Fashion Doll Discussion

It's a nice idea for a topic !

These dolls are stunning but definitely out of my budget, however if I could I might tend to buy directly from the artist, unless I find the exact model I am looking for in the EU (since customs have always been an issue for me and most of these artists aren't European )

For the rest I won't be able to help much but I prefer my dolls to wear full outfits than just lingerie, it does not really fit with my style of pictures

And for the wigs, accessories and stuff, Etsy is pretty much the best place in my opinion, it's the best place where artists gather for this kind of doll stuff from what I saw

For Popovy and Pasha Pasha in particular, I would recommend check some videos from Muñecas, Poupées and Dolls, she loves this kind of dolls and makes some haul videos from time to time that can be a great source of inspiration

 

Love fashion dolls, I prefer to order them directly from the seller so that way I can have my pick of what sculpt or skin tone I want. But if I see something on the secondhand market that I want I would definitely jump at the chance to get it. As for buying clothes I usually like to commission an artist or find something on Etsy if I’m just looking for something generic.

 

I have bought most of mine directly from the artist. And I don’t have an interest in lingerie, but it’s a real bitch to find clothes I do like that fit! Most of my clothes are from collectors-turned-seamstresses I’ve found on Instagram

 

oh yes, the shoes are very difficult. Especially because I don’t like pointe feet or high heels.

 

I’m glad you started this thread, I follow a lot of content on social media about realistic artist fashion dolls but I wish there was more active forum discussion on them! To me, they are the most beautiful style of doll.

I’m a bit unusual as a collector though because I don’t like emaciated looking dolls. My favorite doll is a Legrand Lidia haha. So I’ve been very excited to see many famous artists sculpt bodies that aren’t skinny. Loving the Popovy Venus and I already own a Doll Menagerie Muse body, and the Goddess body from Metis Doll.

I am trying to slow way down on my doll purchases the next couple years but the next doll of this style I hope to buy is Veronika from Lutsenko Dolls. I have always loved the body of their dolls but none of their faces called to me until they introduced Veronika recently.

 

Who are your favorite artists, besides Popovy?

 

@Erasmia Isn't it interesting how different people's tastes are? The weirdness is exactly what attracts me to PashaPasha sculpts, which are my personal favorite of the Russian fashion dolls. There's something alien and strange (almost borderline "ugly"?) about them that I find endlessly captivating. I've definitely seen some faceups that soften that effect and push them more into classically beautiful territory like the Sugarbone and Tender Creation, but those artists have to work pretty hard at it! I think it's the heavy brow ridge?

Speaking of classically beautiful and breathtaking -- Lutsenko really is amazing! Munecas, Poupees, and Dolls has unboxed a couple on her channel, and I think I gasped out loud when I first saw them.

Thanks for starting this thread!

 

I'm waiting for a little owl flora lilac edition, and a Marmite Sue custom lily.

I'm sending my little owl off to a bjd custom artist.

Glad to join the thread. I don't see anyone talking about them. They are my fav dolls, by far.

 

I wonder why so little people are talking about them. Is it really the price? Because in the end, most people buy multiple dolls that combined, are worth much more than one popovy. Is it the waitlist?

 

I think most of it is the price. Reading through threads on DoA the last few years- I see many people mentioning these dolls and artists/saying they are fans, but most say they will never buy because it’s simply not affordable or their budget for a single doll is way under the typical $800-1600 for a blank doll of this style.

 

Popovy has almost doubled their prices since I first discovered them (they were the first BJD that made me want one!) I’m now not sure that I’ll ever have one myself due to the price. I already have several other very very expensive dolls though (Natalia Loseva, Marmite Sue)

 

Well I'd say it could be a bit of both : the dolls are most of the times extremely limited, expensive and take time to be released which can block some people (myself included ahah)
My main reason for not buying this kind of dolls is the overall cost, that only represent budget for one doll (sometimes blank or at least with not fullset or accessories). Even though, when combined, some collectors invest that amount in the hobby, they get more than one doll for that price (maybe a fullest, or a bunch of accessories, even several dolls sometimes). For some reason I personally feel blocked by the idea of paying so much for only one doll (not meaning they're not worth the price of course, I can't imagine the amount of work to make these pieces of art), but it's just not for me and maybe not for most people.
And maybe there is something about the style too ? dolls like Popovy and Pasha Pasha have (in my opinion of course) very particular style and faces, so maybe this vibe is not for everyone

