Doll couples - matching aesthetics important?

The one and only solid, unbreakable rule that I have for my collection has always been that the dolls I want to pose and photograph together *MUST* look good together. That means they have to match both in terms of relative scale and sculptural style... An anime-esque mini like an Unoa, for instance, wouldn't fly as a partner for a realistically-faced full-sized doll like an EID in my crew.

 

I try to just fit it in the story tbh.
River (Iplehouse JID Sierra) is more gothy and dark, but I think with my first boy, I'm going to make him look more relaxed and natural. I think the mix is super cute and I hope I like it
I usually just try and merge their personalities to get the best of the relationship. Although there is no boy in the picture yet (just two girls), River is definitely interested in finding someone soon!

 

1.) If you are looking to get a partner for one of your dolls, how important is it for you that the aesthetics of the two go together?

When it comes to partners I'd like the dolls in question to complement each other. By no means do they need to look alike (I prefer not buying them from the same brand --- although I'll do that for siblings/children), but I don't want them to look like they are from two different worlds... unless their respective characters literally are from two different worlds, heh.


2.) How do you decide if they do or don't?

Lots of planning, lots of research. If I'm able to find owner photos of the two sculpts together it makes me feel better, but if not, I just cross my fingers.

3.) If they don't - do you keep looking or decide to try to make it work?

I keep looking. Forcing it would only frustrate me.

BONUS: Have you ever successfully found a match for a doll that you're completely happy with?

Several:
-- Dolkot Day x Loongsoul Momo
-- MNF Rheia x Dollzone Jake
-- Doll Love Hugh x Only-Doll Tingyun
-- Leekeworld Mikhaila x Resinsoul Song

This doesn't include exes.

I'm still searching for the perfect sculpt for my DOC Elf Petsha's betrothed; I haven't found her yet but I know she's out there! Some of my other dolls have significant others, too, but they're further down on my wishlist.

 

1: If you are looking to get a partner for one of your dolls, how important is it for you that the aesthetics of the two go together?
Sorta important. I like more realistic dolls, so basically if it fits my taste, it'll work. I'm sorta picky with sculps, I generally like a specific style, so I believe any dolls that I bring home will fit with one another. It's important for ALL my dolls to work together, I guess, since they are all apart of the same story and all know each other.
1: How do you decide if they do or don't
Hmm...I have a mental image of what all my dolls should look like. Most of them are heavily inspired by my favorite singers, so I like to visualize my fave singers paired up with another celebrity I like, and I'll match the ideas to sculps.
~ If they don't - do you keep looking or decide to try to make it work?
Since I haven't tried to pair up any BJDs yet (only have one), I'm not sure. However, with my other OT dolls, usually I tried to make it work or matched the doll up with another one of my dolls.

 

I only have one couple planned (boy/girl) and I don't have the boy yet, but I have one picked

~ If you are looking to get a partner for one of your dolls, how important is it for you that the aesthetics of the two go together?
Not very? My guy is going to be a very realistic sculpt and he is going with my manic poisionus pixie, Tripp. However, I do plan on making him a metal loving zombie so they aren't really even the same species. That gives me ample amounts of wiggle room on this front.

~ How do you decide if they do or don't?
They will both be crazy looking and wear lots of black? I just picked one that worked best for the concept I had in mind but I think they will look okay. I am really picky about guy dolls and there aren't many I like very much (for my collection anyway, I do like seeing other owner's boys!)

~ If they don't - do you keep looking or decide to try to make it work?
I'm not sure on this as I don't have my guy yet, but I think I would make it work. I have only started collecting but I get very attached to things so I think I'd find a way to make it work.

 

Hmmm... I have two sets of couples: each set of couples is by the same company, so the sizes and the styles of the dolls are extremely similar. It took me four years to decide on one doll's bride, the first doll I bought in hopes that she would be part of a couple....just didn't work out at all. Yes, matching size , degree of realism and similarity of style really do matter to me. Well, except that my Iplehouse Carina says she needs a boyfriend who is, and I quote, "big and blue"....so I am looking at a Dollshe Grant Phillipe....realistic bright blue 70cm sculpts are not too easy to find!

 

~ If you are looking to get a partner for one of your dolls, how important is it for you that the aesthetics of the two go together?
For me it's very important that they have looks that are close enough to make it believable that they would be from the same universe/story setting. I get even more picky if it's dolls representing existing fictional characters of mine.

~ How do you decide if they do or don't?
It's all about if it feels right to me. If I look at the sculpts and it feels right, then it is almost certainly what I'm looking for. If I'm not sure when I compare them then it's probably time to look for another sculpt.

~ If they don't - do you keep looking or decide to try to make it work?
I keep looking on those cases since I usually have a very clear picture of what I want the result to be. And if they don't match, then I might still get the second doll but make him or her into another character and keep looking for a partner for the doll who is feeling lonely

~ Have you ever successfully found a match for a doll that you're completely happy with?
Absolutely I have two confirmed couples who I am very happy with how they turned out. I'm most proud of the first couple since that was a real challenge to find the right sculpt for the individual characters since they are based of characters I've had for so many years by now that it just had to be right or not at all. I also have one set of "well I would reeeeaaaally like it if we were a couple but this dude just doesn't get the hints... grrr!" dolls who do look great together but yeah... due to character they can't be counted as a couple by far

 

For my Doll-couples, I tend to try and get sculpts that match that doll's personality/character. It really dosn't bother me if a baby-face is paired up with one with a more mature face. As long as they are of the similar height.
I do try to keep the same company sculpts with my doll couples so that the difference isn't too much. (Which is why I have volks and volks-like-inspired sculpts in my collection.)

