@mccarbie
She makes mini iconic Chanel suit, Alexander Wang, Prada and many others designers outfits, Caroline Helsen is still in high school and spend a lot of her spare as a stylist for dolls. Her thorough work can sometimes take 1 month for a doll. She talks more about her creation process and what are her future ambitions.
Tell me more about yourself
I'm Caroline Helsen. I am 17 years old and I am from Antwerp, Belgium. I'm still in high school but in my free time I sew mini clothes and I do modelling.
Where and when did you get the idea to custom dolls with designer or celebrities outfits?
I started making doll clothes when I was 13 years old. At the time my younger sister and me still played with dolls. We really disliked all the pink, glittery outfits the Barbies wore, so I started making cooler outfits that reflected more what I wanted to wear, designer outfits.
Do you have a favorite doll?
My favorite doll is the one in the white Chanel suit from the ss/19 collection. Because it is the most intricate outfit I've ever made. First there was the double bag, then the hand embroidered pattern on the fabric and finally I had to paint some of the details.
The whole outfit took me a month, but it was worth it!
You work must be very thorough, how long it takes to make a doll? What’s your creative process?
Yes, it is. It averagely takes me 2 or 3 weeks to make a look. I usually first find a look in a magazine or on instagram that I'd love to wear or that intrigues me. While looking for an outfit I keep in mind what kind of fabrics I need to recreate it. My mini outfits are always recycled from old clothes or jewellery. Every oufit is a new challenge because of the differences in fabric, structure,... but I love a little challenge. I choose a doll, make a pattern and sew along.
Do you ever plan to create your own outfits or you prefer to keep taking your inspiration from runways?
Maybe I would like to go to the Antwerp fashion academy next year. I already tried to design some clothes for myself. But for my Barbies I prefer their outfits fresh off the runway
Do you have a future project do you want to talk about?
Right now I'm working on a blue dress from the Prada menswear show Gigi hadid wore.
courtesy MCCARBIE
interview LEA LARCHOUANY
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