I am always very particular about dressing my characters. Costumes can reveal a lot about a character and create a personalized silhouette.

For my rabbit hero Proteus, who is rebellious, artistic, yet spoiled by his royal upbringing, I chose an 18th century style. It gives him a lot of freedom in choosing his preferred colors and patterns, and reminds him of who he is even when he lives in exile in a different kingdom. His costume is a disguise and at the same time a form of self-expression.

I chose a silhouette from the middle of the 18th century, when waistcoats became shorter, the legs were showcased more and the knitted silk breeches were tightly fitted. This helped me to incorporate the lower part of Proteus’s body into a recognizable silhouette, even though he does not wear breeches, white stockings or shoes.

The coats at this time were still very elaborate and ornate. Proteus chose a floral design and warm color palette because of his passion for roses and gardening.

He is deeply in touch with his artistic and feminine sides as well, and the gorgeous gowns from the time of Marie-Antoinette were also part of the inspiration for his style.

I’ve noticed that my characters tend to choose various hues of red a lot, but it can’t be helped!