I think it's the artistry of dolls that is a big draw for adults. They really are a work of art and some take hours of labor intensive effort to complete.
I agree. That's a big draw for me, for sure. I have a background in costume design, so I like to think of them little 3D renderings by the designer. ❤️
It was a LITTLE tough for me as an adult doll collector in the beginning. i hadn't been interested in dolls since, maybe, the 8th grade. .. and there i was, a 33 year old man, buying dolls. Seemingly out of NOWHERE! i was a little embarrassed, but my shame was short-lived when i discovered other adult collectors on TH-cam. It was one of those rare moments when i was super duper grateful for the internet. i had become friends with most of the collectors i watched and i think the doll community saved me from a downward spiral. i STILL feel guilt when i look around my house and see all of the dolls and structures that i have bought that amounts to thousands of dollars. Guilty and and silly, actually. i feel silly for taking this hobby so seriously and spending as much money that i do. At night, i often ask myself "WHY AM I DOING THIS??" "What is the end goal here?" "Do i have a problem??!" Then i think about the fact that i live alone, i have no children, i pay my bills on time, i have heat, food and water and i pay my taxes on time. If i'm temporarily broke after finally buying something fun to soothe away all the "adult" bullshit, i'm good. As long as everything else is taken care of, right?
I completely agree. Some people travel, some people get expensive tattoos, I buy dolls. Lol, it's just what I prefer, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that personally.
I think that if you're wondering why you spend money on dolls because you feel like you shouldn't be based on what society has taught you, then it's more about guilt over having something "forbidden." In which case you shouldn't and you should enjoy doing what you love. However, if you are wondering why you buy dolls because you feel out of control and like it's impulsive, and you don't enjoy them or interact with them after purchasing them, that may be worth exploring. Is it the doll you want? Or is it the excitement of "the hunt" and the short-lived thrill you only feel by buying more dolls? Idk...that's my take on that as a recently "out" doll collector lol. Please take that with a big grain of salt. I used to hide my dolls in my closet (I don't have a lot) because I felt embarrassed over being an adult buying dolls, the amount of dolls I was buying (tame by any real collector's standards), and how much the dolls cost (IT). I did have a little element of "thrill" buying that I had to get in check when I first started but I also really enjoyed interacting with my dolls. Redressing, displaying them (one at a time so as not to raise suspicion! LOL), posing and photographing them etc. So I finally accepted the fact that I just enjoy 1/6th scale fashion dolls and the world can deal with it! 😂 I bought a glass case, displayed my dolls in my home office, and then told my husband "hey...I feel really embarrassed about this, but I really like these dolls, and I collect them, and you'll probably see more." He said "I'm aware...it's cool. I'm glad you have a hobby, babe. What are we doing for dinner?" 😂 I guess for me it was a bigger deal in my head. My daughters really enjoy them too and know they are "mom's dolls" and different from their dolls. My family and our bills are taken care of so I can enjoy something for myself. I still feel anxiety when adults family members come to my house and ask me about them or how much they cost but I'm getting better at being okay that this is something I enjoy. Anyway, I think if your hobby makes you happy then it's okay. P.S. I know that gender factors make it even harder and more complex so I don't want to dismiss that in any way. I can't even imagine how hard that must be. ❤
If you were throwing hundreds and even thousands dollars at sports events tickets, travel to special games, jerseys, and player endorsement products no one would bat an eye at the hobby. Definitely nothing wrong with putting that kind of energy towards dolls when that is what you care about!
I have been collecting 40+ years. People who really know me know I collect books and Barbies. I have no guilt towards either. I do try to control myself on my spending, just because I have bills like everybody else in the world. I limit myself to 100 Barbies and Kens combined. I like to make Barbie houses from cardboard boxes, foam board, etc. I have 11 at this time. I had 15, but I recently gave away 4. I try to control myself when I get an inspiration due to "space" of having a doll town. Doll collecting is never a waste of money. Doll collecting is a hobby and an art collection. I love your Pink Pop Barbie. I made my own, because I could not afford to buy her. I do not mind making my own dolls as I know I have a OOAK doll inspired by a Mattel doll. I am an old lady with grandsons. They see no value in doll collecting but know it makes me happy. That is enough for them.
Thank you for sharing! That sounds so interesting. I would love to see your Barbie town. 😍 I'm not nearly talented enough to do those kinds of things. Lol, but I love seeing everyone's OOAK dolls and dioramas and stuff like that. They're usually way more creative than the Barbies Mattel produces.
I can completely relate. I am 45 years old and was at a work event. One of my co-workers wives said ( without knowing my doll collecting hobby) "what kind of grown adult plays with toys??" Everyone at the table agreed...like it was a strike against anyone who enjoys them. So shallow.
I collect dolls because it makes me happy, its an Aspergers special interest for me, and it helps me deal with my anxiety and depression. I have loved dolls ever since I was a kid. Probably the most difficult time in my doll collecting career was the time when I was only 11 and I mentally forced myself to hate Barbies just because my peers told me that it was childish and I was desperate to fit in. Then in 2013, I got a Frozen Elsa doll and I got into MH, and that seemingly reactivated my interest in dolls with a vengeance. I even have certain dolls that I personally view as comfort dolls, that I just like to hold or look at, and that make me feel less lonely somehow (Veronica and Naomi from Shadow High currently share that very important position in my collection.). I am very selective with what dolls end up in my collection as well, because I only buy dolls that I am completely sold on or that I really fall in love with or relate to in some way. Sometimes I do worry that I am being too selfish with my doll collection though and I have gotten quite a bit of judgement from my same-age peers for somehow being too passionate or intense about doll collecting. Sometimes I even feel ashamed because for every major doll line I get into, I always feel more drawn to the villain characters than the good characters. This has been going on since 2013 when Nefera quickly became my favorite Monster High character, and then it happened again as soon as the Storm Twins first appeared in the RH webisodes. I'm not a bad person (I am more of an academic and a rule-follower IRL) but I can't help but question why I love the villains of doll shows more than the good guys and why those dolls always make me feel much happier than the protagonists' dolls. Thankfully, me showing doll photography of some of my favorite dolls has gotton some people to see the beauty in them. And I am normally an OOTB collector, but I do have a second set of the Storm Twins that I keep mint in box because I just love having a mint in box set of them to display and look at, and they are two of my favorite dolls of all time. Honestly as to whether I keep my dolls in box or out of box, it really depends on the doll, but I do take most of mine out of my dolls out of the box because I just get more enjoyment from them that way. But this was a great and very informative video, and its nice to know that I'm not doing anything socially wrong with choosing to collect dolls.
Thank you so much for sharing! ❤️ first off, I also ADORE the storm twins. They're definitely one of my favorite shadow high releases so far. Second, I also usually prefer Villians. When I used to do costume design, we we're kind of taught that when you design costumes for the villain, you can basically do whatever you want because they typically wouldn't follow the rules. But when you'd design heroic characters, they usually have to meet certain classical beauty standards, etc. That, in my opinion make them less interesting. 😆 So I don't think liking the villains is a bad thing at all. I'm sure the doll designers want you to enjoy them both.
I have autism and I feel very much the same! For a really long time before I got my diagnosis I was very secretive about what I liked. I'd liked dolls for years, going way back to G1 MH and EAH, and even just standard barbies before that! (I remember these very early tiny Blythe dolls that were my everything when I was maybe like 11), dolls were so beautiful and gave me so much creative inspiration, but I would rarely ever go and buy one, I was far too embarrased and couldn't afford it! I'd just look at the doll aisle in toy shops longingly from a distance. I did pick up one or two who were cheap, and if I did I usually ordered them online. Then in 2022, I got a diagnosis, though we'd suspected since 2020. As a gift to myself since I was in a much better financial position, I bought my first Rainbow High doll and never looked back. I know keeping dolls in their box is what you really should do, but I can't help but love the process of unboxing and posing and changing outfits! My dolls mean so much to me and my collection makes me so happy. I do have a few boxed dolls, including two old Holiday Barbies (2008 and 2012!) who are still sealed and were from eBay, and a disney Kida collector who I adore with all my heart, but the rest are out on the shelves and I wouldn't have it any other way! I love my collection, in all it's rainbow diverse glory with dolls of various lines and styles and colours and vibes! I have handmade dolls, fashion dolls, collectors, and even a lone Rey from Star Wars who I got for a bargain haha! Seeing how unique and beautiful everyone is makes my room a comforting and safe space and feels so much less lonely than it did before. Since I don't really go anywhere and I struggle to keep up with friendships, I like to have my dolls around to give the room some life and have something to talk to, which I know sounds ridiculous, but it keeps me sane! Rainbow High got me through many bad patches last year, and for that I will always have a place in my heart and on my shelves for them! I will say it is tricky. I struggle really bad with impulse control when I do have money, and I have a tendency to want to have things completed. But I'm working on it!
🤔 I've always wondered if I'm on the spectrum for this very reason, but I've been told no by my practitioner who specializes in autism spectrum disorders. ❤️ I follow Aspie World though & identify with so many of his experiences. 🌹 For example my dolls and my encyclopedic knowledge of them. I really have to do a book or video compilation of all my trivia I've acquired over 40 years of collecting 😆
All the topics you spoke about in this video are so interesting - as someone who collects different toys all over the place, i've reached a point where i've run out of space for it all. So i now have to debate whether i'll buy a new piece of furniture just to keep all my little darlings in, and there was some shame in that - my job involves speaking to many different people, many of whom are in difficult personal and financial situations. It feels frivolous sometimes, to know i've spent the same amount of money on a toy that one of these people could have pur towards their daily necessities. I came to view my collection as a constant source of joy and like my little fort of happiness i can return to after a hard day. The guilt will probably always be there, but i also know that denying myself this small joy of mine would worsen my own state of being. It's a difficult tightrope to walk, being aware of people's needs but having to take care of my own as well. Thank you for speaking about the guilt and shame in collecting in depth, it was very insightful!
