On Doll Carriers: Fit In or Stand Out?

All of my carriers match my luggage since my midgets travel with me a lot, so they're all pink and have various forms of flowers on them. I dunno if that blends in or not since most of my handbags are also of that ilk.

Honestly, JennyNemesis was quite right in saying the world outside the narrow walls of the hobby are clueless and honestly, I find it fun to watch the x-ray machine people at airports headtilt when my carriers go through! VERY rarely an extra curious one will ask me to open them to see, and then I usually spend 10 minutes or so explaining where to get one because invariably they know someone who'd want one so it's all good there

Maybe it helps that most people in my town are used to seeing me carrying a bow case, maybe they just assume it's that?! *shrug* Either way, if the midgets are with me, the bag is ON me or in my hand, therefore no danger.

 

I don't have a proper carrier yet, but I'd either want something bright or a "plain" one that'll take customization well (stickers, paints, etc.). I don't go out of my way to stand out, but I do like my things to be pretty. -shrug- For now, I just use a happy orange coach tote to carry them around.

 

I don't have a doll yet, but I am planning on altering a Violin Case to avoid most questions. After all, its not uncommon for students to be carrying around interments in Portland, so I can most likely get away without any awkward questions.

 

I prefer to blend in. My doll carrier is actually a piece of "personal item" carry-on luggage. It allows both of my dolls to sit up in it and looks like a general suitcase. (It also, obviously, does double-duty as a normal bag for non-doll travel.) However, it's a steel blue--not black--since I like my luggage to be non-black so that I can spot it more easily.

I've avoided getting a real doll carrier because I don't want to maneuver such a long bag. I'm already very awkward at carrying things the way it is. I know I'd whack some poor bystander upside the head by turning around too quickly.

 

I like a middle ground for my bags. I like them to be a solid color, but something a little more uncommon. I think a pastel pink or green would be nice. Black is fine, but it's a little plain for me.

Also, I'm not super worried about theft since I plan to have my BJD in my arms or strapped to me at all times.

 

If you are having something made for you I like this idea of a neutral color on the outside with a fun print on the inside!

When traveling I carry a few dolls and my camera in a well-padded backpack that is black but has some embroidery on it.
For meets I bring the dolls in a child's vintage Strawberry Shortcake suitcase.
My tiny girl has a makeup bag (about the same size as the hard sunglasses cases) with inside pockets to hold her and a friend and space in the middle for extra clothing and accessories. I can tuck it into my purse or into the bag with the larger dolls.

 

all my bjd are tinies so they go in my huge purse wrapped up in their little "sleeping bags" as my boyfriend calls them. when i had an msd i used an old hair stlyest bag. it had a draw string on top and i look about the right age to be going to school, so people tended to ignore it. i had a few girls ask me question about hair products though, which i know nothing about ^^;

 

I... I am not conspicious. My MSD boy has a black and gold COFFIN for a carrying case. XD

My SD has no case yet because he's never gone anywhere since I got him, but later today I'm going to go buy a duffle bag for them as I'm moving soon. When I get it, I am so going to revamp it a ton. Paint splatters is my first thought, then duct tape, and a few other things. I want my case to stand out, while at the same time I know not many people will be able to guess what's in the bag.

 

I supposed I'd prefer to stand out. I bought a clear plastic bucket with a metal top and bottom that fits my RS Ni, Anemone, perfectly if she sits down.

I just wanted something safe to keep her in that wouldn't mess her face up (i have no face covers) while at the same time have her on display when I take her around. I don't see the point in taking a doll around town if you hide it the entire time xD

Hopefully when my Pukifee comes I can find a place in the bucket for him since its a bit cozy in there for Anemone.

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The lid is a push-down lid that can only be opened using the Washer disc that's attached to the handle (thing at top) so I won't have to worry about people reaching in and sneaking her out. It makes a pop noise when the washer is used so I know if someone opens it. Since the bottom is metal, I put a little paper doily that nearly covers the entire bottom.

plus if someone were to snatch it, i doubt it'd be hard to find 'a clear plastic bucket with a blonde doll wearing a pink dress inside' Especially with how noisy the washer gets clanging around against the side/top xD

i plan to decorate the bucket with paints, stickers, and fabric

 

Hee! I guess I fall into the "fit in" category (or, as I like to call it, "stealth") . . . but only because I've never actually bought a doll carrier. The ones that came with my dolls are all pretty bland: solid navy from Souldoll and Dollshe, solid white from Dollshe, black with dull gold fabric from Hypermaniac. Now and then I think I want a screaming lime green carrier, but in the end I'd always rather spend the money on other things.

 

I don't have a "formal" doll carrier... but I just bought a bag to transport my dolls, since I'm taking three of my MSDs on a trip this week! It.. definitely doesn't "fit in" XD it's a hot pink and black Reebok sports bag. It's pretty cute, and just the right size for my MSDs~ :3 I haven't used it yet, but I've got to pack the gang up tonight, so..