 

Right now it's not so much of an issue because my incoming Rosemary (RS Lan- a realistic-ish scult with corresponding tiny head!) is human and her partner who I have not bought yet is nonhuman (she's a phouka), so it's okay if they don't "match".

 

If you are looking to get a partner for one of your dolls, how important is it for you that the aesthetics of the two go together? Not at all, anymore than in real life. Both dolls HAVE to look like they are the ages the characters are supposed to be, but where aesthetics come in for me is shelling the original CHARACTER, not coupling up the dolls shelling them. I've already decided who ends up w/whom storywise.
How do you decide if they do or don't? As said, already decided when I picked the doll to shell the character originally. Now I DID make one switch - I had this character that I had originally meant for a DollZone boy, but then got a good deal on a Limhwa Mano. So for a while he acted as Jason. But I wasn't terribly happy about it. He was meant to have a boyfriend that would be an IH Chase. Then a great deal on a DZ boy came up on the MP that I had to get - & I switched my characters (ie the Limhwa is now Aidan, the DZ is Jason). Much happier LOL
If they don't - do you keep looking or decide to try to make it work? I stuck w/my Limhwa being the 'wrong' character for quite a while! But I wasn't excited about getting his BF. Getting the DZ has really made me happy about those 2 guys :d
And bonus if you want to answer it:
Have you ever successfully found a match for a doll that you're completely happy with? Oh, yes. I love most of my couples! One of my favs is my Renji (IH Bichun) w/my Renee (DikaDoll Miao). A lot of people would not like this, as Renji is much more realistic (IH), but he's shelling a guy obsessed w/the Bleach character Renji Abarai, & looks like that character, while Renee totally looks like Rukia (Renji's girl - in the manga - bite me Tito Kube - as well as my dollie world). Those two, dressed as the characters, look like they've just stepped out of the anime.
Another pairing that just makes me squee - again Bleach references - Sebastian (DikaDoll Murong) & Lianna (LoongSoul Luo Yue). Totally look made for each other - smirking away :d They like to cosplay Gin & Rangiku Matsumoto...& again are PERFECT!

 

~ If you are looking to get a partner for one of your dolls, how important is it for you that the aesthetics of the two go together?
They have to be similiar, yes, or I feel they look out of place together. This doesn't mean they have to be the same company though (my Fairyland Shushu is with my Soom Boys)
~ How do you decide if they do or don't?
It's they realistic-less realistic scale... they have to be in the same line of artistic aesthetic
~ If they don't - do you keep looking or decide to try to make it work?
I have never had an experience where they didn't match though in the hypothetical circumstance I would definitely keep looking
And bonus if you want to answer it:
~ Have you ever successfully found a match for a doll that you're completely happy with?
Yes!

 

Oh this is a really great thread! I've just recently bought a boy for my girl and she usually dresses in light moritime style and I'm having the hardest time finding her any clothing. I've looked at some sailor or lolita like clothing for boys but most of it has to much black what do you guys think?

 

Except for the child dolls, all mine are paired up. They come into my life and paired they are -- the only thing I insist upon is that both be adults and both be close to 1/3 size.

 

For me, yes! Its my personal taste that theres harmony and a flowing feeling in...any aesthetic of mine, ever. I usually try to visualize if it will work, if I can put their pictures side by side its a lot more helpful. Then the face-up & clothing style will also help.

Here's a question though...do you think odd proportions could work? Say one's head is about an inch bigger?

Edit

Oh, wow! Your dolls are beautiful! A really nice couple ^^ It reminds me of my situation, although larger scale. My girl is a shorty with a bigger head than the boy and its nice to have some inspiration! See, I was worried on my own & became insecure the other day when I was Googling for answers on the head size thing. Glad to see someone who made it work Thanks for sharing your doll's picture! ♥

 

I'm planning on getting a boy and making a couple with my girl and I think matching aesthetics are somewhat very important. I don't think they have to come from the same company but they defiantly had to look good together other wise wheres the chemistry? Faceups and scale are most important to me when it comes to "looking good."

 

~ If you are looking to get a partner for one of your dolls, how important is it for you that the aesthetics of the two go together?
It is essential that their aesthetics matches. I wouldn't have an anime styled dating a realistic sculpt unless there is an specific relation of a robot and a human (like in Chobits) or so.
~ How do you decide if they do or don't?
I guess is everything about trial and error. You can search in the companies for a companion doll that matches the aesthetics but only when you have them together you can see they have chemistry.
~ If they don't - do you keep looking or decide to try to make it work?
That depends. I had a recent case in one of my dolls. I had a realistic MSD girl and I was looking for a masculine boy for her, ended up settling for a SoulDoll Vito guy and designed a character for him. When he arrived and was completed I couldn't bond with him and I didn't feel chemistry between them. I really though about changing him but in the end I changed his looks and his character and now they are make for each other and I love him to bits. It is awesome what a different face up, wig, and personality can make with a doll.

 

Have you ever looked at two (or more) dolls and thought "they'd make a good pair"? Which doll pairing is your favorite? I myself haven't come across one yet, but I do have in mind what I would want my doll pairing for my own dolls to look like.

 

I haven't thought that about random dolls, but I've created lots of couples between my dolls and my friends' dolls. I think my all time favorite is my Souldoll Iliya/Senior Delf hybrid and my sister's Migidoll Ryu/Junior Delf hybrid.

 

I do this a lot with the dolls of the people I follow but I don't say it, I just ship them secretly with my own dolls LOL.

 

Sort of

All of my dolls are based after pre-existing characters, so there are already established relationships among them. So when looking around for sculpts to suit new characters, I also have to keep in mind how well they'll look with the dolls I already have. I know for some folks it doesn't matter, but I really prefer my dolls to all share a cohesive look and that's what makes it all click together for me and makes me feel like they all work well together.