Upcoming: Plasterdoll
By : Li Ying
Fashion can be such a riot to watch as the newest collections grace the runways, and yet at the same time, are devastatingly out of reach for most of us mortals.
Then, in comes Plasterdoll, an incarnation cavorting around in the most ravishing and coveted pieces that doesn't cost her a limb... because they're illustrations, just like her.
Pair your casual chic Marc Jacob's outfit with Chanel sunnies, as modeled by Plasterdoll.
The enigmatic mastermind behind Plasterdoll, Jessica Wong, is more than just a fresh face on the net, as she is already creating a sensation with this novelty.
Her character may be new on the scene, having just made her debut last June, but the Malaysian-born lass has been playing around with the idea for over a year now. Her fondness for drawing and shopping drew inspiration to strike during her brief stint in the UK.
"I took a 2-month course to learn basic tools of both Illustrator and Photoshop about 3 to 4 years ago, but it wasn't sufficient for me to draw what I wanted. So I got a graphic designer cousin to teach me some skills, and the rest were just practice, practice, trial and error," she shares.
“I first started dressing Plasterdoll up in ‘normal imaginary clothes’, and I focused more on creating a story behind every illustration. But it got difficult and found myself often short of ideas. So I went back to the basics.”
Plasterdoll in Luella.
More than anything, it was the perfect combination of her love for Blythe dolls and fashion that led to the birth of the fashfantastic Plasterdoll. Jessica started taking out ideas from fashion runways, labels and magazines; hence, leading to Plasterdoll’s many “fashion shoots”.
“Once I have decided on the art direction, it takes about 4 to 5 hours to complete a shoot!” the 26-year-old quips. Her recent collaborations with French artist Angeline Melin have gained her well-deserved international recognition.
“We first agree on a particular designer outfit or bag that we want to illustrate, use our individual style and character to complete the fashion illustration, then we then share them on our own blog.”
“It really benefited me as I had a sudden increase in blog traffic, and also attracted a number of French readers. It’s great being able to get our work promoted to each others’ readers.”
Jessica's collaboration with Angeline Melin with a Tod's bag as the focal point.
And is there anyone with whom Jessica is keen on collaborating? “I can only dream of collaborating with Fifi Lapin, the oh-so-fashionable bunny based in London.”
Following on the heels of her newfound success, Jessica plans to expand her horizon with this “Superplasterdoll” phenomenon. “I haven’t played around with Plasterdoll’s skin tone but reckon this is definitely something I would like to explore.”
Her collection of Plasterdoll is currently available online, as open-edition prints, on her blog and Etsy. Each of them is professionally printed and is usually made in modest quantity. “Custom-made Plasterdolls are definitely in the cards too; I will take special orders of a particular outfit you like and then ‘photograph’ Plasterdoll in it.”
That would make the most excellent gift for fashionistas, don’t you think? What is more, Jessica has also told us that real Plasterdoll figures are definitely something she will consider exploring too!
One of Plasterdoll's latest shoots - donning a tutu from Ralph Lauren fresh off the runway.
Lastly, the most apparent question we forgot to ask... why the name Plasterdoll?
"I wanted my doll to be unique, and came out with this brilliant idea to have a plaster on her forehead. And the name 'Plasterdoll' just fits perfectly. The story behind the plaster is that Plasterdoll is less fortunate to be born with a large head. And because of this disproportion she tends to be clumsier and often ends up bumping her forehead into things," Jessica explains.
That's just too cute. Fashionistas alike will no doubt proclaim unfettered love for this rising hot star - follow her star-dusted tracks as she lives her glamourous life traipsing around the most fashionable cities for Fashion Weeks!
