I started following @2sisters_angie a little over a year ago. Back then she was posting the typical stuff you see from moms on Instagram— pics of her daughter at the park, pics of her daughter eating breakfast and lots of photos of her daughter playing dress-up.
You know, the same stuff I post.
Then, about nine months ago, Angie's feed started to change. It became clear Angie's daughter (she calls her "Mayhem") was more interested in fashion than the average four-year-old. Mayhem shunned her store-bought princess dresses and started wrapping herself with scarves and sheets creating her own styles.
Then one day Angie got tired of finding her clothes in Mayhem's toy box and suggested they make a dress out of paper. Mayhem loved the idea and they haven't stopped creating paper dresses since.
I've been continually amazed every time Angie's pictures pop up in my feed. The dresses started like this:
And over the last few months, I've watched them evolve to this:
Having a four-year-old daughter of my own, whose biggest fashion moment was putting a red bow around the waist of her green Super Soccer Stars t-shirt and calling herself "Peter Pan", I had a few questions for Angie. Namely…
How much is done by you and how much is done by your daughter?
The ideas are pretty much a 50/50 split, but Mayhem constructs a lot more than most people would probably believe. That's one of the best things about this project, I see her learning new skills every single day. At this point, she knows exactly how many sheets of construction paper she needs to make herself a top and a bottom. She can lay the entire thing out and tape it together all by herself. Definitely, the more complex designs have more of my time invested, but she's literally always beside me learning something new if she's not tearing or taping or gluing while I am.
Do you have an example of a dress she constructed on her own?
She made the dress below entirely by herself. I wasn't even home and she couldn't wait to show it to me and have me photograph it.
Are all the dresses made of paper?
Most of the time. We use a lot of construction paper, but we also use tissue paper, wrapping paper, and gift bags. We have also used silk scarves, tulle, and aluminum foil. Basically, if we can find it laying around the house and it's pliable, it's fair game. Clear packing tape and glue are our adhesives of choice.
Where does she find her inspiration? Is she watching runway shows and award shows?
We pull inspiration from wherever we go. The shark dress, for example, came as a direct result of her first visit to an aquarium.
She also gets a lot of ideas from shows that she watches or books we read, like Minnie Mouse, My Little Pony and Elsa from Frozen.
Sometimes I'll google images the day after award shows, so she can see the dresses worn on the red carpet and pick which ones she wants to make.
We also leave a tab open on our iPad with a search for "project runway dresses" so that we can quickly reference those as well. She's never actually seen an episode of Project Runway, but I did show her a clip one time explaining that there is a show all about making dresses and I thought she might hyperventilate.
Have you always been crafty? Were you a fashion designer in any sense before this started?
No and no. I actually don't consider myself to be the least bit crafty. Don't ask me to build something out of popsicle sticks and pipe cleaners … you'll be incredibly disappointed! Cutting and taping paper is about all we do. And the most ironic part of this whole project is that I am literally the least fashionable person you will ever meet. In reality, I know nothing about fashion and cannot sew a straight line to save my life. A friend suggested I could start sewing these creations from scraps of fabric and I laughed at her. I'll take paper and tape any day over getting anywhere near a sewing machine!
Do you think this is going to be a lifelong interest for Mayhem?
After we made our first paper dress, Mayhem requested another the very next day. Then another the day after that. And no one is more surprised than I am, that she still wants to make them nearly 9 months later. I have no idea if it will continue, but as long as she wants to make them, we'll keep doing it.
Follow @2sisters_angie and #fashionbymayhem on Instagram. You'll be one of the first. She's only got 1011 followers right now, but mark my words— Angie and Mayhem will be discovered soon enough!
If you aren't on Instagram, check out more of Mayhem's creations on FashionByMayhem.com.
If you'd like see my daughter wearing the same striped leggings every day, follow @mommyshorts on Instagram.
Holy cow, those are seriously impressive! I definitely agree that they will be noticed soon and go viral quite quickly!
Ps – I still look forward most to the all pink wardrobe of Mazzy (and her fabulous hair) and the many death stares of Harlow!
oh yeah, totally going viral. my son made a pirate costume out of a whole foods bag with a hook and hat, not nearly as impressive as this! really impressive!
Wow, wow, wow!! These are absolutely amazing and I can definitely handle paper and tape. I can’t wait to show these to my little 4-year old and see what she thinks. And you’ve now solved my problem of Disney’s Elsa dress being impossible to find! Blue construction paper here we come!
This is amazing!!
These two are amazing! I’m so excited to follow their journey. I also really feel the need for a giant window flanked by long wispy curtains.
Love this!
This is seriously the coolest thing I’ve seen in a while! Does she keep all of these dresses or do they trash them when they’re done?
So fun! What a great outlet for this mom and daughter to be creative together – I love it! Thanks for sharing!
These are amazing! I need her to design one for me.