 

She looks amazing, Anastasia does such a top notch job with Popovy dolls! I wish I had one to send to her

 

Hi all, I recently got my first fashion size girl in a trade, I feel so blessed to have her. She is a little work of art. Her sculpt is called Bunny, from La Luna Doll by the artist Niangao. Compared with my other dolls, her posing is just amazing- there is no comparison really. She came with flat, heel, and ballet feet!! She is a little more stylized than some other fashion dolls, I believe about the same size as PashaPasha Mini. Typically I collect slim MSD size, I have one YOSD, but when my La Luna girl arrived I was stunned by her size, proportions. She is so little! She is such a treasure.


Currently waiting on a custom wig for her.

Thank you for making this thread. I am trying to learn more about the fashion doll community and find artists who make clothes and shoes for them. Happy for any recommendations

 

She looks so lovely! Love her hands and the faceup/sculpt. Never heard of the company, to be honest. Thank you for sharing her.

 

Thank you so much! I only knew about them because of Instagram, but honestly have not seen many of them posted anywhere except my girl! The artist Instagram is @ niangao1015 if you are interested. I think their dolls are beautiful.

Thank you! And thank you for so many wonderful recommendations! So sorry to hear about the issue you had with those shoes, that's just awful </3

 

Thanks for this threat.
I've been really fascinated by these pretty fashion dolls since last year. These fine bodies are so flexible and made so well.

My BJDs (except for a few small ones) look like giants next to them.

I realy like the realistic faces. That impresses me the most!

 

I saw this video from Popovy where they show the posing. It's pretty amazing.
@Erasmia the detail on the hairdo is crazy, and at this scale too

 

Thank you for stating this thread @EresMia. This has been such a fun thread to read. I love fashion BJDs and my love for fashion dolls started as a child playing with Barbies. I always enjoyed changing their clothes. I am a fan of most of the Eastern European dollmaker artists and I have a soft spot for Eli Effenberger maker of Marmite Sue. Here my list of favorite artists.

Sugarbone
Eslyns Doll
Melian Doll
Marmite Sue
Pasha Pasha
Lutsenko Doll
Natalia Loseva
Enchanted Doll
Tender Creation
Nothing_Sapien
Chimera by Nina K
Ptichka by Irina Kuzina

Do you prefer to buy secondhand or direct from the artist?
I prefer to buy directly from the artists, I like to support them. However, I am a masochist that often falls in love with discontinued models. Thus, the only way to get those is the secondary market. (Sigh). Also, due to the geo-political issues, some artists are super hard to order and the only way to get a doll is to buy it from the secondary market,

Do you prefer them in lingerie or different styles?
Due to resin being resin, I keep my dolls stored away in their boxes to avoid or to deaccelerate yellowing. I often like putting clothes on them and then when I am done playing I put them back in their boxes undressed, as I am afraid the clothes could stain the resin. Yes, I am one of those doll collectors that handle her dolls with the white gloves. lol

Where do you buy your clothes, wigs&accessories?
Usually, I find a clothes or wig maker on Instagram or by word of mouth, it usually leads me to the Etsy rabbithole.

 

Yas! The Laser Blue and Plated Pink skin color from Tiger Sugar are so alienesque in such a cool way. It would be nice if she offered them again. The Gingko sculpt is very sweet. I wish she updated her Instagram feed more often,

 

I'm totally confused with this post. I always thought these dolls were ART dolls, and Enchanted Dolls are porcelain, that's why they are so expensive. When I think of fashion dolls I always think of the cheaper end of dolls like Barbie. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

I think they are portraying real fashion models. What else would you call them?

 

@Xanadu Dolls - I am so happy you mentioned this. The dolls mentioned in the thread are considered both art dolls and fashion dolls, as they are often designed and made by independent artists in limited quantities and their body types are akin to a high fashion model; tall and slender. This is why people in the bjd community refer them to "fashion" dolls compared to baby dolls, fantasy, or anthropoligical dolls. Many collectors have a big warbrode for their fashion BDJs and love to dress their dolls in high fashion look. In the past, Enchanted Dolls were released in both porcelain and in resin. Click here to view the DoA discussion thread on ED Resin dolls. I adore Enchanted Dolls and Marmite Sue's used to offer a doll named "Angel Egg" that had a similar ethereal easthetic.

