Paying more for your Doll's clothing than your own....

Yeah, I'm guilty of spending more money on Kiril's clothes than my own.

When I go shopping, I usually hit hand-me-down stores (there's tons of cute clothes there for really cheap ), and I'm still wearing a lot of the same clothes that I did in fifth grade I don't really shop for myself. But I love buying/making clothes for Kiril.

 

thats is a big problem for me.i get all my stuff at payless or walmart, so the prices for my clothes run nice and low. but to get a pair of boots for me is about 19-30$ whereas getting my kids a pair of boots can go anywhere from 20-60$. i realize how hard it must be to make wee little shoes but still. no way on earth is my mom gonna let me spend more on one pair of shoes for a dollie when " for the same price you can get your self 3 pairs. *rolls eyes* so my dollies currently have one pair of shoes to share till i get a job ^_^ (same thing goes for pants when i can find them)

 

Haha...I dress in gothic/lolita clothing so my clothes are defiantely a zillion times more expensive than my dolls...
Also I make my own clothes so that saves me a bit of cash, and if I ever feel productive enough, I want to make stuff to sell because I have some amazing Chinese brocades from China (not the fake polyester printed ones that tend to be sold in stores) and I also have some amazing Japanese fabric and gothic lolita custom trims from Japan... I could use the extra cash...ahaha

 

My clothes are always cheap/2nd hand stuff. I can't get over doll clothes costing more than my own clothes, but you know what? I certainly wish I could get some of these doll styles in my own sizes!

Currently, I'm learning how to make my own clothes, because really...I just can't logic out spending $50 on a pair of shoes for my doll. I mean...I can't logic out spending $50 on a pair of shoes for myself! Plus, I need a good excuse to learn how to make clothes! ^__^

 

I wear clothes from the marketplace or night markets. My dolls wears imported Korean/American/Hong Kong made clothes.
Sign.... But i'm sure most parents treat their kids better.

 

LOL!!! Raven, I am sure you are not frumpy dumpy...I have always pictured you with swingy long black hair and very hip looking...
Anyhow, back on topic...as a seamstress, I can attest to the fact that fabric is EXPENSIVE. Y'all who live in NYC or wherever and can shop at wholesale prices, you are very lucky...here, good silk is $20 a yard, good rayon velvet or high quality cotton or linen is $10-15 a yard and up. And add to that the cost of the seamstress' time, and you see why so many BJD clothes are so pricey. Many of the outfits I see here are more than just clothes, they are works of art sculpted in fabric. So you are paying for something truly special.

When someone commissions an outfit from me, it's not just a yard or so of pretty fabric. It's the time I spend PMing my clients back and forth, discussing ideas. It's time spent going to fabric stores searching for just the right fabric and trims for that client. It's time spent drafting or tweaking a pattern so that the outfit fits the client's doll. And then taking pictures of the finished product, sending them to the client (which takes surprisingly long time, especially for me on a dialup connection!!), then wrapping and packaging and going to the post office. Allthat is not counting time spent at the sewing machine and ironing board...the actual sewing can take upwards of 6-7 hours per outfit.

Hopefully, with BJDs as with everything else, you get what you pay for. The better BJD stuff I have seen is exquisite-- hand finished hems and trims, perfect fit, etc. Again, some of these outfits are so lovely (not mine, but others! ) that they count as art!

Now, as for sewing for real people-- yes, it's tons easier (if only my 6 yr old daughter would oblige me and dress in ruffles and frills ) but the fabric ends up costing more, since so much more is needed. I can make a medieval gown for an SD using 1 yd of fabric. The same gown for me, for a Renn faire, took around 5 yards. At $15 a yard for velveteen...ouch! My everyday clothes are a bit less spectacular; good casual things (Gap, Ann Taylor Loft-- on sale stuff), but still not very expensive. I'm a teacher so I have to look somewhat professional. My most expensive clothing purchases were my wedding gown ($300, in 1988 ) and more recently, a new martial arts uniform ($100!! Again, ouch!!)