Angie is a long-time friend and inspiration, and having adored her and Mayhem for years, I’m so happy they’re finally getting the attention they deserve =)
So glad you featured Angie and Mayhem! I ADORE their creations!
I love Angie and Mayhem is a DOLL. So excited for their future – I know good things are coming!!
Wow, I hope the girl learns to sew eventually, because she’s going to be awesome – she is awesome already. 🙂
These are soo cool.
This girl is going to be the winner at every bridal shower she ever goes to when they have to make the brides dress out of toilet paper…As I’m sure her mom has always been the winner too in that challenge since she uses her daughter to practice on for it. But yes I am in awe of the creativity she has. Very impressive
Impressed amaze ally’s 🙂
She got a lot more followers on Instgram!
And now she’s on Buzzfeed too!
http://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelzarrell/this-4-year-old-and-her-mom-make-incredible-paper-versions-o
I love this. I’ve followed Angie on Instagram for SOOO long and every time she posts a creation I check how many followers she has because I couldn’t figure out how nobody caught on to how creative she is. I want to say two weeks ago she had like 400 or so…? You’re awesome for getting the word out about her 🙂
LOL @ “If you’d like see my daughter wearing the same striped leggings every day…” Ensembles all begin with fashion staples – remember this.
Give that girl fabric and a stapler!
There is a little girl the same age just outside of Chicago, Designs by Lilly, that could either be an amazing partner or her competition. Mayhem and Lilly or Lilly and Mayhem? Either way Moms you keep it up. Teaching and allowing our daughters to spread their wings regardless of where their talents are is a gift that starts with you. You are the true heroes here.
Y’all know good and well that this little girl did not make those dress nor was she as creative as the tale her mom is putting out there. I think they are doing it together and it’s a cool project. But this little girl is not doing this work.
Really great blog layouts! I’ll have to check them out sometime.You gave some good examples here. thanks for sharing
This little girl has some serious style ! Lauren conrad has even posted about her !
Extremely beautiful and very creative. Such baby dresses will definitely help baby to look really charming and will also boost their confidence.
i didnt new that adhesive tape can make kid so beautiful
WOWOWOW!!! they are beautiful!!! Do keep doing these…may be some day technology will finally catch up with you 🙂 and you could get these made without stitching !! Lots of love to you and the lil one!
This little star has become social media famous. She is all over facebook. A lot of nasty comments from people as well. I think she is stunning and looks to me like she is having a fantastic time in those designer paper gowns !
Jakie słodziaśne <3
I抦 not that much of a online reader to be honest
but your sites really nice, keep it up!
I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come
back later on. All the best
http://Queenvouchercodes.co.uk/lastminute.com
[…] #7. Mini Fashion Designer Creates Dresses Out of Paper and Tape […]
[…] 4. “Mayhem constructs a lot more than most people would probably believe. That’s one of the best things about this project, I see her learning new skills every single day,” Angie told the blog Mommy Shorts. […]
[…] Fashion by Mayhem website 2sisters_angie on Instagram via [MommyShorts] […]
[…] on Tuesday when I posted about the mommy daughter team who made paper dresses? My exact words on facebook were: "You want to see something right before it goes […]
[…] tried it. The paper dress thing. It's the thing to do, you know. I pulled tissue paper out of a drawer, located some scotch tape, showed Mazzy some pictures of […]
[…] like to think I discovered them because when I posted about them back in February, Angie had about 1000 followers. Later that same day, after E-Online and the Huffington Post had […]
[…] week it was announced that Mayhem and her mom Angie, of paper dress making fame, are getting their very own kid’s collection at J. Crew. There will be “Fashion by […]
[…] upon a time, I wrote a blog post about a little girl who made paper dresses with her mom. At the time, @2sisters_angie had exactly 1011 followers on Instagram. That post went viral and by […]
[…] She’s never actually seen an episode of Project Runway, but I did show her a clip one time explaining that there is a show all about making dresses and I thought she might hyperventilate. – Huffington Post via Mommy Shorts […]
[…] on polls, pinning some ideas, and sharing interesting things. That’s when I found Mayhem on Mommy Shorts – the 4 years old little girl behind this paper dress idea. Mayhem and her mom have been […]
[…] Mini Fashion Designer Creates Dresses Out of Paper and Tape from Mommy Shorts – if you haven’t seen this already, you need to check it out! […]
[…] Mini Fashion Designer Creates Amazing Dresses Out of Paper and Tape […]
[…] 4. “Mayhem constructs a lot more than most people would probably believe. That’s one of the best things about this project, I see her learning new skills every single day,” Angie told the blog Mommy Shorts. […]
I am glad to visit here.These all dresses are gorgeous i have nothing to say because this site is wonderful.I was excited about dresses so it is now good opportunity to select one dress all of them because i have to buy it.But it is very difficult for me to chose one dress so could you help me?
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Halloween pumpkin carving ideas for 31st October 2017
Halloween pumpkin carving ideas for 31st October 2017