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*How* do dolls look "happier" or more "annoyed" in particular outfits?

Aug 3, 2009

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    1. I can understand a doll's look changing drastically with a new faceup, a new wig, eyelashes added or removed, or modifications.
      However, I think at least most of us have witnessed the Opinionated Dollie Phenomenon: Where a doll seems to look happier or less happy in a chosen outfit.
      Some of us buy a female doll, and automatically buy her lots of frilly dressed with ribbons and bows, and even simple sundresses. You decide the doll just has a somewhat grumpy or dissatisfied look to her. Then, you put her in jeans and a T-shirt, and -voila!- the doll looks happy.
      Before you get into emotions or characters or anything in that idea, they're dolls. No matter how much you love them, they're molded a certain way, with their face painted a certain way, and their eyes made a certain way. They cannot change on their own. They cannot smile.
      So how is it that they can appear to?

      I'm not talking just little opinions, like "maybe the eyes match the outfit," because I don't feel this is the reason at all.
      Perhaps some professional photographers or artists could shed some light on this?
      Is it, perhaps, that the color of the outfit brings out a certain shade? Perhaps around the eyes or, more importantly, around the lips? That a slim-line outfit might somehow, I don't know, do something to the perception of the aesthetics? Maybe white or other colors can make the face be noticed more, in the case of dolls looking better in a specific color?

      I'm curious if there's a "real" reason for all of this, besides our own thoughts.

      Thanks!
       
      #1 TwistedKitty, Aug 3, 2009
    2. I don't know if there's a scientific explanation, but I know that Fauna looks totally disgusted and won't stand up straight if I put her in Lolita.
       
      #2 Isabeau, Aug 3, 2009
    3. I just experienced this with one of my girls' new dress. The dress is white with a cherry print. I think the red in the cherries bring out her lips, and in doing so, bring out her smile. She seems very happy in the dress. I can't explain it. But I think it has to do with the color.
       
      #3 Chaos Aroura, Aug 3, 2009
    4. Whenever Sachiko is happy *She's a VOLKS SwD Yui* her blue eyes seem to come out, I'll just get little glimses of them...or they won't pose >________> at alll............. and if they're unhappy/want to see something, they'll nag at me inside for it........But I don't know, I don't think just colours it, but I belive these dolls DO have emotion and everything, so...you can just tell. Like how a mother can tell when her baby cries if he's hungry/sleepy/ext. maybe?
       
      #4 Yako, Aug 3, 2009
    5. I've been photographing BJDs for coming up on 6 years now. and i have seen this many many times. An owner will want a picture taken in a specific outfit, but when the doll is photographed in that outfit it just looks wrong..so I always bring extra outfits with me. I'll try one on a doll and show the owner that photograph and 9/10 ten times they'll say she looks happier in it. I truely believe that despite the dolls being,in some people's oppinon, "hunks of plastic", they truely do each have their own personality, i think that is created by their unique features. Every mold is different, while it is ultimately up to the owner to decide what the doll will wear I think that to some extent the doll plays a role in it too.
       
      #5 BatLoverGirl, Aug 3, 2009
    6. Sade is pretty much "Ok" with whatever i put him in, since the things i have for him so far suit him. However...An un-explained phenomenon happens whenever i put him in this hot-pink scarf...He just looks infuriated :sweat I know our dolls aren't actualy "alive" so to speak..

      But I think, as others have said, they actualy DO have their own personalities. In a funny sort of way they somewhat are like our children even though we might not think of a certain doll that way. We can just tell when they're "happy" and when they're not.
       
      #6 Fangirll4life, Aug 3, 2009
    7. I've definitely experienced this with my kids and I think it's probably our subconscious expressing a preference for one outfit or style over another and projecting that pleasure (or lack thereof) onto our doll's "expressions".

      I do know that Heavenlea is most definitely the most opinionated of my girls...she kicks me if she doesn't like what she's wearing!
       
      #7 Krissy, Aug 3, 2009
    8. Iv experienced this. As stated a few times, there is no real explenation for it since we all know they are just dolls, they arent alive and so it isnt possible for them to show emotion. But oddly enough they do. Iv had it happen with my boy Kiyori a few times. He has gotten "irritated" when I put him in something "he doesnt like". Iv also had it happen with Rail, who usually poses well most the time, but will flail and flop around like a rag doll when in something, or wearing an accesory he doesnt like. It is just odd, and a quirk about BJDs that I actually really like.
       
      #8 Foxxian, Aug 3, 2009
    9. I tend to think it's projection from the owner's subconscious. Because most of us have preferences in dress and at least some idea of the doll's character that unconsciously transfers itself to the doll in the owner's mind. My two cents.
       
      #9 rianne, Aug 3, 2009
    10. The most "real" reason I can think for this phenomenon is that certain types/styles of faceups and certain combinations of hair/eye color unconsciously invoke certain character traits. That's how we can look at a photo of a person and say things like, "he looks like a Jason" or "she looks like she would be good with children". We don't know these things for sure, but somehow we just tend to make these types of assumptions.

