Download Page 3: Bianca Boo Vampire Aristocrat | The Bianca Boo Collection
Today’s Halloween paper doll dress theme is “Vampire Aristocrat.”
You might wonder, what exactly makes a vampire an aristocrat?
If we’re being literary about it, Dracula can be read as an exploration of how the powerful exploit the powerless: noble men with titles preying on young women without them, a subtle class critique of late Victorian England.
Or, more likely, I just thought it sounded cool.
Speaking of cool, did you see Julie Matthews’ “Poison Bottle” dress? It’s stunning. And really creative.
Every so often, I find myself feeling lucky to have a friend like Julie. She’s someone I can text and say, “Look at the reflection I did on the gems! I’m so proud,” and she completely understands. She also understands digital art far better than I do, which is another blessing. It’s invaluable to have creative friends who are more skilled in areas you want to grow in. Very handy.
Julie mentioned she’s challenging herself to use as little black as possible in the Frightful Frock Halloween project we’re both doing. I really admire that kind of artistic restraint. I didn’t set out with the same rule, but now that I think about it, there isn’t much black in my own designs either. Not intentionally; it just didn’t happen. Art is like that.
Here’s the poem that goes with my Vampire Aristocrat dress:
Bianca Boo, her fangs so bright
Glides through shadows, pale as light.
With velvet grace and eyes that gleam,
Her fancy frock a monster’s dream.
I tried to work the word vampire into the poem, but it’s not the easiest term to rhyme elegantly. It’s also three syllables which makes meter a little rough with it. I could go on… I admit formal verse isn’t really my thing, but I love nonsense verse and light verse.
I wasn’t sure this dress really said “vampire” after I finished it. For testing purposes, I turned to my ever-patient husband. I showed him the design and asked, “Okay, what’s the theme?”
He looked at it for a moment and said, “Vampire?”
Success! The message came through.
That’s exactly what I was hoping for: something elegant and just a little eerie, leaning fully into the creepy-cute aesthetic that makes Halloween design so much fun.