This conversation is SO essential for new and old doll collectors! As someone who's been into dolls my entire life, I can wholeheartedly say that it's a challenging hobby in the beginning because you sure feel that FOMO set in when you see influencers and just everyday doll hobbyists post their restyled doll or even the latest doll release! But as adults, we have to discern whether or not it's something we really want to spend our salaries on. When you mentioned having emergency funds or just savings I immediately went: "YES!" I really do urge new and old collectors to set aside what they're willing to spend their money on especially when it comes to "collector dolls"
It‘s honestly just sexism. Most adult guys buy action figures and stuff for their collections and see marvel movies every year like it‘s normal. But god forbid toys for girls are collected by adults and suddenly ppl‘s brains break. It‘s because ppl don‘t value girls and women and their interests. Women are just expected to instantly switch and that‘s just sexism.
Happy your channel came up in my recommended, love listening to you talk. I am still learning to not hold shame for being a new collector, wish my family would stop asking "this is the last one right".... *me looking at my shelf with well over 50 dolls now* ...."nope" :D
Omg if someone asked me if this is the last one, idk how I would even respond at this point. 😆 I'd probably be like, "Who are you? How did you get in my house?" Because no one I know would ever ask a question like that. 😂😂
@@dollthighs Goodness yes its such an odd question to ask when you know dolls wont stop being produced XD Thanks for your vid reassuring us, it is always nice to hear:D
THANK YOU for mentioning the environmental impact of doll collecting!! it felt like nobody else cared because it's rarely acknowledged in the doll community, yet is it not something to ignore!! nothing brings me more joy than dolls but I also care deeply for the environment, it's a tough situation ☹️
Same. It makes me feel like a hypocrite, but I think starting a conversation about it is the first step. I was nervous to mention it at all because I think it makes people uncomfortable, but I also think it's an important discussion to have. ❤
I agree. The plastic problem holds true for the entire toy industry. Just think of all the LEGO bricks being produced. Piles and piles of them! Yet I like LEGO as well as dolls.
Hi well I remember in 1962 when I turned 10 years old. My mother's father sent me $10.00. My mother took me to the local toy store. There were no big box toy stores in those days. She left me there to look and pick out what ever I wanted that cost $10.00. I remember sneaking over to the "girls side" of the store, pulling out a Ken robe showering set with soap, wash cloth, razor, ect. I wanted so much to get that set and a ken doll, but I knew my father would hit the roof if I brought home a doll! It was so sad, I bought 5 re-made plastic cars, which he ended up screaming at my mother. For letting me through my money away on these cars. It sort of scarred me, always feeling that what ever I might buy, I was waisting my money, I was spend thrift. BTW, as an adult I collected every single original ken doll and outfit they made for him from 1962 through 1966.
Thank you so much for sharing! ❤️ I'm so sorry to hear that, but it's also great to hear that you're still collecting and enjoying something you're so passionate about. I feel like doll collectors are faced with so much more criticism than most other collecting hobbies that only those of us who are deeply passionate stick with it. Also, I would love to see your Ken collection, I'm sure it's immaculate. 🥰
Thank you for talking about this! I love that doll btw. I totally understand the $600 price tag because that’s ART. She is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! And you make a great point about the difference between taking a $1000 vacation verses something that you can look at everyday and that brings you joy. I really wish people stopped thinking about dolls as TOYS and think of them as ART.
Great topic, well handled. I'm a 60 year old gay man - I've always loved dolls and toys. Part of it is because I love miniature things and partly I think it was because as a child I knew it was "taboo" for boys to like dolls. When I transitioned to an adult, I realized I could have whatever I wanted because I was paying my own bills. It became the best part of being a grown up 😁
In the 90s, my whole high school knew i collected dolls and made dresses for them. I got mad respect from everyone. Including the jocks . Shame is only an illusion. Its not real .
Thank you for this video. I got into doll collecting 2 years ago. Everytime I buy a doll I feel guilty for spending the money especially as I will in a country where most of the dolls I want are not available and I spend 3-4x the price in getting them imported. I am very responsible with my money yet I feel very guilty. I am also into horror dolls but my husband doesn't let me get them as he is very scared of ghosts. I find dolls to be so therapeutic yet I feel very guilty as it goes against my minimalist mindset. I live in a country where doll collecting is unheard of and I don't have a community to enjoy them with. These online videos by collectors is all I have to enjoy and know about dolls.
I'm 43 and I have a collection of OMG dolls, three days ago I bought 7 of them and Miss Celebrate is one of them! I LOVE her!, Used the ribbon on the front of the box and put it in the front of her hair, she's gorgeous!
Not really a doll collector, mostly collect other toys such as my little pony, but youtube recommended this video. So bizarre to hear how much less do some of the dolls cost in America. For some weird reason, many dolls (rainbow high, OMG, recently released Monster high) cost over 50 euros in a country where I live. Mermaze ones cost over 70 euros , few ones were nearly 100 euros. Those prices alone have made me not want to collect dolls.
I get it. I went a bit nuts for LOL Surprise when they first came out and I shared a few doubles with a friend's daughter, and I felt a bit of shame, but I started out collecting Pullips about 20 years ago (oy) and the forums had plenty of older people in them. I also went to my first doll show last year, and that is quite an affirming experience. Loving your videos and your collection. My brother in Doll solidarity! 🥂
Its easier for me to buy dolls from stores because most people assume I am shopping for children that I don't have. They just think im just a mom that has kids when. I just like collecting dolls. I don't have kids yet.
Such a great video. When i was a kid, i begged my mom for the Maylin Bratz doll. I love her so much but as i grew, i started to feel shame from my friends that i still had this toy. I felt so much shame, I hid her in a box. 20 years later, i've got all three World Bratz dolls and a ton of RH dolls that bring me joy! No f*ckin shame!
My parents give me a lot of flack about collecting ball jointed dolls because they see them as "Toys"instead of art pieces or collector's items. It's mostly my mom that does it, but she feeds me, so meh. Lol
Thank you very much for this! I like the points that you made about Shame and guilt! I am a 66 year old lady and I collect Barbie! It true that not everyone understands! -All I know is that collecting the Barbie’s I like make me feel good! Yes, I do spend on my collection and some people I know that try to shame me! Collecting is my only vice! I really don’t care about the “mega doll! I do keep my dolls inbox, because Mattel’s packaging is so beautiful! I just don’t want my Barbies to get messed up! I plan to keep them forever! - I am glad that the doll industry is so diverse! For the first time I can get the black Barbie that I always wanted as a little black girl growing up in the 1960’s!- I believe dolls are for every one!!! Keep doing what you do!🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾
I think you were really thorough with this and you really hit a lot of good points. the whole dolls are for girls thing is horrible because it comes out of these sexist limiting stereotypes where girls were only expected to grow up and take care of children (baby dolls) and care about their appearance to be attractive to men (fashion dolls). just so outdated and limiting not just for girls, obviously, but for everyone. everyone needs to be able to be their unique authentic selves regardless of their gender, age, sexual orientation, etc. the environmental thing where a company does a token thing for the environment and then is all "hey look at us!" is called greenwashing. like you pointed out, that mattel line is a fraction of their production. I'm glad you hit the in and out of box thing too. I saw a comment the other day on a video made by a collector who collects in and out of box (ie, buys doubles of dolls when he can and displays the out of box doll in front of the doll in the box). the commentor was like, that's unethical because some of these dolls are hard to find and you're getting two when other people can't even get one. like your point about the rare dolls and the shame of exclusion. but the thing is, you can't control that on a large scale. if you personally feel bad about it, then just buy one doll. but you're never going to manage to get everyone in the collecting community to agree to only buy one of each doll. you can't control other people's behavior, and most of the time it's not your business to try (like the mayor's mom, lol.) anyway, I was intrigued by the title of the video and I thought you did a great job with it!
Thank you! 🥰 also, that's a great point about people who buy doubles. I have never seen any issue with buying doubles if you just like having 2 of the dolls. 😆 it's not like they bought 100 of them just to keep them hidden away from the world. It's not any collectors fault that doll companies don't always make enough supply to meet the demand. 🤷♂️
This is kind of weird, but for me keeping some of my dolls in the box helps me find them when I change my displays for the season. Keeping the doll in the box keeps everything together and I use the side of the box to identify them. Kind of like books on a bookshelf. I have issues with organization and it helps keep things simple because I have some dolls from my childhood and others were more recent acquisitions. Other dolls I like to have out of the box to pose and dress and play with.
I was four years old when Barbie came out and took an interest in how nicely the clothes were made. Julia was my first doll that I adopted after my cousins, left for home, in the summer, at my grandparents. Barbie's clothes were made to fit all of the 11 1/2 inch dolls they made and they were sold separately. Spent hours playing fashion parade and G.I. Joe as the escort riding on the back of a dump truck. The first time I bought a fashion was for Black Francie and was pissed because the stockings wouldn't stay up. Guilt all through my childhood because I was a boy. Reminded of the tight sweater dresses made from worn out socks. Shame lasted a lot of years because I buy, would hid, my collection, in the closet. I'm in the Barbie Fan Club and my first Barbie convention dissolved my Guilt and Shame. It's amazing what creations are made in doll form that any human would love to wear. That's what fuels my collection for dolls.
Thank you so much for sharing. It's sad that anyone would feel the need to hide their collection when collecting is such a beautiful hobby. I'm so glad to hear that finding a community of supportive people helped you work through the shame. I still have never been to a doll show or convention, but I would love to go some day. They sound like a lot of fun. ❤️
My hubby collects funko pops. He has hundreds and hundreds. He keeps their cardboard boxes in special plastic boxes. He orders them, displays them, adores them. Society is cool with this. I collect dolls. Barbie, and any discontinued dolls I like. I have hundreds and hundreds. I keep them in their boxes. I order them, display them. Adore them. Society makes fun of me on the daily. Entire SNL skits are written about me. The difference can be explained with one word: misogyny. Belittling women (and gay men) and their interests is a long standing tradition of the patriarchy. Sewing, cooking, child care, doll collecting…all are diminished and disregarded by the patriarchy. Keeping women down requires a constant belittlement, and shaming women for their hobbies is par for that course.
