clothing

Clothing for BJD is similar to clothing for humans, in that there are many different styles that are used to express a certain personality, and that there are a large number of sources and means with which to accumulate a wardrobe.

When purchasing clothing, there are a number of things doll owners must consider. Style, size, quality, availability, and price are all important thing to consider when searching for clothing. While some doll owners are comfortable owning hand-sewn, secondhand, poor-quality clothes, others will accept nothing less than company- or artisan-made clothes that are custom made and one of a kind. Prices for BJD clothes are often comparable to the prices for human-scale clothes; despite the much lower material cost, the tools and skills needed to create a detailed, miniature piece balance it out. Clothing availability runs from standard (always able to be ordered), limited (to a time period, location/event, or quantity), or one of a kind.

Styles of Clothing

• Casual - an 'every day' style of clothing; t-shirts, jeans, skirts, etc
• Trendy - fashion matching what is considered trendy in the modern industry; suits, cocktail dresses, high fashion
• Elegant/Romantic - feminine, flowing, and elegant items that often have a historic touch; lace dresses, delicate fabrics and floral notions
• Historical - based off of actual fashion from human history; uniforms, formal wear, cultural wear
• Bohemian - a natural, earthly style with loose articles and natural tones; halter tops, long skirts, headbands
• Gothic - moody, dark clothes, generally black, generally accompanied by a very stylized faceup; corsets, striped stockings, dresses
• Punk - generally a 'corroded' casual style, with items bearing custom alterations such as rips, patches, references to pop culture; animal-print items, mini skirts, leather jackets
• Fantasy - clothing that consists of elements not common to regular wear, often inspired by artwork, video games, or literature; "Lord Of The Rings"-style clothes, cloaks, loose flowy robes
• Oriental - influenced by traditional Asian clothing; Japanese kimono, Korean hanbok, Chinese cheongsam
• Lolita - a broad genre of clothing that generally includes lace and frills to create a childlike appearance, with many variations (Gothic Lolita, Hime, Kodona, etc); dresses, petticoats, bloomers
• Steampunk - referring to a style derived from fiction that relies heavily on Victorian style, with influences from technology (gears, watches, cogs, etc); spats, waistcoats, top hats
• Emo - a style that is common amongst teenagers, consisting of clothing that is either black and white, very colorful, or a combination of both, accessorized with bright, gaudy hairbows/socks/etc; leg/armwarmers, tight clothing, excessive belts/zippers
• Cosplay - clothing that is copied from characters in anime, video games, manga/comics, etc; very unique items