What do you look for in bjd clothing?

I look for all the above: quality, style, and craftsmanship. And since BJD outfits are often times more expensive than ours, yes, I believe that they should be better made. HZ I'd say are one of the best when it comes to all three. I hear Doll Zone is awesome too.

 

LOL! That is completely how I work. That and throw a dart at a collage of "awesome sh*T" and draw whatever I hit.

It works out so much better doing things like that.
._. Ferseriously.

 

I am always looking for the same quality I would expect in garments for myself. Unfortunately, it poses a huge challenge. Researching and finding clothes takes a great deal of time and effort and I have amassed far less clothing than I would like. I find it the greatest challenge of the hobby altogether. Wigs and eyes are a cakewalk in comparison. Personally, I love to support handmade artisans because I firmly believe in supporting the little guy and buying quality over quantity. I have found some amazing gems out there, but it is still a challenge to fit and find clothes for every sculpt. I usually do not care for the mass manufactured items and frequently the fabrics are enough for me to break out into hives!!

 

In general, what I look for in clothes is stuff that fits the character in witch I like as well. Usually I would look for reviews on the product/company online and if it has good reviews on customer service, good quality items then (more than not) I would buy from them.

 

Does fit matter more than style? vice versa? Both matter equally. I won't buy something that doesn't suit my tastes just because it fits.
Do you have lower/same/higher expectations for craftmanship of doll clothing compared to human clothing? As long as the piece is sturdy and looks good I don't really care if short cuts are taken. I expect quality but I understand fully that some things that are standard on human clothes are not practical for doll clothes. I'm more concerned with whether or not the piece lays naturally. I hate bulk!
Do you prefer very unique pieces vs. casual pieces or vice versa? That depends, I like both but it's situational.
Would you buy an intricate piece of bjd clothing even if it is difficult/confusing to put on the doll? Perhaps, it depends on the clothing and what style I'm going for.
Do you prefer clothing that is easy to put on and easy to care for? I do like clothing that is easy to care for, but I'm willing to fuss with it a bit in order to get it onto the doll.
How much does price matter? A lot! Piece is a huge factor. There are so many doll clothing lines and so many private tailors making clothes. It's competitive. I'm willing to pay more for something special that fits my oddly proportioned doll but, at the same time, I do look for affordability.

 

I also find (to kind of add to my first post) is that I look for clothes that don't *look* like doll clothes. I am constantly looking for sewing tutorials on the internet, with steps that I can scale down to make for my dolls.

I have just about stopped looking for BJD patterns, or doll patterns in general because they never seem to be what I want. A bunch of patterns seem to fall on the simple side (I'm still pretty new, so simple patterns are still useful sometimes) but do I want a full set of only one kind of shirt, or pants, or skirt? No way; if people can choose from huge catalogs of patterns and have unique pieces, why not doll clothes? I realize there are a lot of human-sized outfits/separates that doll clothing hasn't created yet, and I realize I can't sit around waiting for them to develop.

The only exception to the "must not look like doll clothes rule" are closures. I prefer closures - velcro or snaps, or zippers, I don't have a big preference. I don't want to keep taking my dolls heads off; I had made a few things for one of my dolls, and needed to remove her hands if they were to fit her. That was a headache.

 

Does fit matter more than style? vice versa? Fit matters just as much as style. If a clothing does not fit, I do not have them wear it, I want my dolls looking as good as I would. I wouldn't wear a clothing if it didn't fit! My dolls definility have a unique stlye and I like to adhere to having a nice style, but I don't want them looking ridiculous with a wrong fit!
Do you have lower/same/higher expectations for craftmanship of doll clothing compared to human clothing? I do, but I suppose that is since I buy really nice clothing for my Dolls. Isaac wears ImplDoll brand clothing and I would wear that if it was my size, they are made very nicely.
Do you prefer very unique pieces vs. casual pieces or vice versa? I like Unique Pieces. My Dolls always wear unique pieces because they are very unique dolls, and they like to reflect their personality through their clothing.
Would you buy an intricate piece of bjd clothing even if it is difficult/confusing to put on the doll? Only if I wouldn't want to change out of those clothes much. Like, the outfit I have on my doll Chaucer is rather difficult to put on, but he wears it almost all the time, so it works out.
How much does price matter? Price doesn't matter to me to be honest so long as it isn't a rip off, sometimes at conventions the outfit prices are jacked up, and if I know I can find a better price online or so, I will wait to buy it online.

 

Does fit matter more than style? vice versa?

Well I have certain styles in mind for my dolls, and fit does matter. I get a little sad when I buy something and it doesn't quite fit.