Good point about action figures being dolls. I've always thought it was ridiculous society shames adult doll collectors but not action figure collectors (or people who play video games- that's also play)
Also, playing video games is a LOT like playing with dolls if you think about it. There's character customization, cosmetic items to dress up your avatar, and role playing. It's literally playing with virtual dolls. 🤣🤣🤣
Comments I get: Aren't you too old for dolls? Do you play with your dolls? Don't you have enough dolls? When are you going to sell them? Shouldn't you be saving that money?
Lol, no one has ever asked me, "When are you going to sell them?" That's such a bizarre question. We're not investing in the stock market, we're collecting little plastic people. 🤣🤣🤣
I love your coverage of “shame” within the fashion doll collector community. It’s certainly something that I think all adult collectors deal with at some point, especially for those that are gay that collect female dolls. I know I’ve dealt personally with many of these points of shame you’ve covered. I find it interesting that there are so many fashion designers for women, that are men, and so many of them are gay. As are there so many male doll designers both at the major doll companies, and independent doll creators like myself, that are also gay. The human sized fashion world and the fashion doll world I think have major crossovers. For myself, I unbox most of my dolls to enjoy them out of the box to interact with them, pose and display, and sometime redress. Unless of course, if to me, the boxed presentation is something that is so amazing, to remove the doll would lessen then aesthetics. Or if the box itself has more value for me then the doll. I’d include some of the SuperStar dolls from the late 70s and 80s that I have in boxes, for I love the illustrations on the boxes even more than the dolls housed inside. And it’s so easy to get an unboxed duplicate to enjoy the doll itself, and still have the boxed doll. As the doll sculptor and creator/producer of my own 18” GlamourOZ Dolls, which is part of the 16” scale of fashion dolls targeted to the adult fashion doll collector, there’s more of an emphasis on the boxing being the classic shoe box presentation. This allows for the doll to be, with intention, to be removed from the box to fully appreciate and engage with the doll. I have purchased several DisneyStore 16”/17” collector dolls. And in each case, I’ve removed them from their boxes, to claim their outfits for my own GlamourOZ Dolls to model the fashions. Which is much more fun, and has greater meaning to me. I love the Cruella DeVille doll you showed in your video. I have her too, but have deboxed her, and redressed one of my own GlamourOZ Dolls in the red dress, as I feel the dress comes alive in a way that I enjoy, when posed on my doll. instagram.com/p/CYOTjHfJ8No/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 32:28
I only started collecting dolls a few years ago while I had already been with my partner for a couple of years, he instantly was onboard and fully supported how happy it made me and he even buys me some, I am so glad I always had the most important person in my life never judge me. now even my friends like to see my collection and my mum buys me them for special occasions
I want to comment on in the box or out of the box. I do know that from experience dolls that stay in boxes especially if they’re like Barbies they tend to melt a little bit and it’s harder to take off their clothes if you need to because they kind of stuck to the body. It’s always best but it’s a personal preference I like to keep my dolls mainly out of box because I am totally blind, I don’t get too much pleasure with them being inbox. There are some dolls that I know I will keep inbox because I’ve seen them and I know what they are, but to identify them mostly I have them out of box. 33:18
This was such a thought-provoking video! I wanted to add to that discussion of being environmentally conscious. So, I've wondered about people who re-body dolls all the time. I have no idea what they do with the body they didn't want, and I don't really see a way of considering the environment here (besides maybe reselling the body you would discard). As an example, I've seen a lot of TH-camrs re-body Barbie fashionistas with facial molds they like for the sake of articulation. I don't see anything wrong with customizing something you bought; honestly, I think doing little things like this would make a product more endearing to me. I don't have a lot more to contribute here, I think I was just trying to speculate about a potential source of shame collectors may face.
I never even considered that. I hope they sell them on eBay or something. I'm sure crafty people could use all those doll bodies for something creative. 😆
I can guarantee almost all doll doctors keep all the extras. I have a draw of body parts. I’m planning on having a thin draw on ready made doll wigs soon.
So there's this thing that keeps happening to me... I end up really liking a show or a comic book or a toy line... and shortly after I get into it, it gets cancelled. Which, on the one hand, can be frustrating and disappointing. But, on the doll hand, it does keep my costs down when I get bit by the completionist bug! 🤣 One of my favorite things about living on my own is the fact that I get to put a bunch of my toy collections out on shelves in my living room. I spent my twenties with my JEM dolls and My Little Pony packed away in boxes, and now I get to see them out on display every day.
Omg I WISH I could just put dolls everywhere. 🤣🤣🤣 I have 2 partners, and we all live together, and neither of them care for dolls. So all my dolls are confined to my office where I film my videos.
Great video! I still deal with shame. I tried to share with others outside the doll community only to have those "looks of judgment" and common hurtful comments casually thrown at me. So I just keep it to myself, my family and spouse support me and its so wonderful for content creators like you to share your thoughts and hopeful educate others. As for in box or out, its a real odd discussion. I do both. Its your doll, you enjoy it the way you want. You paid for it. Decide for yourself. I dont argue with people on that topic. Its really not for them to tell me what I should do with my collection.
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I have no friends in real life who understand dolls or doll collecting. That's the main reason I started this channel honestly. 💗
I'm glad to listen someone discuss about the topics openly. There are things under surface and I feel such things need to be discussed. Thank you so much.
I resonate a lot with these points. I grew up in the 90s as well and I was always encouraged to play with boy toys, which I loved. I loved my GI Joes and pop guns and my Hot Wheels, but I loved Barbies and stuffed animals and Cabbage Patch Kids too and it was always this compromise over whether I could have them or not. When I finally would amass a collection, there would be this pressure to get rid of them because of the threat of being ostracized so I would and I'd regret it every time. Now as an adult, there is no stigma for me because I've waited my entire life to have them and actually keep them. But I still have or currently struggle with the stuff you mentioned. Getting over the hurdle of being a grown man collecting dolls wasn't as hard as I thought it'd be. However money is a big one, especially when everything goes on sale for the holidays or whenever I buy a doll that's over $50. But that's honestly all external. I don't think I'm wasting money, but I'm anticipating being told that I am. Same with the amount of dolls that I have. I amass them very quickly and I get stuck in that trap of thinking there's too many and I don't have space, even if I do. But like you said, I'm also not big into travel or cars or designer clothes either, so it really is one of my main hobbies and there's nothing wrong with that. As far as boxed dolls go, I ALWAYS take them out of the box. I don't care how old or how rare or how coveted they are. They always come out. I've seen so many dolls melt and rot inside of them that I can't in good conscience keep them in there. That's honestly a fairly recent development though and I still have some that need to be unboxed. I've thought about the collector stigma too, but I came to the same realization as you that I'm not a reseller or making an investment so I have no reason to keep them all in box. And as far as guilt, I think setting rules for yourself helps a lot too. I try not to buy dolls unless they speak to me on some level. I know a lot of collectors only go for posability or fashion or complete sets, but for me it's mostly in the face. Do I connect with this doll? Do I feel them tugging on my heartstrings? If yes, I feel like I have to get them. If I don't, I always regret it. I'm also much more interested in boy dolls than girl dolls on the whole, so I tell myself that I can have as many Barbies as I like, but I try to be more selective with girls otherwise. Sometimes it involves dealing with scalpers to get only half of a date night two-pack, but ultimately I end up feeling better knowing that instead of having hundreds of dolls from MGA for instance, I only have about 8. That does end up creating a reverse problem where I want a thousand Max Steels and GI Joes and Batmans, but let's not talk about that, hahaha. One last point about used dolls I came to terms with that I don't really see mentioned is how much you're willing to invest in them. The dolls I collect from my childhood, either ones I had personally or ones I wanted, I like to have complete. But I've learned the hard way that avoiding dropping $70 on a boxed doll isn't always the best route. Sometimes you're lucky and you'll find a used doll unboxed with everything. Other times you'll find a doll nude and in rough shape that cleans up perfectly and then you have to source the clothes and accessories, which can easily get back up to that $70 price tag or higher. So what I like to do is go for the best deal on a boxed or intact doll I can find, and if I can't, then I buy the most accessible one and dress it in a fashion pack as a unique doll. Not always the most ideal, but most of the time I feel just as satisfied.
All great points! You're right. The used doll market can be really difficult if you're looking for in-box dolls. Also, I have no max steels or GI Joe's in my collection, just a few Ken dolls. 🤔 Maybe I should consider getting into them.
@@dollthighs Max Steel can get pretty expensive, but his looks make him a huge gay staple, haha. I feel like it's a little too on the nose why I liked him so much as a kid.
Your comment on whether the doll speaks to you really resonated with me. I totally agree. As my collection grew, and I became more knowledgeable about the different manufacturers, head, hand and leg mold styles, etc., I got choosier about what I bought and more willing to let go of the earlier more impulsive buys. We're renovating currently so my darlings are packed away, but I'm liking your comment about not keeping boxes, they take up so much room! I was conditioned over the years to "keep the box!!!" but even flattened, they degrade eventually and take up space. ❤️
I spend 45 EUR for gingham pink dress Barbie movie doll and I am so proud of myself, so happy I got her, and I want to get more and more Barbie dolls because it's important for my mental health ❤ because I love Barbie❤❤❤❤😢😢 toys are for everyone at any age , dolls are for any gender 😇 and everyone😍😍😎
This is an excellent piece about the different ways that society can creep in and put guilt and shame into something you love. I was fortunate that my parents understood my collecting habits growing up - my mom and my aunt used to hunt for Star Trek action figures for me, and my mom kept a list of what she'd bought and what she hadn't. She always bought way more than would work for presents, so I could use my allowance or money from baby-sitting to buy them from her for store price. My mom also bought into the collector idea of "it'll be worth something someday", so she made me keep two of each - one to play with, and one to keep in the box. I've long since gotten rid of them all - donations, yard sales, ebay. I'd just gotten rid of the last of them when I discovered Monster High in the 2010s - just after I'd turned 30, when I found an Operetta doll, and that sparked my desire to collect, because I LOVE Phantom of the Opera. I don't tend to keep dolls in-box any more, and I only save collector boxes. And when a doll I've bought no longer brings me joy, I put it in the donation bin, and it goes to either a thrift store, or to a yard sale. I can't recall ever having shame over collecting things, probably because my mom is also a huge collector (though for her it's Chintz and Hummel figurines and Lilliput Lane houses and egg cups and such), and she always had her things on display, and took care of them. My students think I'm weird, but some of them like knowing their teacher also likes the things they do/did, and won't make fun of them for their interests. Dolls make me happy, and I refuse to let other people ruin my happiness with their negativity about my hobbies. I'm not letting your classmates make fun of your shoe collection, high school student of mine, so don't make fun of my dolls. I do occasionally feel guilt, though, with prices of some dolls being so high. There are dolls I want in my collection that I'm likely never going to own (Cerise Wolf from SDCC) because the price for them on ebay or mercari or wherever is more than I can justify out of the budget. My max price is usually twice retail. Higher than that, I wait. Things go in cycles. Those Trek action figures my mom was convinced would be worth something? I see them for under their retail price at toy shops or comic shops, or maybe a buck or two over, if it's a rarer one. Better to yard sale them, and watch someone's face light up when they find something they've been looking for, and can make them a good deal. It isn't about the money when I get rid of dolls/figures in my collection. It's about the faces of people lighting up when they realize I have something they want, and I'll offer it for an affordable price.
