Sock dresses and the anger they seem to generate.

I wouldn't scorn them, but there are other, better, free, options:

Option 1: Leave the doll naked. It's been sculpted to look good naked, and it most likely will look better than shoved in a cut up sock.

Option 2: Get a needle and thread and sew some hems or detail onto the sock.

Option 3: Use this [thread=213712]ridiculously easy tutorial[/thread] and whatever spare fabric is lying around to make the doll a real dress.

Being completely broke is still no excuse to cut the toe off a sock and shove it on your doll.

 

If you don't have any real income and your doll was a gift or you bought it from money that you through an exceptional situation (inheritance, lottery, gift money, etc.), then "just save up until you can buy clothes" is not a valid argument. Nevertheless, if you are without financial means to dress your doll in something else than a sock, there's a good chance you have an old beaded necklace you don't use, and old ribbon, some lace from a skirt you can't wear anymore for some reason, or something else that would look good on your doll together with that sock.
If your financial situation forces you to be creative with socks, why stop at socks?

 

I don't like them if they *look* like socks, but then there's an awful lot of other types of clothing for dolls that I don't like too (nylon lace {shudder!}, knitted dresses {ugh!}, knitwear in too large yarn on too large needles {gag!}, etc. etc. etc.), but surely it's up to the person who owns the doll how they dress them.

Why should anyone get angry about how someone else dresses their own doll?

Teddy

 

Haahahaha this is an interesting debate. For me personally I'm pretty much neutral about this. Socks, to me, is still a valid material that can be used on dolls (providing they're unused of course, I'm particular in that sense lol). It doesn't matter if the socks are cheap or expensive; the real challenge is to produce something beautiful that would befit your doll...that doesn't look altogether cheap. Wouldn't it be lovely if you receive comments such as, "That dress looks really beautiful!" or "Omaigawdwheredidyougetthatoutfit?!?!" and you'd smile and say, "Thanks, would you believe it if I tell you it's made solely out of socks?". So many different type of socks, so many versatile ways you can manipulate it to your liking haha.

Hmmm....I wonder if I make sense. Being a very very amateur seamstress (I'm still struggling to learn how to sew) I find socks an interesting material to use and abuse a LOT to create lovely outfits, especially for my girl who seems to love very mature dresses for her age haha. I think DoA's sock competition a few months back actually inspired me a lot. Some creations are simply breathtaking and I find them extremely gorgeous, even if they ARE made of socks!

 

Ahahhahhaaa I am adoring this thread!!!!

Live and let live is my stance. And I am always a fan of contrasts, the effect of a burlap sock bag garment on a princess of a doll can be just the alienating exclamation point that makes her twelve times more interesting and makes me wonder about her story....

 

Actually, no, they aren't being scorned. Nobody is is going after individual owners in other threads and blasting them for using sock dresses, and socks aren't infuriating people, and it it really an issue? Well, at least 3/4 of the debate forum (and that's being generous) aren't really about real issues -- these are dolls after all.

People were asked what they thought about sock dresses and some did not like them and said that they don't look good which offended some folks who started shouting 'elitist!'. Oh, well. There's a difference between a sweater dress, a sock with real work done to it to make a reasonable facsimile of a sweater dress, and a sock with just the toe cut off with unfinished edges and nothing else done to it. If you go back and read the thread (and yes I know it's gotten really long, lol) you'll see that people don't have any problems with using sock fabric as the base to create something nor are they putting down beginner sewing attempts. It's just that the sock with nothing but holes cut out doesn't go far enough to count as a beginner sewing attempt unless you're talking about a young child.

Do socks with the toes cut out look tacky and cheap? That's in the eye of the beholder -- I don't think they're flattering though I can see their temporary use, and even them showing up in box opening pix, but that's as far as it goes. I know people don't like hearing that they look sloppy and had no effort put it, but truthfully, unless you really like the aesthetic of holey sock that is the way they tend to come off, because it didn't take any work, and without a little work, they don't look like actual clothes. It's the doll equivalent of wearing a potato sack -- it covers nudity in a pinch, but does little for the doll. Do people have to agree with this? Of course not. It's their dolls, and they are free to do what they want and should ultimately do what makes them happy. But they shouldn't get upset that the sock with toe cut off isn't going to get a great reception from people -- stepping back for a moment and really considering how one's doll looks (and being realistic about it) isn't a bad thing if you're wanting to do a photoshoot for the main gallery.

 

Before reading this thread I had never considered using a sock as clothing. Clever.

It doesn't upset me much. There are those with the time and dedication to save for a doll and an outfit. There are those who have to have the doll (or it's an LE) so the doll comes first and clothes come later.

I know I'm someone who got temp solutions for clothes that have become near permanent because of my financial and time situation. I work full time, do commissions on the side for extra cash, and I'm a gamer. I want to learn how to sew but I have yet to fit it into my budget and schedule. (And I had a few impulse buys because of specials or stupid SOOM MD).

I wouldn't be elitist about it but I can understand if someone decided that was enough for an artistic photoshoot. (Unless they're making a statement.)

