Doll Fashion Trends?

I view trends in doll fashion much the way I view trends in human fashion. If it's something I find ridiculous, I can console myself with, "This, too, shall pass."

I prefer to -buy- basics, and though it takes some digging -- especially for the larger dolls like the Mecha Angels -- I've been able to find some things like this. The weirder things -- fantasy garments, elegant gowns, sci-fi weirdness -- are things I am more inclined to make for myself unless I happen to see something at a good price that really catches my interest. As a result, I tend to tune out the things that I can't use a million different ways or don't bash their way into my heart like a frilly, stud-covered battering ram of, "You couldn't pay me that little to make that myself."

 

Oh wonderful! Thank you so much!

 

WoW! Hot topic. I think that my doll (yes, only one) gets to dress like I can't. I love the latest runway fashions and the goth/loli and the steam punk and the period clothes. I love it all, but I don't have the figure and many of the fashions I see bjds dressed in would look ridiculous on me. So, I hope to be dressing my doll in all the vast array of clothing trends. And when she gets a friend or two, they can too!

 

If you've only been looking for 1 month, you have not even seen the first crystal of the first snowflake on the tippity-top of the Titanic iceberg of available BJD clothes out there. Also, you cannot rely on companies to make exactly what you have in mind... they're not psychic. You find companies that make styles similar to what you do like, or you else cobble them together from elsewhere (so-called 'unavailable' LE outfits are being sold constantly on YJ or the Marketplace), or else you have them handmade, or else you make them yourself. But don't despair - the variety is out there, and what you want will come to you by some means or other. Won't fall into your lap, though. Takes work.

I was talking about BJDs too, of course. Have you not seen much of Volks's repertoire? So much of it is quite traditional in that same way. The "whole movement" didn't start with just loligoth. Once I started shopping around, at first I said "Waitaminnit, this company sells nothing but historical/international doll-frills and dresses too! Where are all those cool boots I just saw?" ^^ More digging around = more discovery of what is actually out there, rather than sticking with the snap judgment.

Word. And please allow me to FURTHER rant that when you *do* find SD10 boy clothes, they are invariably sailor-suit-fripperies. My SD10 is a grubby skate rat with a Band Aid on one knee, so he has zero outfits that were actually made for him. Talk about a hard size to shop for! I almost wish I DID want to put those Little Lord Fauntleroy monstrosities on him, for easier shopping. Would love it if Volks made some of those Tokyo Boys outfits or H.Naoto-collaborations for that size.

Hot tip for other SD10 boys who don't want to get the shit beaten out of them on the playground: Iplehouse YID & Soom Gem shirts will fit 56-58cm torsos perfectly. And you can always roll up the pants.

Also-- where is everyone getting this weird inability to find nonblack everyday clothes and shoes? Has nobody ever been to Dollmore? Freakin warehouse. And hardly an obscure company to find.

 

I have a boy that's not an SD10, but has pretty much the same sized body, so finding pants that fit can be interesting. I had good luck with Cheery Doll USA--some of their jeans have an SD10 option you can select. The ones I got fit him great and are nice and detailed.

 

Just like human clothing ABJD clothing and accessories have trends. WHn I ogt intot he hobby everything I saw was fantasy inspired or jrock inspired, then there was a lolita period (which relaxed but has never died) a goth phase, and emo phase, the "my doll must wear kimono" phase, the cyber kimono phase...everything has phases and cycles. When your cycle is at the top great, means you can get the stuff you like easy, when it is not you need to find the more obscure producers, you need to shop around, cobble together peices to get your look, but just like in human gear, it is out there, somewhere, always somewhere.

As for irritation with trends that has been expressed, well yes sometimes I do get irritated. I hate in human fashion when something becomes popular and then the mainstream gets hold of it, twists it, mass produces and heaps of people do it because it is fashionable and have no understanding of what it started from. I hate the same thing in BJD fashions. however I do not angst, whine or loose sleep over it. My dolls dress how they dress, whether it is the fashion or not.

The last word on this topic for me is this:

Fashion is transient, style is eternal. Fashions hang around for a matter of months before the next one comes along, this is a matter of economics (you buy more stuff to stay in fashion, I have clothes I have had for 13 years, I don't replace them because I don't need to, but if I had them to follow fashion I would have to replace them every 6 months) Style however is made up of a lot of ill defined qualities, it is not about what you wear but how you present youself, how it is put together, how you work it, your attitude, your demeanor, owning and working with whatever items you are wearing to pull off a look without being desperate about it.

 

Personally, I'm tired of Gothic Lolita and Emo trend because I've seen too much of it. That's just me though. All of my dolls have their own personal style such as classic goth (80s and going backward in time) clothes, 1920's, and other types of mixed outfits from different eras.

I'd love to see more artistic fashion around. Really Avant Garde stuff you'd see on a fashion catwalk or if you've ever seen the wild stuff made on Project Runway. The kind of clothes that are so unusual or just flat out strange that it makes no since.

 

Resurrecting, because after reading everyone else's thoughts, lord knows I have to put my two cents in (and yeah, I'm curious to see what other people think)...

Being a long-time lurker on this and a few other BJD boards, I've seen a lot of the popular styles/trends for clothes and even though I personally am a little sick of things like girly-boys and Gothic Lolita (or what people are calling Gothic Loli - I'll be the first to admit, I don't know a whole lot about the movement), I'm not going to begrudge people for dressing their dolls in looks that appeal to them.

I have my own fixations with how my dolls dress (doll singular for now - future character wardrobes too) which mostly stem from fashion styles that I was too young to experience firsthand or that were too watered down by the time I was old enough to dress myself. So far my one boy is kind of Alternative/Religious in his style but I'm planning for a 'Gothic Fairy' (fashion movement, not a fae that is goth), two Military punks, a candy kid meets kinder-whore and two futuristic Victorian figures (these are inspired by a movie though, so their style comes entirely from the design of the film).

