Clothing Shopping: Individual pieces VS Fullsets

Since I mostly like lace-y, ruffle-y dresses on my girls, it makes the most sense for me to just buy full ensembles. But sometimes it is nice to mix/match bonnets/hair pieces, or even aprons. xD Wild, I know.

 

I almost always buy separates, because one of the things I love the most in this hobby is mixing and matching different pieces to make new outfits to dress my dolls in and take pics.

 

Individual. Generally I won’t like something about at least one outfit piece and the full sets are usually out of my budget anyway. It’s just not worth it to me. The exception was one of my girls who has strange proportions and came with her full set secondhand. If I loved the entire outfit I would buy it but I usually buy pieces separate. More flexibility and a lower price for what I actually like.

 

I prefer sets just because I can build a theme around them. I also don't like the stress of whether something will match well or not. With a set the doll doesn't have to sit there while I try to find a dress or shoes that fit. Perhaps it's just cause I never have the time, but individual pieces seem like they are fun in their own way. You could make your own original outfit with those pieces.

 

I prefer full sets because I am always aiming for the fantasy aesthetic. Those tend to be sold as sets instead of individual items.
I do have some individual pieces that I honestly obtained as gifts or I bought to go with the free gift haha. I do buy shoes, eyes, and wigs independently of clothing though!

 

I end up having to buy in pieces. It's mostly because the dolls I own have less standard sizes or they simply don't make clothes for them. When I had more standard-sized dolls I always tried to buy in sets. It just makes things more cohesive.

 

I prefer to buy fullset outfits as I find it troublesome having to find matching individual pieces... Plus I'm drawn to fancier outfits for my dolls in general and those are easier to find as fullsets.

 

Buying doll clothes is my biggest frustration. Usually I want a particular style but can’t find it, or it’s not in the doll’s size. I am struggling through both and will eventually get my dolls all dressed.

 

I buy both, but I used to be an individual-only person.

Now that I've started getting into chubby anime dolls, buying sets started out as sort of a necessity. Most individual pieces are not made for them (favoring slimmer/taller minis) but there is a large community of puyoodoll collectors in China and indie seamstresses that sell adorable sets entirely designed around their thicker bodies.

Admittedly I also used to think that $40 was ridiculous highway robbery for an outfit (lol). Meanwhile most of the outfits I've made from individual pieces probably cost more while looking worse. I'm not a fashion person and my focus has always been on the faceup, so pre-designed outfits are a nice crutch.

 

I think for now I'm not really interested in fullsets, mainly because I have specific ideas already in mind as to what I want my doll's outfits to look like and that seems more accomplishable with individual pieces. I also feel like fullsets kind of take away from the "uniqueness" of my doll a bit, but that's probably more my irrational mind than anything!

 

I do both. Sets can be lovely, but getting a good base of separates to mix and match opens looks up so much.
Even if I use a clothing set I like to add other bits to it.

 

For me to fork out the rices asked for fullsets, it has to have every piece as something I'd want as-is and unaltered - which hardly ever happens, so I tend to buy (particulalrly items I don't like/get around to making) or make individual pieces. Sometimes I luck out and buy the individual elements I do like from fullsets for sale on the secondary market and get them.

Teddy

 

I also understand this situation to live it... But :
- I don't like to buy fullsets because there is always an element that I don't like or that doesn't fit me doll
- I like to buy fullsets because sometimes there are unique or hard to find items of the same style, per unit
- I like to buy unique items because you are sure that you have chosen it and that you will use it
- I don't like to buy unique items because sometimes it's hard to find something to complete the outfit...

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

 

I only like full-sets as in, buying a full outfit a company offers. I never buy a doll full-set as it is, and equally rarely partake in a split to get a specific outfit. But I like buying full outfit sets from seamstresses. There's just something so pleasant about a coherent design

 

There really is no win there....

Teddy

 

I buy both sets and individual pieces. Fortunately I’m good at sewing and pattern drafting for my dolls, so I don’t need to rely on purchased items to complete their characters, which saves me money…but I do love to add special things from other seamstresses from time to time in order to have more variety. I’m all about the fashion, so I love to explore different styles. Sometimes I won’t hesitate to buy a fullset if it really suits my dolls character, and at other times I enjoy buying individual pieces that are just plain fun to mix and match. I am all about diversity in my dolls and in their wardrobes as well.

 

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I’m the same way, lace-y, poofy dresses all the way! And I’ll play with different hairpieces, shoes, or accessories, like scarves and jackets, to make it more seasonal.