I’ve lately realised that I have far more fashion history resources than I knew. Obviously there are fashion history books, of which I have several. And I’m keeping a decent collection of royal magazines for future potential research/personal archives. (Yes, I’m that person.) Postcards, posters, and other mementos join the group. However, I have come to notice that fashion paper dolls are a fantastic resource as well. I currently only have two books of paper dolls, but I’m currently on the hunt for two more. So, why am I loving these books so much? Style File Friday dives deeper this week…
Fashion paper dolls are not a new thing. In fact, they are actually fairly old- they may go back thousands of years. However, they have been used as a toy as we know it today for over 200, with the first made in 1810. Department stores and designers slowly adopted the paper doll as a form of advertising as well, as it is a convenient way to showcase an entire collection. (Especially before photography was available and commercially affordable!) Now, I don’t think they are as common as they once were, sadly. I think that between Instagram, Youtube, and the million other visual mediums, it is harder to compete.
However, it does seem that there is a small but loyal audience for paper dolls. For some people, I think that they just find them fun. But for other people like me, it is a great way to build up fashion history resources. Obviously there are many photographs available of modern fashion designs, as well as some historic. Fashion sketches and drawings are their own art form, though, and should be admired. In the first half of the twentieth century, fashion designs were largely disseminated via sketches and drawings. (Specifically designated people would attend showings, sketch/copy the design, and then take them back to their store to produce. Another post on that later!) So, I’m happy to have another resource that harkens back to fashion history itself!
Great Fashion Designs of the Fifties, Tom Tierney
This was a surprise find, at the Royal Ontario Museum. I have to say, I was quite disappointed by the ROM. It is known for fashion history but the fashion and textile gallery had Asian paintings in it, and none anywhere. There also were many missing/omitted tags/descriptions throughout the museum. (Meaning you don’t know what you are looking at, and if it is original or a recreation…) However, I did appreciate that the gift shop had a few fashion history items. And colour my surprise when there was a Tom Tierney collection!
Tom Tierney is well known for his paper doll collections. He was a fashion illustrator himself, so moving to paper doll designs came easily. (If you are looking for a fantastic interview with Tierney, please head here!) Impressively, he produced nearly 100 different paper doll collections. While mainly of his collections focus on Golden Age Hollywood actors and actresses, he also covers specific designers and different popular figures. His work is incredible to look at, and I’m hoping to find more.
This is Great Fashion Designs of the Fifties, and features Dior, Balmain, Givenchy, Balenciaga, and more. Obviously I love Dior, but I loved getting to see some of the other designers. (In particular Hardy Amies, the royal purple gown above.) One of the reasons that I feel that fashion illustrations are still a valuable resource is that a talented illustrator can show you movement and weight on the page. Tierney has a fantastic hand, and these are pieces of art all on their own. There is also a wonderful brief introduction to the fashion of the fifties on the inside front cover, to give the reader an idea of background. Overall, a gem!
Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge Paper Dolls, Eileen Rudisill Miller
I’ve had this book of paper dolls for quite some time now, and I don’t think it will be a shock to any of you! The Duchess of Cambridge has long been one of my favourite style icons. And it turns out that royal paper dolls are quite a common souvenir/memento. (One of the books I’m attempting to hunt down is a book of Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret paper dolls from when they were children!) I don’t think that anyone is cutting these up, but the books themselves are still fantastic. And luckily for me, this features several of my favourite DoC outfits.
Catherine frequently wore McQueen in first few years of her marriage, and I think that it is a perfect label for her. People will often criticise her for being boring, fashion-wise, and not taking many risks. I applaud her for knowing what she prefers and pulling it off with confidence. Sarah Burton’s designs work perfectly for Catherine, and I think that we will continue to see more McQueen in the future.
Royal fashion paper dolls are particularly interesting to me given how important royal fashion is. The Duchesses of Cambridge and Sussex can cause a brand’s website to crash in an hour, and can sell out a piece in minutes after wearing it. They create an incredible amount of business for the British fashion industry, and further. Royal fashion can also be invaluable to historians looking back at older periods, and I think that this might be useful in later studies. (Kate Strasdin’s Inside the Royal Wardrobe, anyone??) Catherine is the future Queen of England, and her fashion will be watched for decades to come. Who am I to say no?
Do you have any fashion paper dolls, or use them as a resource?
Cheers,
The Historian
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