Do you have lower/same/higher expectations for craftmanship of doll clothing compared to human clothing?
I expect them to be decently made and look like some care has been taken to make an item, but if the stiching is a little off somewhere it doesn't bother me too much.

Do you prefer very unique pieces vs. casual pieces or vice versa?

I do appreciate the really elaborate costumes that are out there, but for one they're usually way to expensive for me and two thet don't suit my dolls. So I prefer casual/fashionable pieces.

Would you buy an intricate piece of bjd clothing even if it is difficult/confusing to put on the doll?
I would if it wasn't too outragously pricey and there was a doll to suit it.

Do you prefer clothing that is easy to put on and easy to care for?

Wouldn't anybody prefer easier managable clothes?

How much does price matter?

Price matter quite a bit to me because I can't see spending 60 dollars on a doll dress or something. Around 20-35 usually seems like a fair price for most of the things I buy.

 

I'm more into casual clothes that look natural and real on my dolls. Fitting matters, but for some shirts, I like them looking loose on my dolls instead of tight-fitting. Prices do not influence what I buy much. If I like something a lot, I'll keep an eye on it and save up for it. ^^ It's better for me to get a few pieces that I really like instead of getting a lot of clothes that I don't like.

 

I prefer casual clothes that look as real as possible to human clothes...and lately I've been more picky about details. I want real button holes instead of snaps and real pockets, and belt loops. I want things to be tight fitting, but it depends on the style. However for YoSD and MSD sized stuff I want velcro or snaps because it's a pain taking off their heads. I don't mind so much for my larger dolls.

 

I prefer cute looking clothes for my dolls. I tend to bounce around in between fantasy clothes and lighter lolita styles. :3 I find lots of enjoyment from dressing up my dolls in things I can't wear in real life. ^^ Both fitting and style matter equally to me, but price doesn't. :3 I will happily pay whatever it may be to get the perfect outfit.

 

Does fit matter more than style? vice versa?
They both matter equally the same for me.

Do you have lower/same/higher expectations for craftmanship of doll clothing compared to human clothing?
From where i get my clothes, ive come to know that not everything is ever made perfectly. Yes i expect good quality out of both doll and human clothes, but i know sometimes there will be one or two things off.

Do you prefer very unique pieces vs. casual pieces or vice versa?
I like unique casual pieces~

Would you buy an intricate piece of bjd clothing even if it is difficult/confusing to put on the doll?
Im not really into clothes are are intricate, i like layering simple things. So probably not.

Do you prefer clothing that is easy to put on and easy to care for?
I don't mind having to take off a dolls head or hands to put on a shirt or anything, and all doll clothes are pretty easy to care for i think. I dont care about wrinkles or anything

How much does price matter?
price matters alot to me, i try to get the best quality for the lowest price i can. i dont like spending alot on clothes, even for myself. Except for jeans i know will always be exspensive.

 

I try to look for things that will match my characters' styles. Fantasy dolls are the hardest. I got a Fairyland Roke partly because his dragon knight Viking-style outfit was completely badass, but when I got him and saw how pretty his pink and blue ears were, I realized they didn't match his clothes at all! I got him a purple and blue wig that go great with the ears and blue eyes, but his outfit makes the whole getup look ridiculous. lol So I made him a blue mermaid tail. ^^ I'm just disappointed that because he was prettier than I expected, his furry, skull-emblazoned outfit doesn't match.

For my non-fantasy dolls, I like a casual wardrobe. One of my boy's gets some frills and fancier stuff because he's prissy, spoiled, and fashionable, but I'd be really happy just to stick jeans and T-shirts on everyone else because they're just cool guys. =)

My female doll has some sexy, slinky outfits because she's foxy like that. If she had jeans, they'd be the cut off short-shorts type!

 

Does fit matter more than style? vice versa?
Both matter to me. A beautifully styled outfit is useless if it doesn't fit the doll, and a well-fitting potato sack is still a potato sack. Sometimes I'm willing to take an outfit in a bit to make it fit better if I like the particular piece, or use some trim to dress up a plainer outfit.

Do you have lower/same/higher expectations for craftmanship of doll clothing compared to human clothing?
Pretty much the same, really. I love a doll outfit with fine details.

Do you prefer very unique pieces vs. casual pieces or vice versa?
Both, definitely! Chaeri's wardrobe consists of a lot of mix and match separates and a selection of stand-alone pieces.

Would you buy an intricate piece of bjd clothing even if it is difficult/confusing to put on the doll?
If it looked good on the doll, sure. I'm not going to buy something just because everybody else has or wants one.

Do you prefer clothing that is easy to put on and easy to care for?
I prefer clothing that doesn't shred the first time you put it on the doll (I've had this happen, and it wasn't a cheap item, either).