Thank you so much for sharing! It's awesome that you had role models that collect as well. My mom is also a collector. She never cared about toys, but she has pins and things like that. That's probably where I learned it. 😂 also, I agree with the selling part. I usually sell on eBay for convenience but never in an attempt to make money. Just because I know there are others out there that want the doll more than I do, so I'd rather make sure it's easy for anyone who wants it to find. ❤️
As for boxes omg! I went through so much anxiety about taking it out leaving it in blah blah. I have kept the box and all I did was take up more space. Can you resell for more money w the original box it depends on the doll and the box! If the box is beautiful and has a unique beauty or background yeah I keep it. If it’s just part of boring production what I’ve done is display my stuff and rotate them and put them back in the box to store them and take them out again when my rotation comes back around! I’ve had to use an entire closet/storage room just for the darn boxes. They take up space and hate to ruin them. I have figured out how to fold the boxes and clear plastic in a way to store better. But a person could drive themself mental over this. For the most part I’ve chucked the box and then stored the item carefully wrapped. But I have many still with their original box. Which can help organize them when storing. Well I think men or women they/them it doesn’t matter whom we are or how we store them we all have our own process and once that doll is in our possession it’s our personal preference as to how we mandate our personal hobby and not up to anyone but ourselves. Like I’ve said I’ve driven myself kookoo over this and it just isn’t worth it. Like you said honey it’s not your business if I take her out of the box! The bottom line is to enjoy what your collecting not have a conniption fit over keeping it perfect. Unfortunately we live in a constant state of entropy! It takes energy to keep things perfect everything is in a constant state of breaking down and becoming disorderly it takes our love and energy to keep these things we collect looking amazing or not! Se la vi! Mwah! 💋
Thank you so much for talking about this. Yesterday I was cleaning out all the empty made to move barbie & Disney princess boxes when I had a shame filled urge not to get caught by my family with the evidence like an alcoholic with all those empty bottles.
I have definitely been there before. 😞 now I can't be bothered to hide anything. Lol, I pretty much always have stacks of dolls that need to be unboxed on the floor of my office now. 😆
I do care about consumerism and the environment, and almost only buy 2nd hand. Fast fashion, fast food and fast dolls are destroying us. I've mostly stopped buying the newest fix and switched to making things for my dolls instead.
I completely agree. I don't usually buy much fast food or fast fashion. But I do buy too many dolls. I need to make more stuff for my dolls, for sure. 🫠
The only problem with doll collecting I’m having now is I’m ALWAYS running out off space to display them. I got the lol remix super surprise (on clearance for the price of one doll which was such an amazing steal) and it’s currently stuffed in a closet cause I don’t have to shelf space for the whole display (the boxes and everything)
My cousin's son collected dolls (I'm not sure if he still does) and had the inside of his closet painted pink. He was even the pink Power Ranger and he wore costumes. My cousin really surprised me. He was ok with it all (this was the late 80s), when most definitely wouldn't allow it. So, I think humanity is slowly making progress, it just seems to be going backwards a lot lately. My son loved the Penguins of Madagascar and that pink Barbie beach buggy car they drove. THAT particular vehicle was nowhere to be found, so I made one and glued the characters into it. I gave it to him for Valentine's Day when he was 4 years old. He loved it. I'm 100% sure if his father had been around, he'd have tried to stop me. I still love that car....10 years later. 🐧🐧🐧🐧
That's so sweet! Also I think having these kinds of communities online is helping a lot with making progress. I made this video because I thought even if it helped normalize doll collecting for one person who needs that it would be worth it. I never expected this to be one of my most watched videos. 😂😂
Wow! Very interesting video indeed. I'm not a doll collector, I collect HotWheels but I do feel a lot of shame telling other people about it, but your points are very interesting and are some things I've been thinking about for some time. I feel very validated by your video! Keep up the good work!
Putting aside money specifically for doll releases is incredibly smart and financially responsible. You're incredibly realistic with your finances and it's aspirational. I don't look at my bank statements as much as needed let alone put money away.
Lol I try my best. Some months are easier than others. But some months when there's no doll releases, when I should just save the money, instead I go crazy on eBay 🤣
I can't comment on the shame aspect cause I have the luck of being a 26 year old woman who still gets mistaken for a teenager. I think the only time I had shame was when I bought mermaze mermaidz dolls at TK-Maxx 2 weeks ago and the cashier was my former bully who looked confused at my purchase. The guilt part is something I often feel when going doll hunting offline. The guilt of maybe having spent my money wrong. I keep making justifications for buying something that brings me joy and sometimes take a friend with me who isn't that judgemental and I often need for evaluation. I would love the possibility of thrift hunting dolls so much, but here in Germany there aren't many thrift shops that have toys for people above the age of 6 and ours aren't even nearly as cheap as the American ones
Yeah, I am always shocked at how expensive dolls are in other countries. I can only imagine how much harder it is to be a collector when they're harder to find and more expensive. 😞
For awhile now I‘ve had a desire to break into doll collecting but was always too scared to because I was scared of being judged, even tho I’m only 17 but I finally said fuck it and started doing it and it makes me so so happy
Yaaasss! It's definitely the right choice. Lol, also people are going to judge you no matter what you do. So just do what makes you happy. As long as you're not hurting anyone, it's one else's business. 🥰
I love your honesty, your personality, your warmth and I am so glad that you are in a good place. I'm sure that many people find strength in your words. I am a middle aged mum of two and I love my dolls, they bring me joy and happiness, everyone should be allowed and encouraged to have enjoyment in their lives in whatever shape or form it comes. So long as you are not hurting anyone - live your best life, always. Xxxx
Agree! There's so much backlash of collectors getting lumped in with hoarders nowadays that the younger generation has swung the other way and gone minimalist (tiny houses, no clutter/sparse shelves) and seems to be imposing that mindset on their kids. 😔 I think I started collecting as an adult because as a kid, I'd come home from school and my toys had disappeared. Mama'd "cleaned house" & chose for me. Ugh. 🤦
Sorry in advance for the lengthy rambling but this topic means so much to me and I was thrilled to see that you made a video about it! I just need to disclose that I am a cis male, I was assigned as male at birth and I identify as male, since that impacts some of the stories below. There was a period when I was maybe three or four when my family indulged my love of dolls, particularly Wizard of Oz themed dolls, and I was allowed to have them and play with them. However I remember a distinct point when I was maybe six or seven when I came home from school and nearly all of my dolls were gone. It’s been so long at this point so I can’t remember the excuse my parents made, but I now know that they had taken what dolls they could find and donated them. This was incredibly traumatic for me as a child and I still think about those dolls (some I have re-collected but I would like to get them all back eventually). I think that action from my parents showed me that dolls were “not for boys” and that if I wanted to have them that I went against the status quo. That my parents would throw my dolls away taught me that I shouldn’t have them, or that the people around me didn’t want me to have them. Tv shows often portray doll collectors as weird, hermit-like, on the fringes of society, or even in some extreme cases as psychotic and murderous. It’s really upsetting when the prevailing representation of oneself in the media is a negative one, the subject of jokes, and intentionally othered. I know as a child when I saw depictions like that it made me feel like people would perceive me as weird or bad if I wanted to collect dolls, so there was a long period of my life where I had nothing to do with dolls for fear of being judged. It wasn’t until college really that I began to not care about what others thought and embraced the collector side of myself. Generally I’ve seen more depictions of male doll collectors portrayed as creepy, while female doll collectors are not depicted in this way as often. I think it’s important to examine fashion dolls in particular in this light and why it might be “okay” for women to collect them but not men. Most fashion dolls are of female characters, this is a fact. I think a somewhat direct comparison would be how clothing is often arbitrarily gendered, despite being inanimate objects, and some clothing is “for girls” and other clothing is “for boys.” Why is it that women can wear pants but it is taboo for men to wear dresses? Why do we still have headlines every time a man wears a dress on a red carpet? I think it comes back to femininity and misogyny. It’s as if society encourages women to abandon femininity in favor of masculinity (wearing pants) but is shocked whenever a man would embrace femininity (wearing dresses) “because why would a man ever want to give up his masculinity?” I think it’s stupid, clothing should be no more gendered than toys should be, and it should not be seen as “degrading” for men to embrace skirts or dolls. Obviously this is a very nuanced topic and I’m only scratching the surface, but these were some of my thoughts while watching this video. Thank you so much for making an in depth look at a topic that is very close to home for me!
Thank you so much for sharing. I'm sorry that happened to you as a kid, but I'm glad you were able to get through it and enjoy your collection again as an adult. ❤️ Also, I completely agree. Clothing being gendered also makes absolutely no sense. I didn't even consider that as an influence on the way dolls are viewed.
I totally relate to having your things taken when you weren't expecting it. I think that's a part of what makes doll collecting, especially as an adult male, feel so dirty sometimes. Overcoming that is a big life step.
I’m female and although my collection is accepted by family and husband, they certainly aren’t enthusiastic about it. It’s so nuanced, but sometimes I wonder if I was a gay male they would accept it as apart of a hobby rather than just thinking I’m immature and stuck in the past? Idk. This conversation is nuanced and it’s so hard to pin point the shame that comes with it.