 

Sorry, but I think it's stupid to spend that much money for clothing for a doll that already dug a huge whole in your pocket. This is why I am thankful I can sew. When I bought my doll I new I was going to be making 95% of his clothing. I know for some people they can't do this which sucks. If I couldn't make my own clothing for my dolls as beautiful as they are I might have not even bought them because I know how much it would cost me to cloth them.

If you go to a fabric store and ask for the ends of fabric they can't sell they usually charge you about at the most $3 for it (and good quallity fabric, I've got kimono type fabric for about that much). You can usually make about two outfits out of what they give you. If you learn to sew just even the simple stitches it would save you a lot of time. It may not be as clean as a sewing machine, but better than paying $40 for a pretty simple outfit. And a lot of people have sewing machines in their home they don't use anymore. Maybe your relative has one and they can teach you how to use it. Sewing isn't as difficult as people make it out to be.

 

Actually it doesn't surprise me at all. I thought the clotheing prices were crazy too, that is...Until I actually made my boys clothes. Sewing tiny things are a lot harder than human clothes...@.@

 

I'm cheap when it comes to clothing in any case. I'll usually only buy clothing that is on sale. (It's also a budget thing) ..And I usually just live off whatever I get for Christmas. I'm also just a tee, jeans and hoodie sorta girl, but I also have prof. pieces for gallery showings and interviews.

I get more sticker shock from peoples clothing than I do doll clothing. I can appreciate doll clothing more as art and I know how time-consuming sewing can be.. And having been to and purchased things from arts and craft shows, the doll clothing/outfits aren't that expensive.

 

Yeah WallyWorld is pretty much a bust 99.999% of the time! But it's that .001% that keeps me cruising through it when I'm there. I've been cruising the 'net lately & I'm getting ready to order from both Fabric.com & one of the silk sites (whose name escapes me now). The ones that cater to quilter's are especially good because they often deal in smaller yardages.

Yes I do have "WTF am I doing spending this much money on something so TINY" moments but like Zenfu and Raven said my dolls get to wear the things I can't/won't wear or most often, don't come in my size.

I think that paying what we do for doll clothes is like so much else in any luxury hobby --- 1) shop around & shop carefully, 2) adapt/make what you can or 3)just suck it up. Simple guidelines true but everyone still likes to have the occasional whinge about it all.

Morgan

 

you know, in a way ithink that,such expensive dolls shouldnt wear cheap clothes once i made my boy shorts, and they got big stain from the mud and it didnt bother me but my mom said, why are you making your expensive doll wear such dirty clothes? it made me think...
i must admit, i rarely go clothes shopping, only during sales because otherwise i'll go crazy because i'm so picky. shopping for doll clothes is so much easier >_<

 

It scares me that I spend more on clothes for my dolls than I do for myself too!

The thing to remember though, is that working very small like that is difficult, and takes a great deal of skill to do well. So you are paying for the artistry.

The good thing about it, is that if you take care of the dollfie clothes, they don't lose value, and depending on how limited the item is, may even gain value. Most human clothes depreciate and aren't necessarily resellable.

I think that about doll shoes too - they don't wear out like human shoes, they don't outgrow them, and you can always resell them!

But it is funny when I think $100 is a bargain for a dollfie outfit, but I wouldn't pay that for myself!

Also - I don't like buying cheap looking clothes for my dolls. If I'm going to pay nearly $1000 for a doll, I want to make it look like it's worth that, and not cheap out on the clothes. If I've spent that much on the doll, what's another $100. Obviously it's all in what you can afford, but if the doll cost that much, I want it to look good.

 

I actually have no idea which I spend more money on. I don't buy clothes very often, and usually get stuff on sale, so my own cost isn't much. But I keep doing the same thing for the doll that I do formyself, looking at nice/expensive clothes, and thinking that I could make that for a lot less. Which is funny, since before getting my boy I had really not made much more than a skirt and a couple of basic Barbie outfits (that's how my mom taught me to sew).
Now I've spent a bunch getting my grandmother's old machine set up to actually use (I got it from her with one needle, one bobbin, and no instruction manual), and so far I've only completed doll clothes on it, but successfully making the doll clothes has given me the courage to start making my own. And when I mentioned that to my mom she warned me people were much harder to sew for, her reasoning, humans twitch.

