tights Archives • Paper Thin Personas

Fall Fashionista:A Printable Brunette Paper Doll

February 21, 2024

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

A Printable Brunette Paper Doll with a mix and match wardrobe.

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

I worked on this printable paper doll while I was visiting my family for a week. My niece helped me pick out the colors for her and I was happy to create a printable brunette paper doll for her.

My niece’s choice of this color scheme from my Pinterest board injected a splash of vibrancy into the project, particularly with her love for the color purple. I found that I needed more than the four colors of the scheme, so added the pink in for coordination. Like many kids, she loves bright colors with strong contrast. She also asked for brown hair and blue eyes.

Any time spent with my niece and nephew are highlights of my trips. We played paper dolls, went swimming, and went to the theater.

While I thought of this paper doll as being autumnal when I drew her, I suppose she could also be a spring paper doll- transitional clothing for the warming weather. I did give her a rather autumn themed title. Anyway, she’s here and she can share clothing with all the other Ensemble Eclectica paper dolls.

The weather is warming where I live, but it’s still very cold. However, it’s above zero and that’s something to celebrate.

A Dive into Classic Lolita with Lapis

July 21, 2022

A classic lolita paper doll printable coloring page with one doll, four dresses and two pairs of shoes.

A classic lolita fashion inspired printable paper doll with four dresses, two shoes and some purses.

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Classic Lolita fashion inspired today’s printable paper doll. As I know I’ve explained before, but in case anyone is new around here or doesn’t remember- Lolita fashion is a Japanese street alternative fashion style. It is based on Victorian children’s clothing taken to the logical extreme of ruffled absurdity. Lolita fashion also has a bunch of sub-genre’s (like anything in the alt-fashion world). There’s sailor Lolita, gothic Lolita, sweet Lolita, and, of course, classic lolita which is what I’m sharing today. I thought this article was a nice quick overview of the major three styles- sweet, classic and gothic.

Classic Lolita is generally thought to be a much more toned down and refined Lolita style. It’s often called a little more mature, but that’s just in comparison to Sweet Lolita, which can be… a lot. I haven’t done a sweet lolita paper doll printable set yet for the Jewels and Gemstones. So, I’ll link this Sweet Lolita paper doll from my Dames and Dandies collection. You can see the contrast between that illustration and these without much trouble, I think (well, I hope anyway.)

There’s certainly some cottage-core trend filtering into here too. There’s a lot of scholarship about how times of social unrest also tend to be times of feminine dress. The Great Depression, for example, heralded a return to lady-like. There’s really no proof for the so-called Hemline Theory– where skirt length can be tied to economic highs and lows. Personally, I think it’s more likely that people just want a return to what they see as “safe” and “normal”. In times of social upheaval, that’s a return to a pervious time that’s perceived as being idyllic, even if such a time never actually existed. Anyway, I digress…

I keep a Lolita fashion Pinterest board for all my gathering up documentation on this fashion style. This dress and this dress inspired today’s dresses, though I think one is more gothic than classic. This paper doll was one of the few times when I’ve really dived into a color scheme. I don’t tend to use these sorts of muted soft colors that often, which is a pity, because I really love how it looks. Makes me want to use these sorts of colors on more printable paper doll creations.

Qi Lolita: A 2019 Patreon Friday Paper Doll

January 2, 2020January 2, 2020

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

One thing I am super excited to do in 2020 is get to share some of the Patreon Friday paper dolls I created in 2019. Not all of them, of course, but a few. My 2 dollar Friday Paper Doll Club folks got pretty close to 52 extra paper dolls (I did miss a week here or there with travel/moving/job interviews).

If you’d like to join the 2 dollar a month Friday Paper Doll Club it’s super easy. Just hop over to Patreon and sign up. The best part of signing up now is that you get access to all the paper doll outfits and dolls I created for 2019, which makes this an even better deal.

Inspiration for Today’s Printable Paper Doll

There’s a Japanese street fashion style called Qi Lolita. Lolita is a fantasy version of Victorian clothing. Qi Lolita is that same style crossed with traditional Chinese clothing. This dress provided both my source image and my color scheme, which is part of why I like it so much. It’s a very unusual color scheme for Lolita clothing and I really loved that about it. At least, I haven’t seen a lot in these colors, I might just not know the right brands to be looking at.

Sources: This dress was some of my inspiration. Also, these shoes and this purse.