      All of us work very hard to express a certain image and character with our dolls. Thus even if you don't know the character of a doll, you can usually "predict" a personality type on first sight. So we can perceive "reactions" or "emotions" from them in particular outfits because of our sense of its personality. We each have experiences from real people who are anti-lolita or hate pink, etc. For owners who "know" a doll well, this perception comes very easily.
       
      #10 scarlet, Aug 3, 2009
    11. Certain styles or colors can project an image or mood of their own & they may not fit a certain doll's overall look & that's what you pick up on when it seems the doll isn't happy in an outfit. And then sometimes you run into something that's just so perfect on your doll, so complementary, that the whole look comes together & the doll seems happy. It can have to do with the doll's character but more often I think it's just the overall visual esthetic.
       
      #11 Gwydion, Aug 3, 2009
    12. I think it's this little thing in the back of our subconscious mind saying "Yes, she looks better in this type of clothing than the other!", but I think it's simpler to say the doll looks happy.
       
      #12 Majesty, Aug 3, 2009
    13. Sometimes it must be the owner's subconscious ideas, but it could also be that the colors in an outfit don't flatter the doll, or that the style of clothing doesn't flatter or match with the doll's sculpt, wig style and faceup style.
      These dolls also express different emotion depending on how they're posed and the angle of their face in an image.
       
      #13 Rosslyn, Aug 3, 2009
    14. I think it's just magic; dolls can't talk, so they frown very slightly to indicate displeasure with an outfit.
       
      #14 linakauno, Aug 3, 2009
    15. Seems to be more psychological than anything. Like a feeling associated with a color or style. Unless the doll has a very dramatic expression on their face, their clothes can kind of give you an idea about how they are feeling. Jeans and a tshirt might seem really relaxed, where as a fancy outfit might seem more dramatic. Just my take on this anyway.
       
      #15 GreyLove, Aug 3, 2009
    16. How they look "happier"??? As for anyone else I wouldn't hazzard a guess, but I recently bought my Bobobie Sprite Ilaria S.Hawke a new outfit. Lovely outfit... white ruffled shirt, with gold buttons and gold trim, white ruffled pants with gold trim... and a lovely long black coat with gold trim. She was to look beautiful. I got her into it and no matter what I did I could not get the coat to "hang" on her correctly, it would hang to one side or the other and bunch up on her shoulders. Now keep in mind up to this time this has been a doll that posed like butter and stood like a rock. Never gave me a lick of trouble, until... I could not get her to stand, I could not get her to pose. Nothing, nada. She flopped over, slipped side ways, anything she could do to keep from stand up in that outfit. So I took it off and out her back in her "usual" one and no problem. You would have thought I had an entirely different doll. I guess I put the fancy dress away for maybe some else to wear. BUT NOT HER! Yes she has her ways to make it known "I DON'T LIKE
      IT!"

      - ShadowHawke -
       
      #16 themasterjinn, Aug 3, 2009
    17. I don't know the reason behind it but it makes things fun. And it makes them easier to shop for ^_^
      Peitari hates green (which sucks because I love it). The look on his face is "get this offa me NOW!". He looks very happy in blue and dark red. I don't have enough clothing to know what else he hates.
      Osiris hasn't complained yet. I think he'll wear anything. Sakura doesn't like short skirts.
       
      #17 Arrancar_Doll, Aug 4, 2009
    18. I think for me it can simply be the fact the clothes I have got for my doll dont fit and makes them look frumpy, the clothes will hang on the body and give the appearance of being hunched, slouched etc, a posture that makes them look 'unhappy' with what theyre wearing, like a child being forced into a new school uniform for example! Some clothes may make them look stiff and uncomfortable. Same goes for ill fitting wigs (wigs too big hang over the face and give an unkept look, making the doll appear careless about their appearance and unhappy), or maybe eyes that are too small/big (eyes can really alter an expression though).
       
      #18 honestrabbit, Aug 4, 2009
    19. Awwws. I haven't experienced this either. XD
      When it comes to Citlali.. I don't see her look happier in one outfit then another. I just know which ones she would like better. I just look at her and see that certain outfits don't fit her at all. And see the others that do. That's as for as I go with outfits.. Not expression changing yet. :'D
       
      #19 FlamingStar129, Aug 4, 2009
    20. Oh yes, definitely. Whenever I have Hikaru dressed in his school uniform (white shirt and tie) he looks a bit stiff and uptight...poor guy. But in his comfy hoodie and cargo pants, he seems much at ease and actually happy even though me may not be smiling. It's all with his character though. I still love to dress him in slightly formal clothing even if it doesn't suit his personality. As a matter of fact, I think I will do just that--right now. ;)
       
      #20 HikaruKun, Aug 4, 2009
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