Other than that, I also have a blue, white, and teal handbag that can hold one or, at most, two MSDs which I usually use to take a doll for a photoshoot, meet, to a store for size-testing, and all that good stuff. The only problem is that it doesn't shut at the top, so I have to be really careful about checking the weather, and keeping something with me to cover it in case it starts to rain!

 

My official doll bag came with my first doll in replace of a box. It's a great bag but it's awkward to carry.. When I'm not carrying them in my arms.. I generally just stuff them in a messenger bag they fit nicely in. I mean I won't be able to fit any more than my two SD's and one tiny in it when I have more dolls, but I can't forsee me wanting to carry more than that at one time.

It's a black and purple thing that definitely does not stand out.

 

I like my plain, blue courier bag... It doesn't attract unwanted attention, is different enough from regular doll carriers not to get mixed up with anyone else's bag at a meet and, as Alton Brown would say, it's a "multi-tasker". XD When it's not enlisted to carry around my dolls, I use it to carry around my laptop, or my camera and sketchbooks, or whatever else I'm carting around with me.

Made with laptops in mind, it's got minor padding on the sides, and is easy to carry. I can fit two of my Delf guys in there, or one of the bigger fellows. (Except my Akando or my hoof-wearing Heliot. Pally just won't bend well enough to fit in there and Rowan's just flat-out too tall with those hooves of his. o_0 The non-hooved Heliot and my SD13s fit just fine.)

 

Hmm, I had never considered the possibility of dolly theft based on my bag...I know that when I travel, I always try to look as 'non-wuss' and 'doesn't own anything worth your time' as possible...but I've really only traveled by plane once and by bus a handful of times :

I think, for long distance travel where you can't stare at your doll at all times, I'd have a plain sturdy one. But for more local meets, and general carrying around town times, I'd pick something I fun and quirky that I liked ^_^ I guess if you live in a big city my idea doesn't really apply thou >.<

 

Well, I don't really know. I guess unless it looks like a tote bag, I'd rather it be earthy or natural tones. I'm a guy, but of course, eventually I'd go with I don't care and end up finding a heliotrope or some shade of purples/pinks colored bag just because of my favorite colors. Icing on the cake would be some sort of fae picture, you know..satyr/faun/elf/pixie/faerie etc. on the front...but that's just me.

I'm sure I'm too big and intimidating for anyone to think about trying to nick my bag. Sad to say, most people tend to make a wide berth around me. I'm one inch shy of being seven feet tall and people automatically must think I'm going to crush them. ( As far as I can tell, who knows what they're thinking? )

 

I suppose my doll carrier is sort of in between... it's a pale pink Dollmore carrier- mini size since I bought it before my larger girl. I don't think it looks that odd or out of place, if anything people probably assume it's a small gym bag or an instrument case (and I've seen laptop cases and camera bags in much more attention0grabbing colours and styles). I think the pink colour makes it a bit easier to tell apart at meetups and such, and it matches the styles of the dolls that fit in it better than a black case, since they're all fairly cute and girly. And since the shape of a doll carrier is fairly standard/practical it's nice to have at least a little bit of colour and personalization.

 

I would like something a bit different if I were having one made for me...but then, I'd probably pick brown...so not *that* different, I guess. I just like brown, heh. I do have a black and red one that came with one of my bodies, but I haven't actually used it yet. Most of the time, if I do take a doll with me, I like to keep them in one of my purses...I have sizes that would probably even fit a large doll, but I usually only take my tinies with me.

 

I'm planning on MAKING a doll bag here in a few weeks, and as I am not a 'blend in' person myself (what with having bright red and bright teal hair) I will be picking some rather.... LOUD, prints, possibly rainbow or animals, or both, and making the outer bag around a plastic tote bin, so that the hard sides protect my menagerie, and then do another equally flashy, yet soft, fabric on the inside. X3

I figure if they want to try and jack my bag, they have to get too it first, and I'm not the easiest mark, since I have a very loud, carrying theatre voice and no compunctions about using it. XD

For the most part I tend to carry my guys in my arms, but having a carrier will make my big outdoor shoots a lot easier than toting around two doll boxes to carry four dolls and their stuff. XP

 

As yet, I do not have a doll carrier XD and I guess overall I am more of a "blend in" type of person. However, it does depends on the situation. For my dolls, if I am meeting friends, going to meets, etc, I am highly lilkely to go for stand out cases, like Mari-kitty's coffin or Evee's carrier (which is really ingenious!). It also makes it harder for people to make away with your doll stealthily XD

 

Well I think that you should get the Carrying case done the way you want. It's your personal taste right? ^^
If I ever got a carrying case I would probably go garage saling or stop at goodwill or something and see if they had any interesting small suitcases or bags. ;D I like vintage! So i'd go pick something I liked in a reasonable size and I wouldn't care about the color XD! I'd probably end up painting it as well to make it unique and recognizable <: Or even do it as a project for school *w* 2 in 1! I'd get a mark on it and i'd get to use it when I traveled ^^ !