 

My doll outfits definitely cost more than my own, but it's more fun to shop for them than me...Isabelle doesn't get depressed because her butt's too fat for a swimsuit. No figure quirks to compensate for, she looks great in anything I choose for her. It's worth every penny.

 

It seems like human clothes that take the least fabric cost the most money. I wonder if it's the same basic idea...

Just joking. :P

Considering that it doesn't take much less time and effort to make a doll's outfit than it does a human's outfit, I'd expect the price to be reasonably high. Plus you're often buying clothes of higher quality materials and with more trim and complications than you'd wear yourself.

 

i often spend way more on my doll then i do on myself.

 

Definitely, it is their clothes, shoes or even other accessories. It shocked me since the beginning in the hobby and still it does, but I cannot help it. The cost hurts me more when it is something for me instead of for them.

 

I've only ever done this once. My justification was that the outfit I purchased for my doll was the only outfit he'd ever wear. I think that's reason enough.

 

I can relate to this - the cost hurts more when it's something for me instead of for the doll.

When I first started (just last year), I couldn't imagine spending $200+ on a doll, let alone for some outfits. I don't buy whole sets, I tend to do separates and go for a casual look.. But I just bought a pair of jeans (loooove them!) for my incoming mnf - working pockets, belt loops, etc. I showed them to a non-doll friend and her daughter and said "look, my doll has cuter jeans than I do".. I also just told my husband recently that I hadn't purchased any clothes for myself since this time last year.. and I was going to have to give in and get a few things this summer. When I see something at the store, I ask myself.. do I really want it, or would I rather go home and find a cute shirt/skirt/shoes/whatever for one of my dolls. What's worse, is that none of them really have any outfits I am totally gaga over. But with mnf I'm definitely rectifying that!

 

Pffft- I'd never spend more on a doll anything then I would on one for me. I like clothing myself waaaaay more than I like buying clothes for my dollies. Mostly, I make all of their clothes, and with the exception of the odd item I can't make, I'll buy it- but only when I've got extra money and I'm in the mood. My clothes come first by far. For example, I spent about the price of a nine-style full set in Forever 21 the other day, and I have yet to buy a jacket that will complete my boy's outfit. (He'll get it when I'm good and ready to drop bloody $25 on it! Which may be never when I really think about it...)

 

As much as I may hate to admit it... I will spend $50 on brand new doll jeans in a heartbeat, yet be hesitant to spend even $7 on myself, at the local thrift store.


Honestly, I think it's availability that's affecting our shopping choices, rather than our willingness or unwillingness to spend on ourselves or our dolls. How many doll clothes do we find that cost under $20, that are worth anything? Which includes shipping from another country, as well as how well made they really are? Or any number of things you want to add, like durability and staining possibilities, and fit.

And yet, we find so many jeans for people for under $20 in thrift stores all the time, which meet our criteria (or at least mine, which is very high and pretty rigid). Sure they're used, but the MP is full of dollie jeans which don't go for much less than the original price.


As mentioned already, we also have to compare prices of dolls to humans. A good business suit (for people) can run you a couple hundred dollars, same with a pretty dress with lots of detail/accessories. What about Lolita clothes? I've heard those can be through the roof! Yet doll clothes... Good suits are $100 or less, pretty dresses the same. Lolita dresses for dolls are at most $200 (from what I've heard and from what little I've seen).


TL;DR - I spend more on my doll clothes because I can't find the things I'm looking for any cheaper, whereas I can go to the thrift store and get what I need for under $50. Tops.

 

One set of clothes for my tiny cost a 100. wayyyy more then mine can ever cost ): !

