Does clothing or shoe availability affect your doll purchasing decisions?

I have tried to teach myself/learn from others how to sew for years now, but with my disabilities it's just not going to happen...so I cannot tell you how grateful I am that there are so many people out there who can make clorhes/shoes and are willing to let me buy their stuff lol

I do usually buy dolls that are "safe bets" in the clothing department, yeah.

But I'd get a uniquely-shaped doll and figure something out if it meant companies would be more open to putting body diversity in their work
If a company sells a unique shape AND offers clothes for it on that size I will spend the extra money if there's a style I like.


i have an oc that's a plus-size satyr and any attempts to shell her as a doll so far have been pretty tough--hang in there, buddy

I'm also interested in this topic and am excited to hear what everyone has to say ^^

 

I really enjoy sewing for my dolls (when I have the time) so I don't really care about whether or not they are standard sizes. Most of my dolls have to share their clothes as well so whenever I buy an outfit I just think "it's bound to fit someone". If necessary I can also do some alterations to make it fit.

Lately I've been working on creating well fitting pattern blocks for all of my dolls. Once that's done (whenever that may be) I hope to be able to create a lot of different clothes for my girls.

 

I can sew from patterns with help, but I have absolutely zero knowledge when it comes to making shoes. I’m lucky that I like fantasy sculpts and some of them I own aren’t meant to be anything but barefoot, so it’s less hassle to worry about finding more shoes for. I hate pleather too so I do worry about one of my dolls shoes that were harder to come by to begin with.

I did buy a Minifee around this time last year so I didn’t have to make everything myself, but I’ve found that my favorites of my collection are the weird ones out when it comes to body shapes and sizes.

 

I voted that I don't buy dolls unless I can easily buy ready made clothes/shoes for them. I honestly don't like my doll to sit around being what I consider 'incomplete' for too long, I really want them to have a so-called default outfit/shoes. I also like to have a variety as well even if I don't plan on displaying the doll for very long in a new outfit, I like to know that if I did want to play dress-up with my dolls I could and I could do so very easily.

I love companies that are one stop shops so to speak and when they happen to make an unusual size, they offer a full outfit and other such items. I know that I'm not going to learn how to sew, I'm just not, and I'm at peace with I'm just not a crafty person (I do think it's awesome though when people are learning new skills for their dolls!) and this hobby is more of a collection for me than something that I want to be a huge creative outlet. That being said, I know that I do enjoy handling my dolls and trying new combinations sometimes even if I circle back to what I originally have them dressed in.

Not having many clothing/shoe options is actually what prevented me from getting a Granado Titan the few times I had the chance but now that bigger dolls seem to be having a popular moment, I would be more open to trying to get one again!

 

If I like a doll but it's a really unusual size that doesn't fit any ready-made clothes, I definitely wouldn't buy it. I have enough trouble finding clothes I like for the dolls I have in common sizes I hate sewing and I don't have the energy to deal with shipping the body to a seamstress so they can make something custom. So yeah, weird body size that doesn't fit anything is an absolute 100% deal-breaker. I'd feel the same if a doll also didn't fit ready-made wigs or eyes.

I will say that if there are ready made clothes that are a questionable fit, I might reconsider. For example I used to have some Fairyland Chicline boys, and MiniFee clothes were hit or miss with them. That was tolerable. Because at least there was something!

 

I don't mind if my dolls remain incomplete and I take my time to buy the things I want for them. In the beginning I did care and would buy outfits, wigs, eyes, etc before i thought what would work for the doll, but now i don't mind taking my time with finalizing my dolls. I don't mind waiting to commission something that will work out for my doll or finding something I need for my doll. The hunt for what I need in clothes, shoes, etc adds to the fun, so i just buy any doll I like without thinking about the availability of clothing and such things. However, most of my dolls would fit into most outfits available in the market due to buying the more popular brands like Idealian. I don't have many non-standard body shape or sized dolls, so that works out for me too.

 

I should probably be more bothered about buying dolls I can't dress than I am. I have so many naked boys.

Anyway I'm in the "don't care if they're naked for a while" camp lol.

 

I don't let clothes, shoes or wigs availability for any particular doll I want, be a decisive factor. I purchased dolls only if I really want them, and can actually afford them when they are available. Nothing else is a factor for me (other than the obvious legitimacy).

I suck at sewing, but when I got into these doll I knew I wanted to sew all their clothes (because I am weird and I like weird stuff). I own some pretty unpopular and oddly sized/proportioned BJD. It wasn't intentional, but that also made it a pain to look for ready made stuff that would fit most or any of my dolls back in the darkages.

Due to my lifestyle choices, finding shoes was also an issue throughout. Now I don't purchase any BJD related items (other than glass eyes, for now), but I did purchase a very unpopular doll size recently for these types of dolls, so I am stuck making shoes (or trying really hard to make those) as well. DX

So, if I really want to purchase a doll, clothes availability for its size is not a factor for me. And it never has. I don't really mind if nobody else has the doll either, I know that is a problem, more so if professional looking clothes, wigs and shoes are a must but it's not something I ever cared about (I kind of care more about realism and proportionate looking closures and b accessories in general). (:

 

I'm with Overlordu: If a doll doesn't have a variety of clothes that can fit it, I'm immediately turned off from buying it. I'd be a bit more tempted if the maker offered a ready-made outfit with it, but then it depends a lot on how much I like that outfit. But generally, I like my dolls to have a lot of clothes and if I struggle a lot to find alternate outfits for them, I have a harder time connecting with and enjoying them...