@@Blake1720 I definitely feel that as well. I think anyone that accepts it tends to do so on the condition that I don't gush too much about it. Most people don't get it.
I just came across this video and I loved your discussion. I have some dolls in the box and some out. I don't like keeping dolls in boxes for the most part because it takes up too much room. Some dolls you also cannot fully appreciate in the box because of the plastic keeping them in place or whatever imo.
I've loved dolls my whole life and was put through hell for it in my younger years. It really messed me up and like you, to this day I still feel funny about collecting dolls. I won't tell just anyone or allow just anyone in my apartment.
That kind of stuff stays with you forever. But being open about my doll collection and realizing that most people don't really care and some people even think it's interesting has helped me so much. 😁
After years of shame, mostly around age and $, I just got my first Bratz doll as an adult. I cannot wait to build my collection. I’m AFAB so I was never shamed for having them as a kid, but as a neurodivergent person, I was shamed for playing with toys after my friends had aged out of them. Amazing video
@@dollthighs Years ago, I was at a book signing for Anne Rice, and she said the coolest thing, probably not original, but: "you're never too old to have a happy childhood." 🥰
The gender distinction thing is plain stupid. I am a woman, heterosexual, and when I was a little girl I always played with Barbies, they were my favorites, but I absolutely ADORED going to my boy cousins's house and playing with their Batman toys and jokers, and Batman car, and I was always jealous of their he-man toys. Thank goodness my dad had some sensibility and sometimes bought me some cool g.i joe guys. Today I collect Barbies and other superheroes that I like such as Darth Vader, and screw stereotypes. Great video!
I just found your channel through this honest and wonderful video. I thank you for making it. I think many of us see ourselves in it. No shame! Any kind of collecting is wonderful and no one should feel bad about it regardless of their gender identity. Whether it's dolls, action figures, plates, key chains, pins, whatever!!🙏🏼
I totally understand you I used to be shamed for collecting dolls I was called so many names , sisy baby, but oh lord I need not go on as I’m sure you know exactly what I mean but my husband quickly assured me that I really should not be bothered what people think if I enjoy them that’s all that matters and yes he dose buy me lots of dolls and I feel very lucky so it doesn’t matter what ppl think if it makes you happy then that is the most important thing and I’m 53 so I really don’t give a hoot
I have to add that you inspired me to get my first Rainbow High dolls. I had been on the ledge a few times with them, but I saw some of the achromatic dolls on sale, and I had to get them.
Amazing video covering things most doll content channels don't cover. Learning to not be a completionist with doll collecting has been a hard but needed lesson I had to learn. I got lucky, I learned it earlier when I first started collecting dolls again as an adult. I try only to get dolls I really love and make me happy because I have limited space and money but do have a few that aren't completely loved. It's hard to decide what to do with those extras. Anyways, Love your content as always. Keep up the good work.
Thank you! Yeah, I'm the worst with the completionist thing. Lol, I went to ShopDisney today to buy one of the CreativeSoul dolls and just bought all 4 because I couldn't decide which one I wanted. 🙃 I loved them all, though, so I don't feel bad about it. Lol, I just wish I had more self-control for the sake of my wallet.
Thank you for this... you described all of these issues so well and everyone needs to hear it!!! (and you helped me decide on a purchase I was on the fence about :) ... and so hilarious, "nobody's come into my doll room and been like, ewww" 🤣
I 1000000% agree with your Barbie Loves the Ocean comments, especially when you look to what else Mattel has produced (looking at you, American Girl... most recently, Kavi's backstage set, Corrine and Gwynn's bedroom, Claudie's bakery... when Mattel bought Pleasant Company in 1999, it didn't take long at all for most of the accessories to be made of plastic. Julie (released 2007) is a really good example of this.)
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thinks that! I appreciate that barbie love the ocean exists but all of these companies could do so much more to decrease their environmental impact. ❤️
Another example my Ex husband (who is a straight male) Collects Super Man dolls, Harry Potter Tonner dolls and some ooak fashion model dolls. Hats of to you!
Goodness I belong to a doll collecting organization UFDC and am proud of it. We are thousands strong. I think any shame or guilt around spending would be similar to what you do when you buy yourself that extra wonderful dress or that new expensive car that you really shouldn’t have . I think that’s normal. I have spent twice as much or more than twice as much as you spent on that Barbie on a doll. The ladies and gentlemen in our organization also buy and sell antique dolls which go in the thousands and thousands. I have not purchased on that level but if I could afford it I might. It’s like you say, we spend money on what we want and what we value. People really shouldn’t talk about that because they might spend money on things that we wouldn’t. I have loved dolls since I was a child and I collect avidly as an adult and I don’t give a rats ass what anybody else thinks about it. We get a lot of flack even in the press and literature etc. Sometimes we become the butt of jokes because we collect dolls. Other collectors don’t get the flack we do. But I have come to realize that people collect lots of things and dolls are no quakier than people who collect miniature trains, baseball cards, door knobs or anything else. Collecting speaks to you and what you love in life and you should be OK with that if you’re not collecting harmfully. Visit an outdoor swap meet or a county fair. They abound with collectors and if you go into those sales area you find lots of collectors. They are collecting old medical tools, they are collecting farm equipment. They’re collecting doll houses, antiques, china, vintage dish and glassware etc. We are not alone in our collection/collecting so we shouldn’t be ashamed of anything. It’s like you said if you have the money, and you want to spend it and that Collection gives you joy and that’s enough for everybody.
Wow! Very interesting video indeed. I'm not a doll collector, I collect HotWheels but I do feel a lot of shame telling other people about it, but your points are very interesting and are some things I've been thinking about for some time. I feel very validated by your video! Keep up the good work! Ps: I love the Mark Ryden Black And White Ball Barbies you have!
Thank you! I thought most of the points would be pretty universal for toy collecting in general. I just focused on dolls because I only collect dolls, so I didn't have any other visual references for the video. 😂
I always think about the poor conditions and treatment of the factory workers that make our dolls and toys. It really is very sad and i wish it was an easy fix.
I know! 😞 I really regret not mentioning that. I knew I was forgetting a big factor, and you're correct. A lot of times, the working conditions and pay of the factory workers are intentionally hidden from the consumer, so we feel less guilty buying products produced by people who are most likely not making a living wage. I didn't remember to include it, so I don't have much info on which companies treat their employees better, etc. But I'm sure the infos out there, and I should look into that soon.
Just a gym bro also an artist who into mermaid 2 years ago after watching barbie pearl princess lol, started drawing and animating everyday. Now at 41 years old start collecting mermaid dolls and even won some from art contest. Though I prefer hunt for used dolls with good condition. They really boost my mood and inspiration. I used to feel shame since my friends are collecting cool action figures, but then I started to think that dolls are actually articulated action figure with non molded hair :D
That's so great to hear! I used to care a lot. Lol, now I don't care at all what people think. Doll collecting makes me happy, and it's no one else's business but my own. ❤️
i completely relate- im about to turn 20 in a couple days and i just got randomly obsessed with doll collecting this year😭 i love it so much but i cant help but think im kind of a weirdo for it and judge myself for wanting to spend so much on doll clothes instead of actual clothes lol
Love this video! My cousin found out I collect dolls and said how weird it is. Most people have judged when I told them, so I try not to let people know most of the time. I started collecting dolls (Monster High) at 14 and remember looking up if 14 is too old to collect dolls. Now I am 25 and still collecting.
❤️ I'm so happy you enjoyed it. And I definitely know that feeling of looking for validation on the internet for your hobbies. 😆 that is how I discovered the doll side of youtube originally.
I have no clue what to do with my doll when I die. Lol, they'll probably just get sold to some estate buyer and end up in a consignment shop or something. 😆
I love Dolls and I'm 65. But how do keep the dust off of them they are so easy to not over even with a stand but I'm like you if you like or what ever it doesn't matter I'm with you
Great video. I have a 3.5yr old son and really enjoyed the dialogue about gendered toys for children. I am a adult doll collector and have started letting my son help me open some boxes and it has been so fun to see how he responds to the dolls. For my new SH doll, he spent 30 minutes using the little accessories and dabbing her face and lips with the makeup brushes and lipstick. I would have never played with the accessories, they are just props to me, but to him they are the fun. This has opened up a whole new way of seeing some dolls with accessories that I haven't considered enjoying in the way I know he and I could enjoy them now. So now if a doll comes with a drumset or something - it has a bigger appeal as we can enjoy it together. Another aspect of this - I have wondered if I am somehow influencing him in an odd way or something by utilizing something generally reserved for girls to have as something we can enjoy playing together. It is so fun and I feel ridiculous even having those thoughts (that boys cant play with fashion dolls) but they are there in the back of my mind whispering. I hope he looks back on our dolly time later in life with joy. Recently I ordered the newborn pups Barbie set and him the vitiligo Ken and a tux set with sunglasses and stuff for him to have full range to undress and mess with while we play. I'm so excited for them to come in! He is going to trip about the puppies and it's so cute. He has requested a boy doll which I found interesting! Sometimes finding ways to connect and spend playtime with a toddler can be hard or almost a chore and it's so fun to have something we both can focus in on and enjoy together. It is wild how deep societal conditioning goes that I have even had thoughts that maybe this is a strange thing to be doing. Thank you for touching on the gendering of toys. I really enjoyed the talk.
That's so adorable! Thank you for sharing. 🥰 I'm terrible with kids and never know how to connect with them, but if they like dolls, we usually get along great. 🤣 Also, there have been a number of studies proving that children playing with dolls teaches them empathy and social skills regardless of gender. So I wouldn't get too hung up on the gender thing. I'm sure you will both look back on those memories fondly. 🥰
When I was able to go to shop at a store, usually TRU, I’d be buying dolls and wishing I’d run into other collectors so that we could shop together and talk dolls. 😢 But that never manifested. Now as a disabled senior, online shopping is a lonely hobby. And it seems antique and contemporary doll shows, that I used to thoroughly enjoy, are almost nonexistent.