 

This makes me so torn! I just ordered my first doll. Partly, I'm not used to how much this hobby costs. So far, I have only sewed my doll clothes. I can sew fairly well. It kind of drives me crazy that some things I want to buy cost just as much as my own clothing. Also, even though I could just sew my own version, I think that is stealing. So I am just using tutorials / patterns that are free on the forums here.

 

Yep...=________=
One of my best friend asked about why I spent money for buying clothes on my dolls even more for myself. Sometimes, I will spend time to think out for buying this coat for myself or not, but I'd never think about it when I bought dress for my dolls. One of their dress could be higher than 100$ but it looks than I will never buy a clothes for myself over than 100$...Loving dolls is consider to spend also a lot of money and time on it...hahah~

 

I never thought of that, but it makes sense. Now I can at least justify the expense a little easier. Haha!

To be honest, I think I've spent more money on doll clothes in the past 2 weeks than I did on myself in the past year.

 

I noticed myself being in a completely different mindset when looking at their clothing, especially if we include shoes. If I want it for them, I am less likely to be concerned about the price than I am for myself. I haven't analyzed it, but I was aware of it.

 

Heh, I don't buy all that much clothing for myself anymore. Since I just work at home -and rarely go out -yes I'm a loner lol - I don't really have the need to buy loads of clothes for myself.

My dolls on the other hand, get lots of different outfits -although lately I've bough less for them- and most of the outfits are indeed more expensive then the stuff I get for myself. I don't find that strange either, even if others may think so. ^^;

 

I would consider the price of their clothes over mine. I basically am more comfortable buying clothes for them (and obviously my real children) than mine, however seeing as they are my dolls, esentially I am buying for me; I just cannot wear them

 

I was just thinking about this the other day when I paid $50 for a lovely white dress for one of my girls. So, yes, per item, I will spend more on my girls' clothes than on my clothes. I personally shop at Wal-Mart and wear my clothes long past when I should have bought new ones. But I think it is justifiable because, quite frankly, the girls looks better in nice clothes than I do. : )

 

yep i spend more on my girls stuff than i do on myself

 

I actually will probably spend more on doll shoes then shoes for myself just in that there are a lot of adorable styles and Im a sneakers sort of gal.

Im going to try to make most of my dolls clothes. We'll see how that goes

 

I think since I got my dolls I've probably spent a bit more on their clothes than I have my own, but then I never really used to spend that much on clothing anyways. I dont see a great need to spend a lot on clothes when I know within a few months theyre probably going to have ink/paint stains and holes everywhere (I'm an art student, dont ask about the holes i still havnt figured out how i manage to do that yet ^_^ ). Most of my own clothes I buy in sales, or I buy from the summer holiday ranges (throw-away clothes ftw - tshirts for £1-2 each strappy tops for £1 each) so of course I can buy in bulk and it doesnt hurt the bank. But doll clothes I think I can allow to spend that bit more on, they dont go through the same wear-and-tear as people clothes and they are so much easier to keep almost new. Even at that I try to keep a similar mindset as to my own shopping - try to find sales/promotions that involve clothing, bulk buy to get the most out of shipping. If I could sew a lot better than I do at present I would probably save a lot on doll clothes, but that may take quite a long while yet.

 

Oh, goodness no. I own a skirt that costs more than one of my dolls. I look good in nice clothing and am not willing to sacrifice how I look to buy more clothing for my dolls. I like nice and expensive clothing and don't really care so much about the price of it when it comes to stuff for me, but when it comes to my dolls, I really shop around. All of my dolls are well clothed and look totally fabulous even though I haven't spent too much on them. All together I've probably only spent less than $160 on all of my doll's clothing together, shoes included.

 

Errr, to tell the truth, you have to be familiar with it...
Just think on the other hand, your doll will never grow up, he/she does not need new clothes very often, doesn't they?!

 

Oh yeah, their clothes are way more expensive than mine. I shop at thrift stores, bargain stores, and Walmart for myself. They're getting clothes that cost enough for one year's worth of clothes for me.

