Paperdoll
Making paperdolls as a little girl instead of fashion sketches might have been my way of thinking they mattered. That the people wearing the clothes mattered. I didn`t bother re-sketching all the ladies that were going to wear my nice outfits with enormous shoulderpads..?! I kind of liked the idea of that one special girl who had many beautiful things to wear. Wishing I could be her!!
When I had my first daughter, Filippa, I really had my very first live paperdoll. I made her everything! I just adored designing and making her outfits that I envisioned her in. So remembering my childhood favorite pastime, making paperdolls, and making childrenclothing day and night, I came up with my brand, Paperdoll.
Later on I started working towards building a high tech company which was of course way above my level of expertise. But the idea was simple:
We come in all different shapes and sizes. we should by now have the technology and infrastructure to get our own perfect size made to us when we order clothes online. Sure you can try it on and send it back if it doesn`t fit. But hold on, that too leaves carbon prints.. What would the world look like if you woke up tomorrow and knew it always was gonna be a perfect fit, in an enviromentally friendly way?
That the garment defines your beautiful curves and a clear concious too?
The thing you ordered from standard sizes, that made you rethink your whole value as a human being because it was a bad fit, and you had to send it back, is a has-been. Finally!
The sustainability of our ways of shopping is terrifying but we still do it. The apparel industry, fastracks around the world, in containers. Calculated risk they call it, stores ordering clothing that noone buys.. All in standard sizes.
A waste of fabric and good labor when the garment doesn`t sell at all.
It`s a labor of love making clothes. At least it could be. Give me an embroidery job and I will be threading away like the 1700 s ! Embroidering is kind of like color in with crayons, only a lot more time consuming… A LOT. Every single thread filling in tightly to make a decorative piece. I like how I can multitask with it, take it with me, talk, listen to podcast or have the TV on.
Now I am a teacher in kindergarten. You know what they say, those who can’t do, teach?! Hopefully I’m also teaching them to be creative and think outside the box.. I still design and make clothes. Some I sell, but most I just make for myself and my daughters. Here are a few from my own private collection of Paperdoll clothing.
Childrens clothing
Napoleon called and wanted his jacket back?!
Womanswear
The clothing I make for myself is usually wearable even for work at preschool. Or if I need something pretty for a party I make that too. I tend to start off with a pattern, but….. my shape almost never look good in the standard size! So a little tweak here, and tweak there… Suddenly I have resculpted the whole thing! Body positivity is important, so never let it bother you if the stuff you get in stores isn’t a perfect fit for you. It never is for quite a few of us!!! Girl empowerment!! I feel so good when the clothes sit where it should, and I dont have to feel guilty for having eaten that day…! It really is ridiculous the way standard sizes in stores can make or break a persons spirit. It’s not just the “skinny” sizes, big girl sizes too.
What do you do when you stand there in a tent? You`re not shaped like a brick even though you got hips and bum.
I wish we didn`t have to tweak here and there ourselves but order the perfect fit from a bodyscan in an online store. What if the whole industry could change and adapt to a newer and brighter future in fashion? It would make me so happy!!
costumes
Making costumes also makes me happy. I have made some costumes for theatre and had a blast combining painting with textile like Tiger Lily dresses in “Peter Pan”. Painting AND sewing?! I`m in heaven. My two favorite pastimes combined. Suede or faux leather is a gracious fabric to paint on. And best of all, making costumes is all the research going into it. Whether it is Native Americans or Vikings or any period drama. I can see why this must be the favorite part for real costume designers in Hollywood! So much fun!!
The lace for Wendys nightgown I handdyed. The Viking costume was originally for a play, but now I bring it out every May to teach the kids Norwegian history. When I am “Heidi-battlemaiden”:-)
Beltbuckle of old jewellery
Use what you have :-) You might want to throw away old jewellery that is broken or not fine enough to want to hang on to. But save it for later.
And don`t throw out old bed linens! There you have enough for a couple of supersoft nightgowns, summer dresses and more! Suddenly those playclothes from old curtains in “The Sound of Music” springs to mind… Or Carol Burnett’s epic “Gone with the wind” curtain dress :D
Sometimes I will cut the lace off of clothing that is too small and save it for something new. Actually a table cloth with a nice trim can be more of a scoop to find than buying lace at a store. If your cloth has stains, just cut the trim right off and reuse the trim on something else!
Even childrenswear can become part of something new. The memento of wearing something that places us in a timeline with our loved ones makes the clothing even more special.
Reuse, reduce, recycle
Buckle up
Save jewellery you never wear. You never know when you will find the perfect use for it!
This used to be an itching necklace, now a beltbuckle for a fancy coctaildress.
Best of luck! And know that you are special! No matter your size❤️.