Wow! This video is one of the most enlightening discussions on the act and mentality of doll collecting. You’ve hit a nerve with many topics I haven't seen many creators venture into and do it so eloquently. I've just recently started to watch a few doll collectors for their awesome personalities, including yourself, as a decompression/mind shutoff tool from my work and own hobbies because doll collecting is something outside of my reality. I doubt I will ever purchase a doll, but sometimes it's just awesome to hear someone talk about something they have a passion for doing in their life. As much as I love watching you unbox and test doll articulation, this is the type of video I love for broadening my knowledge of others' interests at a human and deeper level. Thank you and sorry for the long comment.
Thank you! I have more videos like this planned they just take longer to prepare and edit usually, so I tend to do mostly doll unboxings. 😆 but I have a list of topics I'm already working on. 🥰
Girlfriend can relate on your advice she been collecting since may I think this year she has the barbie the movie dolls and some bratz dolls and barbie and Ken style resort collection, day of the dead rainbow high maria garcia doll,looks barbies ,and 2 omg fierce swag and royal bee dolls she loves just collecting signature and collector's edition dolls also has has some barbie rewinds and cabbage patch kids vintage 40th birthday collector's edition dolls she doesn't care about what other people think it's her hobbie and people should I say our society needs to grow up and respect others
I fully agree 1 I do not collect because the doll is “rare” I get the doll I want cuz I want it the end also I’m an avid “out of box” collector and not in the “EVERYONE MUST UNBOX THEIR DOLLS!” Head space more on the personal level if I can’t actually touch my dolls to me I waisted money! I’m also a doll clothes builder so for example if the mayors mother asked me that I’d have said “of course I’m going to open them but not only am I opening them i personally feel that the gowns they come in are garbage compared to what I can make! my Glinda will wear a hand made blue satin gown on which I’ll personally sequin each and every petal so it looks exactly like a miniature version of the broadway gown” and then I’d walk away lol but you’re also right it’s not her business! it’s as much her business as it is a stranger’s due date for their expected baby! But I do find the “FIGHT” about boxed or unboxed dolls kind of humorous! Like you know on both sides there’s people thinking “oh if they were my dolls they’d have such a better home!” 🤣😂🤣 and like it’s plastic with hair! And honestly once the 90s ended so did the “collecting for value” market. Barbie’s that went for hundreds of dollars in the late 90s and early 2000s are now selling for literally $35-$50 like no one cares like they used to. So some of the people who are only concerned about the appreciation of it confuse me, like how’d u find this as a way to make money instead of just a job?
I completely agree. I think the accessibility of dolls on the internet has made it much easier for all of us to tell what is ACTUALLY rare. Also, I wish I had the patience to do more custom outfits for my dolls. I'm hoping to get back into it soon.
@@dollthighs I will fully admit that there are so many custom projects I’m working on that literally get put on a shelf for over a year before I finally finish them. And some never get finished cuz like as much as I enjoy it I also just want it done lol sometimes I don’t want to actually “make” my designs 🤣😂😭😭😭😭🤣😂🤣😂
I loved this video so much!!! I've definitely gone through a lot of these phases of shame and the way you address it is just so perfect! AND YES, I totally know what you mean that it's just DOLLS and shouldn't ever be too serious (sans certain circumstances that some people may be in). 💜
I definitely feel the age shame and in/out of box shame the most. Also, I thoroughly enjoyed the video! You’re a great speaker, I could listen to you talk about this for another hour! ❤️
Doll collector 25 yrs + went through all that, shame guilt etc...with family and friends 😢 but! I've learned this is a stress relief ( high blood pressure suffer here, I've tested it myself and it works!!) I'm a deboxer too but I keep some stored in their boxes...I love to display them!! Be happy with them 😊!!
I really understand the environmental guilt of buying dolls. I try to get all my dolls second hand, keeping them in box, and keep boxes that are particularly pretty (like Lily Chang lol). I guess how I like to think about it is that if I keep my dolls in good condition, they can be given to someone else eventually so the plastic isn't going to waste. It really sucks just how many great hobbies that I have interested in are just so full of plastic, hoping in the future we'll figure out something different to make figures, models kits, and especially dolls out of that's not as terrible for the environment.
I felt like a closeted doll collector for my entire life right up to Mid 2022. I love my collections regardless of others' opinions, but definitely never shared that part of my life with anyone but my husband. They had been boxed for years, only taken out once in a while, then securely packed away again. But now I find I'm more excited to share and expand my collection since finding a whole community on FB and TH-cam I never knew existed. Kinda thought I was just weird and maybe even damaged from childhood that I never stopped loving dolls or toys, so i'm super happy to see so many doll lovers out there. And now I'm finally freeing my dolls from their storage permanently. Thanks for sharing! Happy Collecting.
Yes! Having an online community of doll lovers has helped me a lot, too. Also, as far as the "damaged" thing goes, another doll reviewer I watch once said, "When people collect books, we never assume they weren't allowed to read as a child." LOL, and I never thought about it like that, but society applies this weird stigma to doll collectors like we are all trying to heal some childhood trauma. It's so arbitrary and weird. Most of us just like dolls. It's usually that simple. 🤣
You are so right! And the stigma is real, I just never let it stop me. I am finding it is just that much more enjoyable sharing with others. So thank you for sharing =)
I collect comic books and I feel a lot of pressure to store them in archival bags and board because so many collectors do it. I have the tendency to obsess over things, so I'm doing my best to just enjoy my collection without obsessing over the collectability and keeping everything pristine. Your talk about no one dying over dolls that are kept in/out of box is so freeing!
I have a small comic collection too, and I feel that! Lol, they're so delicate, and it's hard not to worry about them getting damaged, but they're almost impossible to enjoy without taking them out of the bags. 🤣
@@dollthighs They're so delicate omg 😂 I have to keep reminding myself I don't need to keep anything in mint condition because I don't intend to sell them anyway. I was nodding along when you were talking about the Disney dolls ☺️
You are adorable! What a great video. I am 60 years old and two years ago started collecting Sylvanian Families/ Calico Critters. I first bought them for my granddaughter to play with but soon found out how much I loved them. I don't tell anyone I collect except my grown children and my sister. I am embarrassed to admit my obsession. My husband is so supportive and that is where the guilt comes in. I don't bring any money in the household. My husband works 50 hour weeks to support us. We are by far not rich but we don't starve. I feel guilty about spending his hard earned money on myself. He never makes me feel that way but I do.
It's so great that your husband is so supportive. 😊 I can definitely see how that could cause some feelings of guilt, but it sounds like your husband doesn't mind, so if I was in your situation, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I buy my partners things all the time, and it makes me happy to see them happy. ☺️
I know so many girls who weren't allowed to play video games or with Legos because of their parents. It makes me feel so comfortable and happy knowing there are more and more guys helping with breaking these barriers by doll collecting. 💖
I’m not a doll collector because they scare me but I would have absolutely no shame or guilt if that was my interest. Shame and guilt are emotions that people who harm children and animals should feel not something that a hobbyist should feel. The dolls are your property bought with your hard earned money so others shouldn’t get to judge or make you feel guilty or shameful.
@@dollthighs it was the title that caught me. I just don’t understand why anyone would feel shame about something as innocent as collecting dolls. Its the dolls with glass eyes that scare me
When I was 11 or 12, I really loved insects. I asked for insect books for Christmas and took photos of the ones I could find. My mom teased me...definitely NOT in the lighthearted way. Soon, most of my family members were making me feel like a freak. Keep in mind that this was in 1979-80 so there was no internet for me to turn to for like minded people. So, I let that interest die. 🥺
I'm so sorry to hear that. You're definitely not alone though. I'm sure a lot of people drop their interests because people teased them or made them feel ashamed for enjoying something. I'm also sure there are tons of people out there fascinated with insects. They are very interesting creatures for sure. 💗💗💗
@@dollthighs Thank you. I may not have become an entomologist, but I have found many groups to join online. So, I got my buggy groove on eventually. 👍🏻😉 Happy (belated) Valentine's Day! New subscriber from Texas!
I’m so glad I stumbled upon your channel, this was such an interesting video! I think it’s a great discussion to have because a lot of collectors (including myself) can relate in one way or another. 💖
I do the same thing about the box thing. If I love the way they look in the box, I’ll keep the doll inside it. Otherwise I love displaying them outside of the box.
So what I do about Fomo and the shame associated with it is that i tend to just try to like cap them for fav characters. So instead of trying to have a complete collection i just buy the Frankies/Cleos and dracluaras in a line because they are my favs. I will buy other characters if i find the particular doll is beautiful .
I totally agree, why keep a doll in the box unless it gives you joy being in the box? I don’t understand the mindset of wanting to keep something in box that you would love much more out of the box just because you think you can sell it later. Where’s the joy in that?
Totally agree! Most of my collection are unboxed because I have no intention of selling them again. I love having them out and scattered around my room, it's so much more exciting to look at. I made the rather bold and rash decision to unbox my Roxie Grand who was far more expensive than the rest of my collection the other day and it was actually so fun to dress her up in something new! Also, I have to say I love your picture! Olivia is definitely a highlight of the new RH series!
Thank you for such an interesting and thought-provoking video. This came up on my suggested feed and I’m glad I watched. Will be checking out your other videos too! I definitely relate to most of the issues you highlighted in the video.
I love your enthusiasm about doll collecting and yeah, I do know that they’re is a lot of shame in the dog collecting community. I personally have no shame and I have been a dull collector for many years. I am 61 years old and I have been collecting dolls ever since I was very little, I don’t think it’s anyone’s business unless they really really wanna know how much money I spend on particular dolls and that’s where I stand with it. I don’t always volunteer the information because I don’t feel like it’s necessary unless I was talking to another collector, that would understand like yourself. 7:06
I think it's the artistry of dolls that is a big draw for adults. They really are a work of art and some take hours of labor intensive effort to complete.
I agree. That's a big draw for me, for sure. I have a background in costume design, so I like to think of them little 3D renderings by the designer. ❤️
@@dollthighsthat's why I collect hot toys star wars
It was a LITTLE tough for me as an adult doll collector in the beginning.
i hadn't been interested in dolls since, maybe, the 8th grade. .. and there i was, a 33 year old man, buying dolls. Seemingly out of NOWHERE!
i was a little embarrassed, but my shame was short-lived when i discovered other adult collectors on TH-cam.
