Online Paper Dolls

In 2007, Fifi Lapin emerged online, sporting Marni garbs with Marc Jacobs accessories tucked between her floppy ears and clutching a Tory Burch purse. Other online paper dolls have mushroomed since, with a specific model of some sort (not all rabbits of course) donning looks straight off the runway, and uploaded onto blogs for retail consumption.

To the cynics, fashion illustrations are but useless images without purpose or reason. To the rest of us, fashion illustrations like Fifi Lapin have become iconic figures that represent our generation’s vogue and the modernisation of our childhood paper doll figures.

The online paper doll craze has crept onto Klang Valley browsers. We caught up with two people behind two different fashion illustration personalities who have been spearheading the current trend. There’s Dura, the creator of the Fashion-na-nimal Darlings, a cardboard range of paper dolls, and Jessica Wong, the creator of  Plasterdoll, an illustrated model who always sports designer wear and accessorizes with a bandage in every blog post.

Dura 

Who exactly are the Fashion-na-nimal Darlings?
You could say these girls have been cursed with animal-like features, but are blessed with wicked designer fashion sense, and live in a world I call The Fashion Forest.

What can people do with a paper doll?
Think of it as a collection of fashion. We all go crazy over designer collections, so I wanted to replicate the fun I used to have playing with paper dolls as a girl, only with runway pieces!

Considering you can illustrate fashion design replicas, why not just design your own tangible line?
I've always loved fashion, and have thought of designing clothes too, but I guess I’m happy doing fashion illustrations for now. Perhaps it’s more of a comfort zone to appreciate fashion designs instead of creating them. But I might move into fashion designing later on, since I’m already so exposed to trend rates and style shifts anyway. I do dream of opening my own art and fashion boutique to retail artworks and ready-to-wear clothes under one roof. But that’ll take lots of time and savings, so it’ll be in the distant future regardless!

Do you have any upcoming plans/events for your paper dolls? Do tell! For now I'm working on the "Who do you heart” series, which will feature my girls in specific designer collections. I also plan to make stickers of The Fashion-na-nimal Darlings.

Jessica Wong

How would you describe your current occupation?
I hold the position as creator of Plasterdoll, which involves getting modeling jobs for her, playing multiple roles as art director, hair stylist, fashion stylist, photographer, and even her personal assistant, dealing with appointments and such.

Who is Plasterdoll?
Plasterdoll is an amateur fashion model in the doll world, who has done "fashion shoots" for international labels including Marc Jacobs, Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Miu Miu. Her ultimate dream is to be a famous supermodel, or in her native tongue, a superplasterdoll.

What can people do with a Plasterdoll?
Like any other model, Plasterdoll gets paid for her "fashion shoots." If anyone wanted Plasterdoll to model their labels or designs, they can book Plasterdoll by contacting me. But most people purchase Plasterdoll prints as a collector’s item, they can be framed and make very nice décor for any fashionista’s room!

Do you see fashion illustrations as a growing trend in Malaysia?
I would say it’s still slow but a definite growing trend that is starting to gain more attention. There is still a very limited pool of fashion illustrations, which are all going places. There are Ruben Toledo’s fashion illustrations commissioned by Nordstrom for their advertisement spreads. Then there’s Singapore’s Smitten magazine whose "cover girl" is a fashion illustration itself. Fifi Lapin, the fashionable bunny, also made her way to Australian Vogue, Vogue Girl Korea and Lesportsac products. So hopefully you’ll see more of Plasterdoll soon, prominent in both the local and international scene!

Describe the process of coming up with a Plasterdoll post.

Step 1: Browse for suitable runway shoots from various fashion resources.

Step 2: Decide on the "art direction" (including Plasterdoll’s pose, backdrop, and hairstyle).

Step 3: Begin the "photoshoot" (or Photoshop, to be more specific) and edit until perfection.

What’s next for Plasterdoll?
I’ve been an avid follower of Gossip Girl and have been thinking of dressing Plasterdoll in Blair’s wardrobe! Serena’s too, perhaps. So keep your eyes peeled for that!

Text Claudia Low