Learn & See More

On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls & my other Lolita fashion paper dolls
Around the Internet: My Lolita Fashion Pinterest Board and a Qi Lolita Overview

Last Thoughts on today’s Qi Lolita Paper Doll Dress

When I look back at a year of paper doll creations, there’s always one or two that I’m still pretty happy with. There’s also always one or two I’m sort of not sure about.

In deciding to offer a 2 dollar Friday Paper Doll Club to my patrons, I knew one perk would be that I would then recycle some of the content over the next year, allowing me to double the lifespan of some of my paper doll creations. So, I’m pretty happy to share today’s Qi Lolita paper doll dress and maybe entice a few of you to consider joining us over on Patreon.

Sweet Lolita Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2019February 14, 2019

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

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
In the world of Lolita fashion (which is a street fashion from Japan), the outfits are called coordinates. This references the extreme level of coordination each outfit entails. Unlike in contemporary US fashion where “matchy-matchy” isn’t a good thing, Lolita fashion encourages thematic dresses.

A strawberry coordinate, therefore, might not just have a dress with strawberries on it, but strawberry purse, cardigan, shoes, tights and a color matched wig.

This is, in fact, part of what I find so charming about Lolita fashion.

So, today’s Valentine’s Day paper doll outfit is a heart based coordinate. I could have also done a card, letter based coordinate, but I wasn’t that creative.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
Sweet Lolita is today’s theme which is a Lolita style that most folks are most familiar with. Lots of pastel and things. I chose to draw a JSK (jumper-skirt) over a white blouse. Initially, I thought about making these pieces separate, but as it turned out that didn’t work very well from a paper doll engineering standpoint.

Specific Source Images: This JSK (jumper-skirt) from Angelic Pretty. This purse from MILK.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Lolita Fashion Paper Dolls & More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: Lolita brands like Angelic Pretty, millefleurs, Baby the Stars Shine Bright, and metamorphose temps de fille

Last Thoughts

If you really like all things Lolita, I’ve done two other sets for the Jewels and Gemstones. One in Sailor style and one in Qi Lolita for my Patrons.

Tomorrow there will be a classic Lolita set (another genre in the Lolita world) and that’ll wrap up this week.

Winter Fashion Week: Chic Dress & Tights

January 22, 2019

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

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
I knew I wanted to do a dress with tights and I wanted the dress to have a really strong pattern on it. I also figured that shoes with tights could then be worn with other clothing pieces (there will be a skirt later this week) and that way people would have more mix and match options.

It’s really important to remember when creating paper dolls that they are meant to be dressed up and played with. That’s the whole point, so I try to think about that when I’m planning out my outfits.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
I love and delight in dutch wax print fabrics so much that I have a whole Pinterest board for them. But the patterns are often such large scale and so interconnected that they are really challenging to render. So, I tried to simplify those designs to create the pattern on the dress.

Specific Source Images: Patterns like this one, this one and this one.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: My Dutch Wax Prints and African Fashion Pinterest Board

Final Thoughts
I grew up in such a wet place (Southeast Alaska) that I never really understood the idea of a winter dress until I moved to the South. Now I love a nice winter dress, but they aren’t that warm most of the time.

If you want imput in what I create for the blog, join us on Patreon! The funds keep the blog around and you get to vote on things I create. I’m always super grateful for my Patrons.

A Week of Coloring Pages: Cyberpunk Paper Doll Clothing for the A Pose Dolls

August 10, 2018August 10, 2018

Printable Black & White PDF More Paper Dolls & ClothesSo for the last post in our week of coloring pages, I am happy to share this cyberpunk set for the A pose ladies. Just perfect for the cyberpunk Aisha I posted back in May. That was a long time ago, wasn’t it? These last few months have gone by so quickly.

Anyway, I imagine this is a sweater dress, though I suppose it could be made of any kind of knit. The boots were fun. The foot pose of the A pose dolls isn’t very conducive to side looks at shoes, so I’m always pleased when they work out.

The sunglasses will need to be folded around the dolls head and then taped, or glued to make a loop. I made the taps extra long, so you can trim them down as needed and accommodate a lot of different hair styles.

Love the blog? Want to help out? Consider donating through Patreon, liking the facebook page and/or leaving a comment.

