One of the things I love about collecting dolls is that it gives me an excuse to have an entire second wardrobe of clothing and accessories when I have absolutely no excuse to be buying more for myself. I may have plenty of maxi dresses in my own wardrobe, but when I’m going through a maxi dress phase, obviously my dolls need some too. So, I get to shop for more maxi dresses. Everybody wins! Well, except for the budget. And the closet perhaps. Even if you’re not a shopaholic for yourself, you may find yourself wanting to buy buy buy for your dolls, and at some point you will reach your limit on spending or space. Here are 6 things to think about if you’re looking to save money while still having fun with collecting doll clothes.
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1. Start with the Basics
Be sure to get the basics (click here to download Clarisse’s Guide to wardrobe basics) because they are a great foundation for working with other pieces. While it’s great to have some pieces with interesting patterns or designs, if you only buy things that really catch your eye, you may end up with tons of great clothes and nothing to pair them with. This will only lead you to feeling like you must need more clothes in order to make them work. Make sure you have the mix-and-match basics so you can build a fabulous wardrobe around that foundation.
2. Consider Each Piece
When shopping complete outfits, look for the potential in each piece to make sure it will be worth the purchase. Ask yourself, what in particular appeals to you about the outfit? Is it really just the top? Or the shoes? If it’s just one small part, then maybe you can pass, or consider reselling the pieces you won’t use as much. If you can see yourself using each individual piece, then purchasing the whole outfit will worth it.
3. Resell Your Rejects
Doll clothing tends to hold its value if it is kept in good condition, so it can be worthwhile to resell items you don’t use. Being a good seller does require some work, but getting to treat yourself to something new after getting some extra funds from clearing out things that weren’t getting use is very satisfying. Look into resell options such as Ebay, buy-sell-trade groups on Facebook, Craigslist, or Storenvy. Just make sure you disclose the important information such as whether you have a smoke-free or pet-free home, and whether there are any stains or signs of wear on the items. This helps prevent a customer from receiving an item in a condition they weren’t expecting. Even great sellers can have difficult buyers, but overall you are likely to make out well if you are upfront about your items and provide good pictures.
4. Skip the Fads
Limit your spending on fad items that will go out of style quickly. They are much easier to recognize in hindsight than in foresight, but with some caution you can avoid getting sucked into a fad that will have you regretting having ten pairs of metallic colored jeans next year when you’ve moved onto overalls. The best way to avoid this is by taking it slow, even if you’re really loving a trend that has just popped up. As they say, “easy come, easy go,” so if out of the blue you start seeing a certain style everywhere, it might just be a fad. If you want to give a newly popular look a try, go for an inexpensive option or pick just one before splurging for more. If the following season you’re still loving that style, then consider shopping for more.
5. Invest in Usable Favorites
If you’re going to splurge on a more expensive item, make sure it is one that you can see yourself using on your dolls often. For instance, an amazingly detailed recreation of your favorite movie character’s outfit for dolls may seem like something you have to have, but do you see yourself actually putting it on your dolls? Maybe you do! Maybe you already have a list of photo-shoot ideas, or it’ll be your doll’s go-to Halloween costume every year and it will be totally worth it. But if you like to be creative and have your doll in a different costume each year, then it seems like she might get one use out of it and then it’ll just take up room in the closet.
Think about this when shopping for sportswear too. A dance outfit may go well with your doll’s personality, but if you typically dress your doll in everyday clothes, then perhaps that well-made floral dress in your favorite colors is a better item to spend your money on, since it is more likely that you’ll reach for that when dressing your dolls than one of five ballet outfits. Everyone’s collecting preferences are different, so the things you choose to invest in may look different than someone else’s collection, but it’s important to consider how often you will use the item before clicking that all too easy “Add to Cart” button!
6. Resist the Sale
I know how it is. A $20 price tag doesn’t look nearly as enticing as a $38 price tag marked down to $20, but that’s the same $20 according to your wallet. When I see something on sale that is tempting me, I always try to compare the price to something else I could buy with that money to see how it holds up. When you start considering that mildly intriguing $38 American Girl outfit because it just went on sale for $20, think about that $20 dress you favorited on Etsy that you haven’t wanted to spend the money on. Ask yourself, which would you rather have? Even if you’re getting more pieces for the money with the American Girl outfit, having something you really love is probably going to be more fun than having something that seemed a little cuter when it went on sale.
Have you ever used any of these techniques to keep your doll wardrobe in check? Share your favorite doll shopping tip in the comments!
Fabulous advice! I have to admit the pieces I use over and over on my dolls show wear. I have favorite pieces from different sets. I feel like OG outfits are so funky because they figure no one will use it complete as is, but will use the pieces to mix and match. I have been saying, “I don’t need that” a lot lately. Thank you for the great tips.