Buying Things For A Doll You Don't Have.

I definitely think it's alright to have a couple things ready for a doll you may not have yet. If you know for certain what size your getting; a couple staple items wouldn't hurt to have, and it's motivation to keep working towards the doll that will be enjoying said items.

 

I'm in the same boat as the OP. LOL I already know my boy's going to be a painter, and I found the perfect sized canvases at the dollar store. I just put in the order for him two days ago and one of them has already been painted on for the past few weeks. I also recently made a skirt for a girl I'm probably not even going to buy for a long while (gotta save money!).

 

Some of the dolls on my wish list are planned out as to what they'll look like, so if I find a pair of eyes or a wig that works for one of them, I'll snap them up. Bonus points if it's on sale or there's a group order to save on shipping. I try to be absolutely certain that I really am going to buy the doll, though. I have bought a couple things just because I really liked them and never ended up using them (yet), but that's a rare occurrence.

 

I ordered a new gal Nov. 1st... I've had stuff for her for ages LOL... She "requires" nothing. She even has a custom outfit waiting for her... I also have nearly all the outfits for a base wardrobe for another doll I'm not even sure when I'll be able to order lol

 

Pretty much what most of my stuff is. Once I get the next body on the way I'll start buying for my next one.

 

I have to agree with Sigune, that the perfect outfit may not be available when I finally do adopt the doll to go with the clothes. I adopted my first BJD earlier this year. She is the doll in my avatar. And she came as a full set including outfit. I have since purchased several outfits that I liked. In fact I just purchased an outfit a few minutes ago here in the "MarketPlace" and it does not match any of the different doll size outfits I have already purchased. So now once this new purchase arrives I will be sitting on 4 outfits for 4 different doll types. I have seen several different dolls and now I am weighing the options of which doll I want to adopt first. However I guess it will depend on which doll comes up for adoption first. The one main things that I look at is that all of my purchases are within the desired doll size range. And one outfit will probably not fit any of the dolls I have in mind to adopt. Actually I do not care if I adopt the doll for each of the outfits I have since I like every outfit that I purchased.
I fell in love with the outfit and then with Ran's face. So I searched and adopted her.
I would say as long as you are happy with any purchase you make then that is fine.

 

I usually don't buy clothes or wigs for a future doll (I buy the doll then plan her look), however last year that changed as I decided to properly plan a future doll and take my time.
so after I created this character last year, I found the perfect sculpt but didn't buy her right away, because at that time I couldn't find her a dress for her and I never saw a similar wig style to her hair style. so I decided until I buy them all then I will buy her.
so for the next months I slowly found her dress, her body, planned her faceup, and then finally I found her the perfect wig ^^ and just when I received them all, I just went ahead and buy her~ ^^

 

I do, but only after I bought the doll. I prefer to spend money to spoil the dolls I already have rather than on things for a future doll I might not get in the end. But once the doll is ordered and the long wait begin, I always order it at least eyes and basic clothes so that, once home and after I give it a face-up and a wig, I don't have to wait even more to have my character complete.

 

I have no rules
for example for my the last lati yellow I received I already ordered for wig/eyes before she be here.
I am waiting for few doll and I don't buy anything yet.
sometimes I have a clear idea of what I want the doll to be
and sometimes I need to meet it in person before I can decide

 

I tend to plan things out before I order the doll, and then either purchase items for them at the same time I buy them or while I'm waiting. (I really like to have all of a new one's "stuff" here by the time they arrive-) So, yeah. Many, many times I've bought a wig or eyes or a particular outfit for a member of the crew that I didn't have on-hand yet. 'More often than not, honestly. There's little risk in that, since I know going in exactly what size I need and what look I'm after.

A few times, though, I've also come across items that I knew would be perfect for one who hadn't been ordered yet, and might not be for quite some time. That's riskier, because you don't know absolutely which sculpt/size/body-type you may eventually end up going with. It involves some educated guesses. Companies come and go relatively quickly in this hobby, though. Things that are available now may well disappear or sell out and never be restocked, and given that, if you find something perfect, it's wise to acquire it while you have the chance even though there's some uncertainty involved.