How much does price matter?
Quality does come with a price tag. If I can afford it, and I like it, I buy without guilt. If I like it but can't afford it, I make something similar for myself.

 

I bought most of my dolly clothes before my first girl arrived (large "stock" purchase from dollmore of over 700 USD) and I've been quite pleased with it.
What I looked for was the following:
-Nicely made
-Good fit (anything lycra or with elastics is better than something loose)
-Realistic (I don't care for those ridiculous over the top lolita dresses, no one really wears them everyday so neither will my dolls)
-Singles or basics that I can mix and match
-Sets, but only if I plan on doing a specific photoshoot with them (like a complete sailor outfit or a wedding gown)
-Pricetag (I promised myself I will NEVER buy any piece of clothing for a doll that is more expensive than something I would actually buy for myself.
-Dificulty of making them (If its something I can easily make by myself I will not buy it. Shoes are not affected by this rule since I don't have the bases to make the high heeled shoes I love)

 

My doll doesn't have a "character", per se, so I feel she is very versatile and I can dress her up in a variety of different styles! It's funny, I think that my tastes in her clothing has evolved with my own ever since I bought her.

Fit and style are equally important to me. While style is initially what I look for, fit is super important in dolls' clothing because a loose, bulky fit destroys the illusion of the outfit being "human sized" and proportionate. In short, it makes them look like doll clothes!

When I first bought my doll, I looked for clothing that was a little more casual and easy to maintain. I've never been a fan of jeans-and-tees looks, but I looked for cute jumpers, knits, and leggings that looked put together without being sloppy, so Nine9Style was my best friend. Lately though, I've been finding that I want to try dressing her up in more imaginative fantasy-like clothing that gives more of an ethereal feeling, but I've been having a really tough time finding that sort of thing. Even in a fantasy outfit, however, I prefer something with discreet snaps or closures as I wouldn't want to have to take off my doll's head to dress her.

Cost is definitely a bit of an issue. I have a really hard time justifying spending more on a doll's outfit than I would on my own. I do understand that these clothes are difficult to make to scale though, so I understand why they can sometimes be pricy. Middle of the road is best, I think!

 

Does fit matter more than style? vice versa?
-Fit and style are equally important to me.
Do you have lower/same/higher expectations for craftmanship of doll clothing compared to human clothing?
-About the same.
Do you prefer very unique pieces vs. casual pieces or vice versa?
-My boy's wardrobe has both casual and fancier clothing. I do prefer more unique pieces myself.
Would you buy an intricate piece of bjd clothing even if it is difficult/confusing to put on the doll?
-Probably not. I change my boy's outfit pretty frequently, so I wouldn't want to go through all the trouble putting a difficult outfit on him and having to change it shortly after.
Do you prefer clothing that is easy to put on and easy to care for?
-Yes.
How much does price matter?
-If the clothes are well made, I like them and think they would suit my boy, and I have the money, I wouldn't mind paying the price for them.

 

Definitely fit, but most of all, proportions. I like my clothing realistic (which of course jacks the prices up by like $70) and well sized so that's number one. I really like clothing from Nine9 Style (though I've yet to actually buy something from there). My second concern is how well it'll fit. I hate boxy clothing. I like shirts more rectangular than squarish, if you know what I mean.

 

I look for quality, quality and quality!
Like my own clothing selection, I like to look for pieces that I can mix and match. Versatility is key!
Also, like in real life, I would rather have a few Amazing pieces that last than have a bunch of poorly made clothing. You get what you pay for...

 

Does fit matter more than style? vice versa?
To me, fit matters more than style. If it looks awkwardly large, or if it were snug enough to limit my doll's movements and posing, I wouldn't go for it.
Do you have lower/same/higher expectations for craftsmanship of doll clothing compared to human clothing?
Probably the same/higher. Certainly not lower expectations for doll clothing- if you're going to make and sell doll clothing you should at least do it WELL. I think if you're going to sell it, it should be the best it can be, not some poorly thought out, seam-skipping mess.
Do you prefer unique pieces or casual style pieces?
It depends. I prefer more unique sets-sets that have style. But if I'm going to buy single pieces, I'd prefer casual things so I can combine them with pieces from a unique set.
Would you buy an intricate piece of bjd clothing even if it is difficult/confusing to put on the doll?
Nope. But mostly because I don't think that kind of clothing would really suit my doll's character. Clothing with tons of zips or buttons or ribbons and things tend to be a certain style and not the style I look for.
How much does price matter?
While I would pretty much never spend over 100$ on a set, it's really because the sets I would buy don't ever really cost more than about eighty dollars. That being said, if I found the perfect set, I might splurge.