Let's not even get to shoes...D:

 

I pay about equal. I find it silly to spend more on my boy's clothes than my own, he's only a doll after all. (I'm also extremely picky and stingy when it comes to doll clothes in the first place lol)

 

My mom pays my clothes, so I don't have to worry about that.
I'll pay the clothes for my doll, but I don't have much money, so it won't be more expensive than my clothes. ^-^

 

In fact I always like to redesign some outfits that not very expensive. I don't like to put a full set outfit just on one doll...haha
Like someone mentioned my mom pays most of my clothes but I like shopping and everytime I usually think that the clothing will be perfect wearing on dolls.><

 

I go through periods where I spend a lot on doll clothes (say $200 at a time) and skimp on my own clothes, and other times I'll blow $700 on clothes for myself. It all depends on how much I want the outfit (for myself or my dolls), what the quality is like (I try and buy good quality clothes that will last a long time) and what I need the clothes for. I started a new job about 6 months ago so I needed a whole lot of new clothes. Other times I've worked from home and my dolls got 10 times as much clothing as me.

I think with doll clothes (actually with pretty much everything! LOL) you get what you pay for. If you buy good quality brands such as Volks or Dollheart you're buying things that are finished very well, and a great deal of time and effort has gone into making them. You can really see the difference. My dolls started off with cheaper type clothes but now I prefer to save up and get only good quality items from Dollheart, Volks etc... from the marketplace here or commission someone to make the clothes. It bothers me when doll clothes are not well made - I like them to be in scale and with finished seams and lining where it's needed. I love having doll clothes and shoes that are well made - I see them as little pieces of art that I will hopefully hand down to a niece or nephew one day. So for me doll clothes are as much of an 'investment' as the doll themselves.

 

When I started collecting dolls I used to buy LOTS of clothes and stuff. Much more for them than for me. Now I am much more selective... I only get good quality items that I REALLY love and that match my dolls' personalities and style.

And I think the dolly clothes and acessories are such an important part of the hobby. They can make dolls look very cute on pictures.

But well, I still have to say... my dolls have a better wardrobe than myself.

 

i agree with you. the other day i spend over 100 dollars for the outfit i want for my doll. instead buying material or clothing online. you can use your old clothing that you dont wear and use that material for your doll clothing

 

Actually...quite honestly my clothing and my boy's clothing is pretty much around the same price.

 

I don't think I've paid more for individual articles, but for entire outfits. And shoes. I definitely spend more on my dolls shoes than I do on my own. Then again, I'm not as picky about my shoes than I am about my doll's. It's really funny, the other day, I was looking at an outfit and the total was 156 USD, and I looked at my friend and I was like, "I feel like I could buy MYSELF an outfit with that money!" XD

But to be completely honest, I'm not a fashion junkie. I'm relatively comfortable in sweats and T-Shirts all year round, and my winter jacket has lasted me years. I do love fashion, just not on me. I like to be ready within 20 minutes and out the door. ^.^;

My dolls, on the other hand.... >.>;

 

It's rough for me because I'm so thrifty when it comes to my own clothes. I don't have it in me to fork over money for clothes myself, and it's a constant battle for my doll. But like children, they will always have it better. The talent it takes to make such tiny clothes is well worth the money. If you think of it from the maker standpoint, it's going to take them longer and will be much harder to sew a tiny shirt than a larger shirt. My first real outfit for Freddie was a gift. That's because I spent MONTHS debating what's worth it/realistic/necessary. LOL

 

My boys only dress in street clothes; they don't have anything too complicated, so their clothes typically cost a little less than mine do, depending on where I buy them from. I am very particular about what I buy my boys. I do a lot of browsing and I comb the marketplace, which has paid off for me so far.

I'm cheap when it comes to dolls clothes, probably because my dolls are not lolita or steampunk or anything else that has lots of gorgeous tiny accessories and details. I give a lot of credit to owners of dolls with complicated fashions!