The most extreme example of that "I'll need this someday"-thing for me had to be Sjhan's eyes...

I came across a pair of red-on-red glass eyes that I knew would be perfect for that particular character some time around the summer of 2006. Most of the dolls I've typically been interested in use 16-18mm eyes, so I felt pretty confident buying them in that size, even though I had no clue at the time which sculpt I'd end up with as Sjhan's resin avatar. I had those eyes tucked away in the eye-box for something like *three years* before I finally bought the doll who wears them.

 

I personally won't buy anything for a doll unless I've at least put in the order for it. I'd rather put the money for clothes towards the purchase of the doll first. For me, it's better to have a naked doll, than a bunch of accessories, but no doll. I do however understand why someone would buy the clothes first, this is just what I prefer.

 

When I order a doll, I always order shoes and jeans from the same company that makes the doll if at all possible. So you know you have something that fits ..and I hate making jeans, they are so fussy. Eyes are the one thing that I have never known a company to give a radically incorrect size for, so I order those ahead of time. Clothes I make. The trick to getting things that fits your doll is very simple. Make a list of all it's sizes. Keep that list beside your computer. Or better yet, put it on your phone. Anytime you see something you want to buy online, email the seller and ask if it will fit a doll with such and such measurements. Always carry a tape measure with you, just in case you see a one of a kind piece somewhere while you are out and about. Know your dolls height, and how tall a stool, table, chair or couch for it should be.

 

When I first started out in the BJD hobby I bought dolls and then bought things for them, unfortunately by doing that I had already spent a large amount on the doll and really didn't have much for their clothes/wigs/eyes, which resulted in them being nude or bald for awhile So by the 4th doll I decided to buy their stuff before getting them, that way I would be prepared when they came and it would also give me more time to really consider buying the doll in the first place (cause it's easier to just sell clothing and accessories if you change your mind).

So I think it's actually a better idea to buy things for a doll you don't have yet so you can have them all ready to begin the bonding process, plus unboxing threads are such a delight when you get to see the doll all put together at the end

 

I can''t really speak from experience as I'm still waiting for my first doll, but I think it's fine if you're sure about what kind you're getting or have already ordered it. I've bought some stuff for mine already - I don't want to get her and not have anything for her to wear. Besides I really enjoy shopping for her and some of the things I bought were only sold for a limited period of time, so I would lose my chance to get them if I decided to wait.

 

I totally do that! wigs and eyes for sure but shoes and clothes can get tricky if i don't know the size... I have some msd shoes i have never used as a result

 

Well, first it is your money. 2ndly, there is nothing wrong in buying something you can handle even if you don't have the doll yet or will never have the doll. You can always make a table or a box with a glass top that you can open when you want to handle the shirt you bought. Personally, I enjoy handling miniature well-made clothes.

At the moment, I am very tempted to go ahead and buy stuff for a Dollits body that I plan to buy. I am held back by the fact that companies regularly come up with new bodies that I could like better, and buying clothes for a body I end up not owning is just not an option for me. If Dollits hadn't lengthened the D.A.D. body's legs, I wouldn't have this problem.

 

I've been doing this lately. I finally have the Ringdoll head, now I'm just waiting to save for a body, and I've already bought a wig and eyes for him. Is it weird to make up a floating head?

 

I did that once.
During a group order I bought a curly wig in the eventuality I would get an IH Benny one day. And 6 months later I could get her (and she looks fab in her wig!!!).

 

After being in the hobby for a bit... I found I like making things for dolls I know are coming in so I can have stuff ready for them.

My latest doll, I went out and bought things to make her, her own room box. Custom bed and everything because I KNEW she was going to be home soon. I got her really cute little furniture, decorated her house... And made her new clothes too. Now I got her home and it is total love. I just adore her.

My other dolls it's kind of the same now.

I knew they were coming so I tried to be prepared... In the case of my MSD's it was really hard to sew without knowing how they'd work out so I waited.

 

I always have clothes, a wig and eyes waiting for my dolls before they arrive. They just look so cold and bare without!