Need a doll to wear today’s paper doll clothing? All the A Pose Dolls & Clothing

Poppets Paper Dolls Vintage Inspired Jumper and Tights

May 19, 2020July 25, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: 1960s Betys McCalls designs, like this and this

I finished a commission a few months ago for 1960s paper dolls, and I had a lot of fun dabbling. During that time, I drew this Poppet’s paper doll dress. I was spending a lot of hours with 1960s fashions in my research. Betsy McCalls 1960s designs, such as this set from 1965 and this set from 1964, inspired today’s paper doll set.

The commission was for Costume College, by the way. They were a dream to work with. If I was on the West Coast, I would treat myself to their convention which starts this Thursday. I wish I could go, but being in Alabama does have disadvantages.

Anyway, I don’t plan to do a whole slew of 1960s inspired kids clothing, because a girl can only draw so many a-line dresses. I just don’t feel the same love of 1960’s children’s clothing as I feel for 1920s children’s clothing. My love of 1920s children’s clothing is eternal and intense, as demostrated by my 1920s Children’s Wardrobe Collection. I have a new batch of those done, by the way- 2 dresses and a coat are forthcoming.

Now in the interest of full disclosure, I should note that there is nothing historically accurate about today’s paper doll outfit. It’s not like I poured over tons of 1960s primary sources to put it together. It was more like, “I like this and I want to draw something like it.”

The color scheme was my attempt to do something that wasn’t traditional. I tend to associate girls clothing with bright pinks and teals. Colors I am naturally drawn too, but I loved this combo of orange, yellow and a smoky blue.

It also feels kinda 1960s to me.

Clearly, I was channeling my inner Betsy McCall. Everyone should have an inner one of those, I think.

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

Marisole Monday & Friends: A New Romantics Paper Doll & Her Outfit

July 10, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: A Patron Request for New Romantic Fashions

One of my patrons asked me last year for some New Romantics paper dolls and I was stumped a little.

First of all, the New Romantics music and fashion movement was born in London and I’m not from there. Secondly, it’s actually tough to research fashion from the 1980s. It just hasn’t been long enough for there to be a lot of scholarly work on the subject.

So, nearly two years passed while I tried to figure out what I was doing.

But now I am pleased to present the first of two New Romantics paper dolls.

The second piece of this set is a set of clothing for the guys of the Marisole Monday and friend’s family.

For those you who, like me, aren’t an expert on these things, the New Romantics or New Romanticism was a movement in the early 1980s. Music wise think David Bowie, Adam Ant and Visage. There’s a decent article about the while thing from the Guardian.

Fashion wise, think poet shirts for men and lots of lace for women. Exotic makeup was also a big trend and wild hair. In fact, I don’t think the makeup I did here was nearly wild enough, but I did the best I could given some of the limitations of pen and ink.

Okay, so I know some of my readers lived through this era (and I did, technically, but I was very very little), how did I do? Let me know in a comment!

Think about supporting the blog by becoming a patron. Not only do you get to help keep the blog around, but I am also way more likely to actually draw requests from Patrons. Even if sometimes it takes, you know, a few years.

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

Want to help with the blog’s upkeep? Then donate and become a Patron. Not up for that? No problem, you can always follow the blog on Twitter, leave a comment, and/or like it on its new facebook page.

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

Poppet Paper Dolls Party Dress For New Years

May 19, 2020December 29, 2016

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Rosettes and Kid’s Party Dresses

One thing that super annoys me is when child dolls don’t get dressed like children. So, when it came to designing a New Years party dress for the Poppets printable paper dolls, I wanted to draw a holiday sort of child’s party dress.

I think if you recolored this gown, it could also be a Easter dress or a Thanksgiving dress or any number of other things. So, check out the black and white version if you want to try your hand and setting the Poppets up for another holiday.

You know what sort of amazes me? So, all of last year I posted 10 Poppets paper doll posts. This year I posted 18. That’s a lot more. Now, it is not a perfect comparison, because I stopped posting “sets” and started posting individual outfits, but still. Pretty notable increase I think.

And I can’t wait to keep posting for them. I have a bunch of 1920s stuff drawn and I want to do a fairy tale series for them as well. So if you are a Poppet paper doll fan, stay tuned for next year.

What would you like to see for the Poppets in the coming year? Drop me a comment if you have an idea.

Meanwhile, if you want to support the blog in 2017, then think about becoming a Patron.

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

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Inspiration for Today’s Printable Paper Doll

Learn & See More

Last Thoughts on today’s Qi Lolita Paper Doll Dress

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