 

Same here But high prices for dolls clothes stimulating my fighting spirit. It makes me stop being lazy and greate clothes by myself

 

I'm guilty of spending more for doll clothes than my own clothes..their clothes are more expensive than mine XD

 

Oh I totally spend more on their clothes than mine. I take pride in finding a bargain for my clothes, but don't think twice about
dropping a fortune on theirs.

 

Man, I love shopping for doll clothes but HATE shopping for myself, so its easy to see myself spending more on doll clothes than my own clothes (as soon as my dolls arrive that is).

Also, it is a lot harder to make smaller clothes because it is simply harder to handle the pieces of fabric. I cringe at the thought of sewing sleeves on a tiny doll ><

 

My friend and I were speaking of this subject just the other day. We both agreed that for the most part we will spend more for our dolls clothing than for ourselves. We just love doll clothes and have a thing for their shoes. We don't care what we pay for them if the fit is to our liking. As for shopping for myself I hate it! Umpteem trips back and forth to the fitting room to find a pair of jeans that fits to my liking. I'll find a brand that fits and next time I go to get some more they've changed the cut grrrrrrr!

 

Right.....Before I received my first doll,I always shop for myself whenever possible
After his arrival ...I started to look for him bit by bit ...
and months later when the crew expanded-_-
I went shopping for their new outfits almost everyday<----
and now-_- I realised I have not bought myself a new top nor a new skirt or anything and spent every single cent that I would used to buy clothes for my own in the past on THEIR stuffs.
- -....Now ....they have 3 big boxes full of outfits....and I have the same wardrobe as before....-.-||

 

I think that it will even out, for myself anyway.

I will only have 2 or 3 outfits for each of my dolls, and add a few pieces here and there.

For myself I buy clothes more often and have many more items than each of my dolls do.

So I think it's pretty even, though there is a good chance that I will spend more on my dolls than on myself.

 

I know I spend more on doll clothes then on my self due to one more of them then me, and also because I am not really into clothes. I work at home and so get away with 95% of the life in jeans and t-shirts. That 5% I need something fancy, I have had for over 5 years so not worried. I like dressing my dolls in stuff to suit their personality or who I see them as charecter wise. I don't need much, just new shoes when the old ones wear out.

 

Some of my dolls clothes have been more expensive than my own--actually, a lot have--but I think you're paying for skill and ability more so over amount of fabric, because while doll clothes may take less fabric, it would seem it is a lot more difficult to sew smaller scale things and include the realistic details many of us enjoy in our dolls' clothes. Most of our own clothing doesn't have the same individual attention to detail to get it created, produced en mass on an assembly line or whatever the case may be.

 

I've been wondering about this topic too but, it makes sense when you put it that way.

 

I wear Old Navy jeans and various T-shirts that I've had for years, so yes, I spend much more on doll clothes than my own!

 

I'm kind of reluctant to buy things that I can, in theory, make myself for less. I'm not a terribly skilled sewer yet and anything nearing fancy is beyond me, but I'm pleased enough with what I can make so far. :3

 

i buy for my doll about as often as i buy for myself, as i like making doll cloaths as part of the hobby, i do find it strange that i can buy a £2 t-shirt for myself yet some being sold for dolls are £5 or more.

 

My doll clothes cost more than my clothes! A set for them is nearly $200 if not more, while for me a 'set' such as jeans and a t-shirt is no more than $50 not including shoes b/c I wear the same shoes for everything. But I justify it by saying 'He's only going to have a few pairs as compared to me where I have enough pieces to last me for over two weeks'. Furthermore, I don't dress them in jeans and the like. I already wear them, I don't want my dolls to wear those too! They need something special.

Also, for clothes that cost that much...their quality blows me away. It's amazing how beautifully detailed they are. Totally worth it. I am so jealous of my dolls

 

I know just by looking through the clothing prices that they often cost way more than I would spend for myself. Granted that right now most of the prices are pretty close to the same, but for some reason it always feels like spending 30$ for a shirt for a doll is worse than spending 30$ for a shirt for myself. I think the size makes a difference, you'd think smaller means cheaper but because it's smaller and often more detailed the prices are about the same.