doll set since 2016 and that was when he was busy being the Mad Hatter. I tend to pick Sprites based on “which one haven’t I done in a while?” which isn’t the most scientific method, but there you go.

Designing contemporary men’s clothing can be very challenging for me. Since I work on a college campus, I try to notice what the students are wearing. Despite subscribing to several fashion magazines, nothing beats seeing fashion in the wild. One thing I have noticed lately is the skinny jeans are being worn by the guys as well as the ladies.

So, when I was deciding what I wanted to create modern paper doll fashions for Víctor, my Latino Sprite gent, I knew I wanted to include skinny jeans. I’ve also noticed that colored jeans are being worn by guys, though mostly just greys and browns.

I did see purple ones for sale, but I suspect purple jeans for college boys are an outlier.

I chose the grey and yellow color scheme as a companion for Yumiko’s purple and yellow dress. I wanted it to coordinate, but not really match.

The rest of the week will post as normal.

Looking for something else for today’s Sprite paper doll to wear? Pick out some clothing here.

Yumiko’s Super Cute Sundress to Print and Play With

December 6, 2020October 23, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Um… Sundresses,
I guess?

You know, I haven’t posted a new Yumiko paper doll since last year when she was a fairy. So, I figured it was long past time that she got to get a new look.

To tell you the truth, I would love to have some long involved explanation as too why I chose to create this sundress. It’s just not that complicated. I knew I wanted to draw a sundress and this style has been floating around the fashion magazines lately.

By lately, I mean like seven months ago, because sometimes I’m a little slow on the turn around for my paper doll creations.

I also wanted to draw Yumiko with a different modern hair style. I settled on this choppy bob.

As you may remember, there’s usually a gentleman Sprite to go with the lady Sprites. Fear not!

Tomorrow (I know, not ever a Wednesday!), I’ll be posting a new Víctor paper doll. He’s very dashing!

Love the blog? Want to help off-set the cost of keeping it on line and free? Than pop over to my Patreon page and become a patron.

Looking for something else for today’s Sprite paper doll to wear? Pick out some clothing here.

Mini-Maiden’s Might be Pirates in Today’s Set of Paper Doll Clothes for Coloring

May 12, 2020October 20, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: This Amazing Leather Bodice

I don’t really know what is going on with today’s printable paper doll clothes for the Mini-Maidens. Is she a pirate? Is she a warrior? Is she just someone who super adores thigh high boots?

The possibilities are truly endless. Endless I tell you!

This incredible leather bodice with cut outs inspired this whole outfit. The moment I saw it I knew I wanted to draw it. Beyond that, I wanted to do something different with the boots.

I draw a lot of boots, but I honestly don’t think I’ve ever done a strap pattern like this before. Because I didn’t want the bodice to overshadow the boots, I treated the straps as almost jewelry. That’s why they got the elaborate studding detail and the fancy clasps on them.

This outfit came out beautifully, I think. I still don’t know if she’s a pirate or something else, but I want to find out. (Also I think she can kick my butt.)

So, let me know in a comment what you think of today’s paper doll clothing to color. It’s one of my favorite sets.

Meanwhile, if you need more boots and leggings for the Mini-Maidens than pop over here or here or here. Also, this set works, too.

Man, I do have a fondness for leggings and boots. I never noticed how many I have drawn.

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

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