 

Okay, I get it now. Thanks for the clarification. I bought Marina Bychkova's book years ago and have always admired her work, but I never realised she also made dolls in resin. A lot of the doll artists you have mentioned seem to go for that long lean look, actually some of them actually look anorexic. I do like slender dolls, however, I'm not sure whether I would actually purchase these, especially at the price some are asking. I do have others which I'm not sure whether I can mention on here that have beautiful fashion clothes designed by Robert Tonner, and some IT dolls which are on the more expensive end of what I've always called fashion dolls.

 

I bought my first Popovy Sisters doll, Robin in ivory skintone, the Sisters offer a payment plan with a fee so I'm doing that because it's difficult to drop $1,800+ all at once.

 

Prices have crept up in the last couple of years due to mutiple factors, like Covid, inflation and geo-polital issues causing the prices of most blank artist fashion dolls to start at least $1000 USD for a blank doll. I remember before Covid, the Popovy Dolls were at around 800ish - 900ish USD. Now the prices for a Popovy blank are almost double. It is a lot of money for many people, and then when a full set sell for 5k to 10K thousand dollars, it shows how much of a following these dolls have, even if so very niche.

Many of the dolls artist we mentioned in this thread, have fans within the innest fashion and art crowd; The Popovy Sisters count Mr. Jean Paul Gualtier and Yolandi Visser from Die Antwoord as fans, they own Popovy dolls. Marina's Enchanted Dolls were featured in a fashion editorial for Vogue Nippon. Marmite Sue Boy dolls were featured in Walter Van Beirendonck digital Men’s SS21 runway collection. Pasha's work has been exhibited in fine art galleries, All of this intangible cool x-factor adds to their appeal, price, and rabid following.

Most of the dolls we discussed in this thread, are not mass produced, and even the blanks under go rigorous sanding, sueding stringing, quality control, and cataloguing in their records before the blanks are shipped out. Even the boxes are handmade

Also, some of the doll artist don't use casting services and the dolls are hand-casted in their studio. For example, Natalia Loseva does everything in house, this causes a long wait time for her dolls to be shipped out.

 

...I am unwillingly placing myself in here. I have been resisting the siren song of fashion dolls for over as year now and I think I'm going to give in. It's just a matter of deciding which ones. Note the multiple, I already know several will be happening.

I decided last night I need to manifest myself a Natalia Loseva. You know, reasonable goals.

I've been going back and forth on sticking to the 1/6 size I already know and love (just getting some more mature dolls - Janchor has a few that have my heart). Or taking the big leap and going to the 40cms.

 

Thank you I picked body IV and hands IV with heel feet for Robin, what body did you pick for Peewit?

 

@queendevil09 - Congratulations on ordering your first Popovy.

@Erasmia - Those are beautiful videos. Love to see Popovy girls in action.

@ZombChan - It is hard to resist the the sweet melody of a fashion doll siren calling to be adopted. MSD is a great size.
Natalia is currently working on her boy dolls, after that run is completed, she teased about introducing a new line of girls. Since Natalia does everything in house, the wait is 2 to 3 years to get a doll from her. The prices on the secondary market for NLO girls are high as well due to the limited supply, lack of collectors wanting to part with their dolls, and high demand for NLO dolls.

 

I heard that Anna does not sell any more blank Tender Creations. She has been selling full-set. Her dolls are very pretty.

 

I was looking at Natalia's website and instagram account and she has cute 1/6 dolls. I am looking forward to seeing more of her new doll that is coming soon. The new doll has that fashion look, but still retains that youthful look.

Popovy Sisters dolls are renowned for their exceptional posing and articulation, making them a favorite among collectors and artists alike. However, they are sometimes unfairly critiqued for their slender appearance, which reflects an artistic interpretation rather than a literal representation. These dolls embody the delicate, transitional phase of a young girl on the cusp of womanhood—a time when the body elongates and retains a linear form, yet has not fully matured into a more womanly silhouette.

This stage of development, characterized by a mix of childlike features and the rapid growth of adolescence, is beautifully captured forever by Popovy, Marmite Sue, Natalia Loseva, and other fashion ball-jointed dolls. It mirrors the qualities sought after in the high-fashion industry, where many models are in their teens, embodying this fleeting, ethereal and ephemeral phase. This also explains why many high fashion models "retire" as they grow older when their bodies shift into a more feminine form.

 

Some beautiful dolls mentioned here. I love them all!