Pearl Oyster was created in 2023 alongside Vampire Squid with the intentions of being sold together. Much like Vampire Squid, a lot of thought was put behind her design.

Much like the name implies, she is inspired by a pearl oyster. I wasn’t so much inspired by its looks so much as how you eat one, however. When I think of oysters at a restaurant, I think of high class fine-dining, sipping wine on a terrace, & fancy dates. That’s the direction I took with this character.

Starting off with the dress, I knew i wanted her to be somewhat still reminiscent of an oyster, so I chose to make the fringe of her hemline in the shape of the oyster shell. I found the soft nod to her oyster roots visually pleasing without being too overbearing.

The top of her dress was made to very subtly resemble a chef’s coat, a reference on how top chefs usually prepare oysters. This detail is nearly invisible to the average consumer, but adds a wave of personality to the design.

When designing her hat, I needed something elegant that still read as oyster. I chose a wide-brimmed hat to mimic platters that oysters are usually served on.

Finally, it was time for embellishments. It only seemed fitting to adorn her in pearls head to toe for… obvious reasons!