Design Lessons from Play Wonder Part Three

Hola!

So we got some good poll ideas and "questions for us" from our last blog post -- but feel free to keep 'em coming -- we'll post the answers and the polls soon, but not for a couple more days. So you still have time to comment on that blog post: http://thedollwardrobe.blogspot.com/2012/06/questions-for-you-questions-for-us.html

Today we return to the Target Play Wonder doll clothing we purchased recently

and Maple ties it into her "Trends to Sew" posts.

So this is Maple here. Whattup peoples.

Warning: Longish Post.

Arista and Kenna are modeling the previously-discussed outfits for us (see Part Two), with two additions -- the jean jacket and the tan hooded vest. We actually turned the vest inside out and used the purple striped side. (We liked how it looked better, haha.)

Things to note for design purposes

1) Don't mess up the jean jacket. 

It is apparently easy to do. This one has little structure and detail. 

All it really has going for it is the denim flower. Which might have been awesome if it hadn't been so huge.

Light blue denim is actually "back" so this color should work, but it doesn't because it is low-quality faux denim that doesn't do the job.

We actually own Liberty Jane's Founder's Day jean jacket pictured below -- so we know a good doll-sized jean jacket is possible (though this one was not "inexpensive").

Check out these human examples for sewing inspiration. Hopefully Cinnamon will release a jean jacket pattern for y'alls soon, and you can start experimenting with this classic fashion staple yourself.

Madewell's Goldrush jacket

Old Navy

Urban Outfitters

Fashionista Jean Jackets from Yes Style

Our favoritest-est-est jacket eva

We want to order this one so badly....

And then rule the world!!!

And we also want to order the guy pictured in this jean jacket....

We don't need to order the clothing (though they are super-cool). 

Just the guy....

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2) Vests are difficult. 

They are like the Advanced Biochemistry of the Fashion World. 

Many clothing companies just make dress vests for men only and stay away from female vests. They are challenging. You have to go trendy or just go home.

This item doesn't work very well. 

The stripes help it to be quirky, but the shape and design don't do the doll any favors.

Look to Urban Outfitters for youthful trendy ideas.

Patchwork denim

Steal the men's dress vest, just cut it for a woman

Crochet it up baby!

Talk about a dramatic look

And trot on over to Nordstrom's Juniors department for 

a jean jacket/vest combo style that can really pull an outfit together.

But don't do what Play Wonder did. :'-(

Fashionista Vests from Yes Style

And because we couldn't resist adding him in....

My Korean boyfriend sporting a man's manly vest.

Can't you see the desperate look on his face?

"Where's Maple???" he is thinking, "She is going to be late for our date tonight!"

Though he would be thinking that in Korean, of course....

A girl can dream, can't she?

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We recommend trying these doll-sized patterns to attain your vestie dreams:

The Cascade Vest over at Liberty Jane Clothing

http://www.libertyjanepatterns.com/2011/10/cascade-vest-and-jacket-pattern.html

LJC also has several other vest patterns available.

And at All Dolled Up: Sarah's Vest, available as a sold item and as a pattern

http://www.alldolledup-dollclothes.com/patterns.html

Okay, that's the end of today's Design Lesson.

Come back next time for some blog post on something awesome from someone..... oh wait, from us. Yes. Come back soon for something awesome from us,
here at The Doll Wardrobe Blog. ;-)

Meet Kidz N Cats Mike!

Warning: Long Post.

Sorry for the lack of posts with pics. We have been trying to edit Mike ones we had loaded in Photobucket and it is acting horrid. It seems to only want to work with pics that are already edited. It doesn't want to edit them in PB. Arrrrggghhhh!

So awhile back we showed you Jakob of the Kidz n Cats line. This post here: http://thedollwardrobe.blogspot.com/2012/02/meet-kidz-n-cats-jakob.html

Today we show you Mike. He is from a newer line of the Kidz n Cats brand with a different, softer, smoother wig. Also, his eyelashes are less full than Jakob's, and he has more joint articulation.

Here he is in his box, lost in his own hair.

Barely able to see...

Legs are very stiff. Notice his super-cute shoes.

Out of the box. Looking slightly startled. That is his normal look.

Still startled, but also amused.

Eyeball close-up.

Wig from the side.

Jakob's wig - you can't see it very easily here but his wig actually has strings in it. And I think you can tell it is drier and stiffer than Mike's from the pics alone.

Mike's jacket.

Back of jacket.

Back of jacket close-up.

Pants, hat, sunglasses.

With hat and sunglasses on.

Showing arm flexibility. Mike has articulation at his wrists, which Jakob does not have.

From the side, including tattoo.

His tattoo close-up.

Posing with Kenna, while she wears his jacket. 

The arms are rather tight on her. But it still mostly works.

Posing with Jakob, who sports a new Kidz n Cats outfit.

All of the Kidz n Cats clothing we have is very well-made and detailed. 

We definitely recommend the outfits if you have these dolls.

Alrighty then!

We finally got all the pictures posted!

Huzzah! Huzzah!

Please feel free to let us know if you have any questions!