Circlefield Mall Character Art

When writing, I make sure to emphasize fashion in Circlefield Mall. For one, it is a mall, so people who frequent these places are more likely to go clothing shopping. Second, fashion reveals a lot about a person. Think about how you dress up for a work interview, a date, or to go sleep. A lot can be said about how you dress yourself.

I have been dabbling in character design as I drew my favorite cartoon characters over and over until I started having original thoughts. I’m sure you can figure out my favorite cartoons based on my art style because of it. I mostly focus on communicating character personality through outfits as I scour Pinterest looking for inspiring fashion moments.

Although a good medium, writing cannot bring the same aesthetics as drawings. So, I wanted to share how these characters appeared in my head along with some inspiration for them: both characters already and yet to be revealed.

Lila

Lila is always fun to draw. I really wanted to draw more alternative fashion, especially since there are a lot of more tame fashion already represented. She’s the only one with dyed hair, a sleeveless fur hood over a cropped long sleeve, and a pair of sweatpants with star patches she for sure sewed herself. I wanted her bangs to look as chopped as possible while still being fashionable and the half updo to look as fun as possible. My inspiration came from Lara Raj from Katseye and as many iconic looks from 2000 to 2010 pop culture.

Eddy

Eddy was one of the first characters drawn, actually. As the first design to be conceptualized, I think that’s why he got the most vintage aesthetic. He wears a tie and suspenders over a light sweater with a collared shirt. His hairstyle is based on the Beatles’s bowl cuts and his face is reminiscent of a people-watching cat. I wanted him to be that one unnerving kid that we’ve all had in one of our classes that is stuck in 1939.

Inez

Inez has the most conventional wardrobe. I imagined she would wear something cutesy but still refined, so she’s dressed in a slit skirt with an oversized white collar shirt with a cropped denim jacket and Mary Janes. Her bangs and face took forever to get as accurate to my vision of her, but they turned out pretty well! Inez’s style is based on Selena on the Amor Prohibido album cover, Sophia Laforteza from Katseye’s photoshoot with Gap, and general school girl aesthetics.

Raymond

Raymond probably cares the least about how he dresses, so he usually goes for functional clothing over looking good. Under his bulky jacket is his work shirt with a pair of slip-resistant shoes, his favorite hat, and cuffed jeans. My favorite part of his face is his sideburns. I don’t know why they’re there, just seems like something he would have. His style is based on workwear aesthetics and honestly some of my own clothing.

Hope you enjoyed taking a look at how Raymond and Inez appeared in my mind! Lila and Eddy’s stories are on their way too! I have a lot more coming out for

, so keep an eye out!

-Fabrizio E. Paco