Elmyra Duff’s look pairs an exaggerated schoolgirl silhouette with one unmistakable, morbid accessory: a tiny skull pinned directly into an oversized hair bow. The core outfit consists of a baby blue short-sleeved blouse with puffed shoulders, a crisp white pleated skirt, ruffled ankle socks, and black Mary Janes, all topped off with bright ginger-orange hair.
Because the pieces themselves are mostly grounded in everyday vintage-inspired clothing, assembling this costume is largely an exercise in color coordination and getting the cartoon proportions right. The primary challenge is balancing the cheerful pastel palette against the slightly unhinged nature of the character, particularly through the hair accessory and volume of the sleeves.
The Hair and Skull Bow
Elmyra’s hair is a bright, warm orange cut into a chin-length bob with blunt bangs. Synthetic bob wigs straight out of the package usually hang flat against the face, whereas cartoon bobs have substantial outward volume. A light pass with a handheld steamer or a hair dryer on low heat around the ends allows you to shape the hair inward slightly so it frames the jawline without falling limp. If the bangs arrive longer than your eyebrows, trim them straight across in small vertical snips rather than cutting horizontally across the forehead.
The oversized baby blue bow sits perched near the top crown of the head. Fabric choice matters here because floppy ribbons tend to droop flat against the wig under convention lights. If you are using a pre-made fabric hair bow, inserting a small piece of craft foam or thin wire inside the loops helps them stand upright and hold their exaggerated cartoon shape.
The small skull pin mounts dead center on the bow’s knot. A metal lapel pin or lightweight plastic brooch works best here; heavy cast resin pins can pull the center of the bow downward. If the pin backing rotates while you walk, a dab of hot glue or a tiny square of double-sided tape between the skull back and the bow fabric keeps the face pointing forward throughout the day. Anchor the entire bow into the wig mesh with sturdy bobby pins or an alligator clip rather than relying on a standard hair tie.
Blouse and Pleated Skirt
Her top is a pastel baby blue blouse defined by gathered puff sleeves. The gathers at the shoulder seam are essential for establishing the animated silhouette. If the sleeves on your shirt feel too subdued, you can pin a small crescent of tulle or gathered crinoline inside each shoulder cap to maintain that rounded cartoon puff without restricting arm movement.
Matching the shade of blue between your shirt and your hair bow ties the upper half together nicely. While they do not have to come from the exact same dye lot, keeping both in the same soft sky-blue family prevents one piece from looking washed out next to the other.
For the bottom half, Elmyra wears a high-waisted white tennis-style pleated skirt that hits mid-thigh. A structured woven cotton, twill, or polyester blend holds crisp knife pleats much better than stretch knits, which tend to lose their folds when sitting down. Tucking the blue blouse neatly into the waistband gives the clean, sharp waistline seen in her character model.
Socks and Footwear
The lower half finishes with stark white ankle socks featuring folded lettuce-edge or eyelet ruffles, paired with classic black Mary Janes. Flat or low-heeled Mary Janes with a rounded toe box reflect the youthful schoolgirl aesthetic much better than pointed or high-heeled alternatives.
To keep the sock ruffles perked up above the shoe collar rather than sliding down into the heel, opt for socks with decent elastic ribbing just below the decorative trim. A single strap across the instep keeps the shoes secure during long walks, leaving you free to focus on finding unwitting stuffed animals to squeeze.