 

:< I would think a sock would be kind of cute as a dress on a doll..... Unless it's like.. dirty or a random white sock.
Perhaps if it were dazzled up a bit with buttons or if the sock was some fun color... v.v I'm not sure, if someone can't afford to buy their doll a outfit that's fine... If they want to make their own clothing for the doll, that's awesome too- spark creativity.
I would never tell someone their sock dress is ugly... Well, unless it really 'really' is.....

If I didn't have enough money to buy an outfit after buying a doll, shoot, I'd make it homemade crap too. I think once they wear that homemade crap long enough you'll feel weird when they're not.

 

There is such a big misconception in this debate, stemming from some people wading in the debate, with an already pre-conceived notion that there is a witchhunt going on DoA against sock dresses and their owners.

There isn't. If you think there is, show me a thread where people are being rude to a person who posted pictures of a sock dress. No? People saying that they don't like sock dresses is NOT a witchhunt. It's a debate.

It's not about whether you use a sock or not, but the end product! If you use a sock to create a fantastic, or maybe just a decent-looking outfit out of it, most, if not all people here would praise you, and would be amazed at your creation.

 

I have no problems with a sock dress as a temporary measure, be it because the clothing for the doll hasn't arrived, or because the clothing you have/made doesn't fit, or because you got so caught up in the moment the only thing you could think was to grab a sock and stick it on.

I have no problem using socks for material. Socks very often have the perfect scale patterns for a doll, and there are some CUTE outfits made of sock material. Even used socks have a purpose in repurposed fashion, and can add a lot (a very loved sweater, for instance.) As long as the socks are thoroughly washed. And I mean thoroughly, because foot stink can linger forever, and I do not want my doll smelling like stale feet.

Where my problem comes is with the cry of "But I don't have the money!" You know, I don't have the money to clad my dolls in Dollheart, either, but that doesn't mean my dolls are not clothed nicely. A simple dress isn't hard to make, even if your only option is hand-sewing. If you can't sew, get an old jersey t-shirt (jersey material doesn't fray and doesn't have to be hemmed) and a pair of scissors, hit up YouTube for tutorials, and give 'em a toga. Barter services with someone local, if you're lucky enough to have local people -- rides for outfits! Heck, even an old towel cut up to give the doll a fresh-from-the-shower look would work.

Or find someone who falls in love with the doll so much, every time you see them they make a new outfit for her. *cough* Not that Miyuki is spoiled, of course...

And of course, as mentioned above...this is an opinion I largely keep to myself. If I can't get passed the "you've had your doll in a sock for a year, when are you getting clothes for her!" thing, I'll either ignore the poster or offer to send them a few outfits I've made if I'm comfortable enough with them to do that. Being rude to someone simply because our aesthetic tastes differ is never an option.

 

Sock as dress: In the short term, or properly done, they can actually be really well done. Keep in mind, I have seen very, very few examples of decent 'sock as dress' outfits, but like all things, it's not an impossibility.

Socks as fabric for dress: If the print is to scale, and/or the fabric is actually decent, sock fabric can be an excellent source of fabric for well-made and cute clothing.

I have nothing against people who use socks either as dresses or as fabrics for dresses (or other clothing items, for that matter), I really disapprove of the 'sock as dress' schktick in the long-term. Fine, if you're using it in the short term so your new doll isn't naked, but in the long term? Make something else, or commission something else, or buy something else pre-made. Would YOU want to parade around in a sock-like tube-top dress for all eternity?

I think not.

 

Fabric is fabric. It's not the fabric, but how it's used. I haven't used socks for any of my doll clothes, but I have used t-shirts from the thrift store to make tights and socks, wristers, etc. If people want to look down their noses at me for my recycled thrift store fabric clothes, so be it.

 

Must say that I'm surprised that some of the more clever members haven't already begun one....but please feel free to begin a thread in either Picture Requests or the BJD Games subforum wherein sock lovers can post images of their dolls wearing sox.

Please do not post images into a Debate thread.

Thank you.

 

The things one can do with the simplest of items can be amazing. What really floors me in this hobby is to see what creative juices can turn something, like a sock, into. There are so many things that contribute to a "good" photograph of a doll to make it look appealing that clothing is such a small part, and if you want to use a sock, that's just fine. Go for it.

If it looks bad, I'm sure the owner will look at it in retrospect and make changes to how they do things, but it's really up to them.

 

See this is where I can appreciate both the good and bad sock dresses. I don't like to see the 'holes in a sock' outfit in the gallery section but I can enjoy some light hearted fun in the games section!

 

I smell a challenge! ;]

 

Oops! My bad! Instead here's a link to the gallery pictures of my Elfdoll Soah wearing a garbage bag:

http://www.denofangels.com/forums/s...aring-a-garbage-bag....&p=7121273#post7121273

 

She looks really nice in her garbage bag.

 

Thank you!

 

I think quality is important. And by that I mean how much effort they put into choosing an appropriate sock and making the outfit. I have seen some horrible ones that I would rather my doll be naked, but I have seen amazing ones - as socks often have patterns that are an appropriate size for dolls - which can be hard to find! - and that are well done - this meaning hemmed neatly in a matching color. My husband has made some amazing sock hoodies!

The horrible ones look all stretched out and are generally some ugly color like white or gray, or I have even seen ones with pencil marks on them from marking still! That I do not like.

I do agree that silliness is fun though, though if a sock looks like it has been worn and stained - ugh.