I like seeing diversity in dolls wardrobes but I can understand why people lean towards one style or another - it's really a combination of what's available on the market (I know there is a lot of options but predominant styles seem to be Fetish Goth, Loli, Steam Punk or Rocker) and what other people are doing with their dolls. Its why we call it a trend in the first place - one person starts it off and then everyone finds a way to subtly adapt it for their own purposes.

*Takes off the Media Studies/Public Opinion hat*

 

Interesting thread!

I think its always tempting to think everyone is better catered for than ourselves when we just can't find some specific item we want. But to be honest, think there's a diverse range of styles catered for out there. And if Iwanted some obscure historical costume, I would expect to have to make it myself.

Sometimes it's possible to see a trend emerge because someone does a particular look really spectacularly well and the photos are lovely and the doll is lovely and lots of people see and get inspired to do it with their own dolls...and not all of them will do it very well. But that's ok, people have to be allowed to dress their dolls however they like.
I prefer diversity and originality - even if I personally don't like it it's nice to see new things, but also I hate to hear people bitching about a certain style taking over or being overdone. It seems bizzare to feel so strongly about other people dressing their dolls in a way that doesnt suit you.

I'm pretty lucky in that I can usually find things that work with my dolls style with a bit of searching. 9Nine Style caters really well for my girl. I just don't have the funds to buy any of it!

 

honestly i dont think i've really noticed any 'fashion trend'
yes, there seems to be lots of emo & goth & girly boys but i've also seen LOTS of others different things.

 

For myself, I was very bored witht he lolitgoth-black-emo anime kind of deal that you'd find all over the board. Some of it is ok, and fun, however, I like my dolls to look bright and cheerful, and black is somewhat depressing for photo shoots. I am also more into historical period/clothing, both for the girls and boys, and it is very difficult to find, including 18th century wigs, unless you customize one.

One thing that bothers me here is that there are alot of bjd's out there considered 'fashion dolls' who just look absolutely stunning....and finding nice clothing & wigs isn't a problem, but it seems the goth/anime look is the one allowed here more.

One of the things is, I don't necessarily get annoyed with it, but I simply don't look at it. I get alot of my dolls' clothese from other dolls, since she is an MSD, and some vintage doll clothes for Tammy, Cissy, and other dolls from the 40's & 50's can be adapted to the bjd's.

 

I think that doll fashion trends are ultimately dictated by what's happening with fashion and design at-large. Even a 'traditional'-style costume will be informed by what colors, design motifs, and other elements are happening in the wider realm of design.

 

Steampunk anyone?
I think the doll world is greatly influenced by the trends that go on in our lives. Steampunk has been around for quite a few years, but it has only recently caught on, and so more and more dolls adapt to that style.
I've only been actively into the hobby for over a year, but in that short time the choice in clothing (and for different sizes and everything) has increased inmensly.
Sure, things are expensive, especially when costum made for that doll that has such odd sizes (Zaoll, Rosette, etc) but this hobby is expensive overall if you want to have exactly what you dreamed of. Same with any other hobby.

 

As others have mentioned, it's all in preference, whether for the doll's character or the owner. But as much as I love seeing the popular trends, when it comes to my own dolls, I have the hardest time getting the look I want for them. For example, my main girl Ariana. She has some styles and looks that I can get easy, but her main choice of clothing is feminine/casual. I find that some companies offer those styles like Iplehouse and Soom. But most other places, it's really hard to find something that basic O.o; It would be either too formal (which on special occasions is fine), too loli (she likes loli, but not on herself), or too "glamor" (she's more modest and reserved for that). For my Dyani, she's more of a bohemian style but usually wears "natural" clothing like leaves/flower styles (which I'm currently working on for her basic set), and being a tiny as well, it's hard to find those kinds of looks (at least in a full set or something that isn't part of a set). So I guess my gripe with fashion trends is not being able to find the looks I want for my dolls ><; Luckily casual is so common as gothic/emo/punk for guys, Caleb is not too hard to shop for lol Luna is probably the easiest of the girls, though she's a girly tomboy (basically she dresses cute, but is very active, outgoing, and ain't afraid to get dirty like a tomboy).

 

Yeah, steampunk's been done-to-death here in the doll scene for years, too! Chalk up another one....

 

As far as I can see, there seems to be trends in dress, but not in what's available.
I see far more casual, formal/smart wear and fantasy outfits in real life than I see goth/punk/emo/lolita styled outfits.

At least with looking round online stores, there doens't seem to be any trends at all. Ok, certain companies favour certain design choices along a the lines of a paticular fashion, but its not like every company is making the same thing. There is a massive range available.
If you look around you can find pretty much anything, it may take some time to find but its usualy there.

I don't see the lolita trend though. I see very little real stuff that follows the rules of the fashion and a massive tonne of stuff that is either just frilly girly outfits or a kind of 'hot topic' lolita with a too short skirt, too much on show and miles of bad lace.
I know this is mostly because I am a lolita myself and am aware of the rules, so I know what to look for.

 

Iplehouse and Dollmore, in particular, each have at least a few outfits/separates that are very on-trend for fashionable people-wear. I'd imagine they'd keep that trend going in the future.

 

Really? I've only recently noticed the steampunk explosion D:

 

interesting topic! part of my doll hobby is being able to sew clothing for them. I'm influenced by contemporary streetwear, runway and of course fashion mags & tv and prefer the mature, realistic, fashion looking dolls as a models. EID Jessica and Akando will be here soon and then I'll be able to work on some styles that I've been thinking about.