I have one doll who wears a size that's not common to find these days, and I have friends who are in similar situations with their old dolls. If I knew how difficult it would be to dress my doll, I would have given some more serious contemplation to purchasing her (as much as I love her otherwise. ) I'm constantly on the lookout for secondhand outfits that will fit her since I haven't had any luck finding brand new clothing in her size...

So yeah, as someone who finds the dress-up part one of the best parts of doll ownership, not being able to have a variety of outfits is sadly a big turn-off for me...

 

It definitely makes it a lot easier when there are clothes tailored to a specific body type... I started this hobby collecting super twiggy and long Doll Chateau Minis, and they barely fit anything. I spent a lot of time early in the hobby adjusting a free leggings pattern to fit every new skinny doll I got.

And one of the reasons I love collecting Kumako-style dolls is that there's a whole subculture of seamstresses who make outfit sets specifically for them.

That being said though, I will definitely prioritize unique bodies over "Standard" bodies most of the time. I've learned if they're bigger I can just size up, too. My chubbier 1/4 dolls often wear 1/3 size bottoms quite comfortably. So my dolls usually have something to wear even if I can't tailor new pieces for them.

 

As it stands right now, I've never considered avoiding a doll due to shoe or clothes issues, but now I might. But only for shoes.

Shoes are the biggest deal breaker for me. I've tried hand-making sandals and the quality difference is just too apparent to me.

 

When I first began the hobby I didn’t care if the doll was an odd size, if I liked it I bought it. Over a decade later, I’ve learned that my sewing is hit or miss (mostly miss) and in order to stay in the hobby and enjoy it, I’m sticking with well known companies with standard clothing and shoe sizes. The frustration of never having my dolls look complete and struggling to find clothes or shoes is gone. Now the only issue I deal with is style, availability, and price. I am much more satisfied with my dolls now.

 

Most ready made clothing isn't in the right styles, or has wrong elements like skirt length, or sleeve styles, or fabric, or colours, (or plastic-looking synthetic lace), so I do a lot of making of clothes for my larger dolls, and several of them are difficult sizes to buy for One girl is SD height but MSD width (so off-the-peg stuff would either be too baggy or too short for her). Also, the majority of my SD size dolls are children, not teens or adults, so a lot of the ready made options would be too-mature in style for them, even if the right period styles in the right colours and fabrics were avaialble.

There are more ready-made options I like for the smaller sized dolls,bit some stil need to be sewn for. However, the smaller the doll the less inclined to sew for them I am, so that does figure into my choice of smaller dolls, a little.

Teddy

 

For myself, I don't really enjoy changing a doll's outfit any more times than is necessary for the character/photo session. I'm also usually not aiming for hyper-realism or much historical accuracy with my dolls as the majority of my characters are fantasy or fantasy adjacent. It does help that I know how to alter/repair existing clothing and can do some basic pattern making.

Shoes are still a pain. It seems like the vast majority of 1/4 sized "commercial" shoes are sized for 16" fashion dolls, Minifees, or the older MSD body styles, and have large "bubble" toe-boxes. The majority of my dolls have feet that measure 2cm at the widest point and slightly less than 6cm at the longest. Even with the bulkiness common to materials at this scale, shoes with a width of 2.3cm and a length of 6cm would fit most of my collection.

Most of the shoes I've found have been 2.5cm wide and either 5.5cm or 6.5cm long and my dolls look like a child wearing their parent's shoes. If someone knows of a doll equivalent to shoes that can adjust a few sizes, please feel free to drop a shop name!

 

I really enjoy sewing and have made outfits for my fashion sized dolls. But my choice of doll is almost always odd sized so I have to make clothes regardless. Shoes are something I struggle with but I like a challenge. My boy is 90 cm so all his clothing is tailor made except shoes. I glad he fits some toddler shoes. My next doll will be a big one too but I am excited.

 

I don't like my dolls being naked for some reason? Unless they want to be, anyway, but I have had my last few dolls wrapped up in blankets or hats if they're bald and without clothes for any long period of time I guess I must think they're cold, LOL.
I have thus far been able to adapt patterns or find ready-made clothes to suit my dolls even though I've got a couple that are weird sizes! So clothes not being widely available in their size isn't too much of a deterrent for me as long as I can get close enough; being a perfect fit isn't a necessity for me. That being said, maybe it should be, because some of the clothing and shoe hunts I've been on have frustrated me like nothing else! (Seriously, if anyone knows where to find slip-on Vans/skater shoes that would fit 4cm feet without looking like clown shoes, I'm dying. Help.)

 

It probably should have been a factor for me, but I was excited enough to finally make the leap that I just... didn't factor in clothes.

 

My first doll was an Impldoll Idol, and he's been a load and a half of frustration, where clothing is concerned. Everything is either too big or too small, and both will not be in a style I prefer. It seems that the ~72cm range is just....business suits or blank t-shirts. I lament ever being able to give him the grungy style he demands. I didn't do enough research beforehand, and didn't realize what kinda frustration that would bring. But at the same time, I bought him because I loved his face and I still love his face so....I'll deal. At least they make shoes for him xD

My other three dolls have various animal parts attached. None of them have legs that would fit in pants I'm going to find in shops anyway, so. I would definitely have to say "Character concept trumps ease of clothing" and "I don't mind my dolls being naked for a while".