It was one of those rare moments when i was super duper grateful for the internet.
i had become friends with most of the collectors i watched and i think the doll community saved me from a downward spiral.
i STILL feel guilt when i look around my house and see all of the dolls and structures that i have bought that amounts to thousands of dollars.
Guilty and and silly, actually. i feel silly for taking this hobby so seriously and spending as much money that i do.
At night, i often ask myself
"WHY AM I DOING THIS??" "What is the end goal here?" "Do i have a problem??!"
Then i think about the fact that i live alone, i have no children, i pay my bills on time, i have heat, food and water and i pay my taxes on time.
If i'm temporarily broke after finally buying something fun to soothe away all the "adult" bullshit, i'm good.
As long as everything else is taken care of, right?
I completely agree. Some people travel, some people get expensive tattoos, I buy dolls. Lol, it's just what I prefer, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that personally.
I think that if you're wondering why you spend money on dolls because you feel like you shouldn't be based on what society has taught you, then it's more about guilt over having something "forbidden." In which case you shouldn't and you should enjoy doing what you love. However, if you are wondering why you buy dolls because you feel out of control and like it's impulsive, and you don't enjoy them or interact with them after purchasing them, that may be worth exploring. Is it the doll you want? Or is it the excitement of "the hunt" and the short-lived thrill you only feel by buying more dolls? Idk...that's my take on that as a recently "out" doll collector lol. Please take that with a big grain of salt. I used to hide my dolls in my closet (I don't have a lot) because I felt embarrassed over being an adult buying dolls, the amount of dolls I was buying (tame by any real collector's standards), and how much the dolls cost (IT). I did have a little element of "thrill" buying that I had to get in check when I first started but I also really enjoyed interacting with my dolls. Redressing, displaying them (one at a time so as not to raise suspicion! LOL), posing and photographing them etc. So I finally accepted the fact that I just enjoy 1/6th scale fashion dolls and the world can deal with it! 😂 I bought a glass case, displayed my dolls in my home office, and then told my husband "hey...I feel really embarrassed about this, but I really like these dolls, and I collect them, and you'll probably see more." He said "I'm aware...it's cool. I'm glad you have a hobby, babe. What are we doing for dinner?" 😂 I guess for me it was a bigger deal in my head. My daughters really enjoy them too and know they are "mom's dolls" and different from their dolls. My family and our bills are taken care of so I can enjoy something for myself. I still feel anxiety when adults family members come to my house and ask me about them or how much they cost but I'm getting better at being okay that this is something I enjoy. Anyway, I think if your hobby makes you happy then it's okay. P.S. I know that gender factors make it even harder and more complex so I don't want to dismiss that in any way. I can't even imagine how hard that must be. ❤
If it makes you happy, that’s all that should matter. And I think dolls are works of art.
Blake I miss you man !! ( still on Facebook plz look me up!)
@@samweir3832 Hi, Sam! We're still friends on Facebook. i just sent you a message.
If you were throwing hundreds and even thousands dollars at sports events tickets, travel to special games, jerseys, and player endorsement products no one would bat an eye at the hobby. Definitely nothing wrong with putting that kind of energy towards dolls when that is what you care about!
Omg I know! I could never imagine spending that kind of money on sports. 😆 but so many people think that's a perfectly normal use of their money.
Exactly! Also you can resell them if you’re in need of money. At least that my justification sometimes 🤣
I have been collecting 40+ years. People who really know me know I collect books and Barbies. I have no guilt towards either. I do try to control myself on my spending, just because I have bills like everybody else in the world. I limit myself to 100 Barbies and Kens combined. I like to make Barbie houses from cardboard boxes, foam board, etc. I have 11 at this time. I had 15, but I recently gave away 4. I try to control myself when I get an inspiration due to "space" of having a doll town. Doll collecting is never a waste of money. Doll collecting is a hobby and an art collection. I love your Pink Pop Barbie. I made my own, because I could not afford to buy her. I do not mind making my own dolls as I know I have a OOAK doll inspired by a Mattel doll. I am an old lady with grandsons. They see no value in doll collecting but know it makes me happy. That is enough for them.
Thank you for sharing! That sounds so interesting. I would love to see your Barbie town. 😍 I'm not nearly talented enough to do those kinds of things. Lol, but I love seeing everyone's OOAK dolls and dioramas and stuff like that. They're usually way more creative than the Barbies Mattel produces.
Oh look that's me. I collect books and Barbie dolls too lol along with CDs
I can completely relate. I am 45 years old and was at a work event. One of my co-workers wives said ( without knowing my doll collecting hobby) "what kind of grown adult plays with toys??" Everyone at the table agreed...like it was a strike against anyone who enjoys them. So shallow.
That is so wild. I would have been like, "ME!" and linked her to my youtube channel. 🤣 Some people are so close-minded.
I collect dolls because it makes me happy, its an Aspergers special interest for me, and it helps me deal with my anxiety and depression. I have loved dolls ever since I was a kid. Probably the most difficult time in my doll collecting career was the time when I was only 11 and I mentally forced myself to hate Barbies just because my peers told me that it was childish and I was desperate to fit in. Then in 2013, I got a Frozen Elsa doll and I got into MH, and that seemingly reactivated my interest in dolls with a vengeance. I even have certain dolls that I personally view as comfort dolls, that I just like to hold or look at, and that make me feel less lonely somehow (Veronica and Naomi from Shadow High currently share that very important position in my collection.). I am very selective with what dolls end up in my collection as well, because I only buy dolls that I am completely sold on or that I really fall in love with or relate to in some way. Sometimes I do worry that I am being too selfish with my doll collection though and I have gotten quite a bit of judgement from my same-age peers for somehow being too passionate or intense about doll collecting. Sometimes I even feel ashamed because for every major doll line I get into, I always feel more drawn to the villain characters than the good characters. This has been going on since 2013 when Nefera quickly became my favorite Monster High character, and then it happened again as soon as the Storm Twins first appeared in the RH webisodes. I'm not a bad person (I am more of an academic and a rule-follower IRL) but I can't help but question why I love the villains of doll shows more than the good guys and why those dolls always make me feel much happier than the protagonists' dolls. Thankfully, me showing doll photography of some of my favorite dolls has gotton some people to see the beauty in them. And I am normally an OOTB collector, but I do have a second set of the Storm Twins that I keep mint in box because I just love having a mint in box set of them to display and look at, and they are two of my favorite dolls of all time. Honestly as to whether I keep my dolls in box or out of box, it really depends on the doll, but I do take most of mine out of my dolls out of the box because I just get more enjoyment from them that way. But this was a great and very informative video, and its nice to know that I'm not doing anything socially wrong with choosing to collect dolls.
Thank you so much for sharing! ❤️ first off, I also ADORE the storm twins. They're definitely one of my favorite shadow high releases so far. Second, I also usually prefer Villians. When I used to do costume design, we we're kind of taught that when you design costumes for the villain, you can basically do whatever you want because they typically wouldn't follow the rules. But when you'd design heroic characters, they usually have to meet certain classical beauty standards, etc. That, in my opinion make them less interesting. 😆 So I don't think liking the villains is a bad thing at all. I'm sure the doll designers want you to enjoy them both.
I have autism and I feel very much the same! For a really long time before I got my diagnosis I was very secretive about what I liked. I'd liked dolls for years, going way back to G1 MH and EAH, and even just standard barbies before that! (I remember these very early tiny Blythe dolls that were my everything when I was maybe like 11), dolls were so beautiful and gave me so much creative inspiration, but I would rarely ever go and buy one, I was far too embarrased and couldn't afford it! I'd just look at the doll aisle in toy shops longingly from a distance. I did pick up one or two who were cheap, and if I did I usually ordered them online.
Then in 2022, I got a diagnosis, though we'd suspected since 2020. As a gift to myself since I was in a much better financial position, I bought my first Rainbow High doll and never looked back. I know keeping dolls in their box is what you really should do, but I can't help but love the process of unboxing and posing and changing outfits! My dolls mean so much to me and my collection makes me so happy. I do have a few boxed dolls, including two old Holiday Barbies (2008 and 2012!) who are still sealed and were from eBay, and a disney Kida collector who I adore with all my heart, but the rest are out on the shelves and I wouldn't have it any other way!
I love my collection, in all it's rainbow diverse glory with dolls of various lines and styles and colours and vibes! I have handmade dolls, fashion dolls, collectors, and even a lone Rey from Star Wars who I got for a bargain haha! Seeing how unique and beautiful everyone is makes my room a comforting and safe space and feels so much less lonely than it did before. Since I don't really go anywhere and I struggle to keep up with friendships, I like to have my dolls around to give the room some life and have something to talk to, which I know sounds ridiculous, but it keeps me sane! Rainbow High got me through many bad patches last year, and for that I will always have a place in my heart and on my shelves for them!
I will say it is tricky. I struggle really bad with impulse control when I do have money, and I have a tendency to want to have things completed. But I'm working on it!
🤔 I've always wondered if I'm on the spectrum for this very reason, but I've been told no by my practitioner who specializes in autism spectrum disorders. ❤️
I follow Aspie World though & identify with so many of his experiences. 🌹
For example my dolls and my encyclopedic knowledge of them. I really have to do a book or video compilation of all my trivia I've acquired over 40 years of collecting 😆
@@sharonthompson672 you might have adhd as symptoms overlap and commonly are confused for each other
@@Lunarrbase Thank you for that, 🙂🖐️ it's a very real possibility.
All the topics you spoke about in this video are so interesting - as someone who collects different toys all over the place, i've reached a point where i've run out of space for it all. So i now have to debate whether i'll buy a new piece of furniture just to keep all my little darlings in, and there was some shame in that - my job involves speaking to many different people, many of whom are in difficult personal and financial situations. It feels frivolous sometimes, to know i've spent the same amount of money on a toy that one of these people could have pur towards their daily necessities.
I came to view my collection as a constant source of joy and like my little fort of happiness i can return to after a hard day. The guilt will probably always be there, but i also know that denying myself this small joy of mine would worsen my own state of being.
It's a difficult tightrope to walk, being aware of people's needs but having to take care of my own as well.
Thank you for speaking about the guilt and shame in collecting in depth, it was very insightful!
This conversation is SO essential for new and old doll collectors! As someone who's been into dolls my entire life, I can wholeheartedly say that it's a challenging hobby in the beginning because you sure feel that FOMO set in when you see influencers and just everyday doll hobbyists post their restyled doll or even the latest doll release! But as adults, we have to discern whether or not it's something we really want to spend our salaries on. When you mentioned having emergency funds or just savings I immediately went: "YES!"
I really do urge new and old collectors to set aside what they're willing to spend their money on especially when it comes to "collector dolls"
Yes! Budgeting for dolls is such an important topic as well. I might even do a separate video on it at some point. 😀
It‘s honestly just sexism. Most adult guys buy action figures and stuff for their collections and see marvel movies every year like it‘s normal. But god forbid toys for girls are collected by adults and suddenly ppl‘s brains break. It‘s because ppl don‘t value girls and women and their interests. Women are just expected to instantly switch and that‘s just sexism.
Happy your channel came up in my recommended, love listening to you talk. I am still learning to not hold shame for being a new collector, wish my family would stop asking "this is the last one right".... *me looking at my shelf with well over 50 dolls now* ...."nope" :D
Omg if someone asked me if this is the last one, idk how I would even respond at this point. 😆 I'd probably be like, "Who are you? How did you get in my house?" Because no one I know would ever ask a question like that. 😂😂
@@dollthighs Goodness yes its such an odd question to ask when you know dolls wont stop being produced XD Thanks for your vid reassuring us, it is always nice to hear:D
THANK YOU for mentioning the environmental impact of doll collecting!! it felt like nobody else cared because it's rarely acknowledged in the doll community, yet is it not something to ignore!! nothing brings me more joy than dolls but I also care deeply for the environment, it's a tough situation ☹️
Same. It makes me feel like a hypocrite, but I think starting a conversation about it is the first step. I was nervous to mention it at all because I think it makes people uncomfortable, but I also think it's an important discussion to have. ❤
I agree. The plastic problem holds true for the entire toy industry. Just think of all the LEGO bricks being produced. Piles and piles of them! Yet I like LEGO as well as dolls.
Hi well I remember in 1962 when I turned 10 years old. My mother's father sent me $10.00. My mother took me to the local toy store. There were no big box toy stores in those days. She left me there to look and pick out what ever I wanted that cost $10.00. I remember sneaking over to the "girls side" of the store, pulling out a Ken robe showering set with soap, wash cloth, razor, ect. I wanted so much to get that set and a ken doll, but I knew my father would hit the roof if I brought home a doll! It was so sad, I bought 5 re-made plastic cars, which he ended up screaming at my mother. For letting me through my money away on these cars. It sort of scarred me, always feeling that what ever I might buy, I was waisting my money, I was spend thrift. BTW, as an adult I collected every single original ken doll and outfit they made for him from 1962 through 1966.
Thank you so much for sharing! ❤️ I'm so sorry to hear that, but it's also great to hear that you're still collecting and enjoying something you're so passionate about. I feel like doll collectors are faced with so much more criticism than most other collecting hobbies that only those of us who are deeply passionate stick with it. Also, I would love to see your Ken collection, I'm sure it's immaculate. 🥰
Thank you for talking about this! I love that doll btw. I totally understand the $600 price tag because that’s ART. She is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! And you make a great point about the difference between taking a $1000 vacation verses something that you can look at everyday and that brings you joy. I really wish people stopped thinking about dolls as TOYS and think of them as ART.
👏👏👏
Great topic, well handled. I'm a 60 year old gay man - I've always loved dolls and toys. Part of it is because I love miniature things and partly I think it was because as a child I knew it was "taboo" for boys to like dolls. When I transitioned to an adult, I realized I could have whatever I wanted because I was paying my own bills. It became the best part of being a grown up 😁
Lol agreed. The best part of being an adult is that I can spend as much money as I want on dolls. 🤣🤣
100%
In the 90s, my whole high school knew i collected dolls and made dresses for them.
I got mad respect from everyone. Including the jocks .
Shame is only an illusion. Its not real .
That's awesome! 🥰
Thank you for this video. I got into doll collecting 2 years ago. Everytime I buy a doll I feel guilty for spending the money especially as I will in a country where most of the dolls I want are not available and I spend 3-4x the price in getting them imported. I am very responsible with my money yet I feel very guilty. I am also into horror dolls but my husband doesn't let me get them as he is very scared of ghosts. I find dolls to be so therapeutic yet I feel very guilty as it goes against my minimalist mindset. I live in a country where doll collecting is unheard of and I don't have a community to enjoy them with. These online videos by collectors is all I have to enjoy and know about dolls.
I'm 43 and I have a collection of OMG dolls, three days ago I bought 7 of them and Miss Celebrate is one of them! I LOVE her!, Used the ribbon on the front of the box and put it in the front of her hair, she's gorgeous!
Not really a doll collector, mostly collect other toys such as my little pony, but youtube recommended this video. So bizarre to hear how much less do some of the dolls cost in America. For some weird reason, many dolls (rainbow high, OMG, recently released Monster high) cost over 50 euros in a country where I live. Mermaze ones cost over 70 euros , few ones were nearly 100 euros. Those prices alone have made me not want to collect dolls.
I get it. I went a bit nuts for LOL Surprise when they first came out and I shared a few doubles with a friend's daughter, and I felt a bit of shame, but I started out collecting Pullips about 20 years ago (oy) and the forums had plenty of older people in them.
I also went to my first doll show last year, and that is quite an affirming experience. Loving your videos and your collection. My brother in Doll solidarity! 🥂
😆 thank you! Also, going to a doll show sounds like so much fun. I'm afraid to go to something like that because I know I'll spend way too much money.
Its easier for me to buy dolls from stores because most people assume I am shopping for children that I don't have. They just think im just a mom that has kids when. I just like collecting dolls. I don't have kids yet.
Such a great video. When i was a kid, i begged my mom for the Maylin Bratz doll. I love her so much but as i grew, i started to feel shame from my friends that i still had this toy. I felt so much shame, I hid her in a box. 20 years later, i've got all three World Bratz dolls and a ton of RH dolls that bring me joy! No f*ckin shame!
My parents give me a lot of flack about collecting ball jointed dolls because they see them as "Toys"instead of art pieces or collector's items. It's mostly my mom that does it, but she feeds me, so meh. Lol
BJDs are so gorgeous, though. 😍 I never understand people who can't see the artistry in dolls.
Thank you very much for this! I like the points that you made about Shame and guilt! I am a 66 year old lady and I collect Barbie! It true that not everyone understands! -All I know is that collecting the Barbie’s I like make me feel good! Yes, I do spend on my collection and some people I know that try to shame me! Collecting is my only vice! I really don’t care about the “mega doll! I do keep my dolls inbox, because Mattel’s packaging is so beautiful! I just don’t want my Barbies to get messed up! I plan to keep them forever! - I am glad that the doll industry is so diverse! For the first time I can get the black Barbie that I always wanted as a little black girl growing up in the 1960’s!- I believe dolls are for every one!!! Keep doing what you do!🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾
I think you were really thorough with this and you really hit a lot of good points. the whole dolls are for girls thing is horrible because it comes out of these sexist limiting stereotypes where girls were only expected to grow up and take care of children (baby dolls) and care about their appearance to be attractive to men (fashion dolls). just so outdated and limiting not just for girls, obviously, but for everyone. everyone needs to be able to be their unique authentic selves regardless of their gender, age, sexual orientation, etc.
the environmental thing where a company does a token thing for the environment and then is all "hey look at us!" is called greenwashing. like you pointed out, that mattel line is a fraction of their production.
I'm glad you hit the in and out of box thing too. I saw a comment the other day on a video made by a collector who collects in and out of box (ie, buys doubles of dolls when he can and displays the out of box doll in front of the doll in the box). the commentor was like, that's unethical because some of these dolls are hard to find and you're getting two when other people can't even get one. like your point about the rare dolls and the shame of exclusion. but the thing is, you can't control that on a large scale. if you personally feel bad about it, then just buy one doll. but you're never going to manage to get everyone in the collecting community to agree to only buy one of each doll. you can't control other people's behavior, and most of the time it's not your business to try (like the mayor's mom, lol.) anyway, I was intrigued by the title of the video and I thought you did a great job with it!
Thank you! 🥰 also, that's a great point about people who buy doubles. I have never seen any issue with buying doubles if you just like having 2 of the dolls. 😆 it's not like they bought 100 of them just to keep them hidden away from the world. It's not any collectors fault that doll companies don't always make enough supply to meet the demand. 🤷♂️
This is kind of weird, but for me keeping some of my dolls in the box helps me find them when I change my displays for the season. Keeping the doll in the box keeps everything together and I use the side of the box to identify them. Kind of like books on a bookshelf. I have issues with organization and it helps keep things simple because I have some dolls from my childhood and others were more recent acquisitions. Other dolls I like to have out of the box to pose and dress and play with.
I was four years old when Barbie came out and took an interest in how nicely the clothes were made. Julia was my first doll that I adopted after my cousins, left for home, in the summer, at my grandparents. Barbie's clothes were made to fit all of the 11 1/2 inch dolls they made and they were sold separately. Spent hours playing fashion parade and G.I. Joe as the escort riding on the back of a dump truck. The first time I bought a fashion was for Black Francie and was pissed because the stockings wouldn't stay up. Guilt all through my childhood because I was a boy. Reminded of the tight sweater dresses made from worn out socks. Shame lasted a lot of years because I buy, would hid, my collection, in the closet. I'm in the Barbie Fan Club and my first Barbie convention dissolved my Guilt and Shame. It's amazing what creations are made in doll form that any human would love to wear. That's what fuels my collection for dolls.
Thank you so much for sharing. It's sad that anyone would feel the need to hide their collection when collecting is such a beautiful hobby. I'm so glad to hear that finding a community of supportive people helped you work through the shame. I still have never been to a doll show or convention, but I would love to go some day. They sound like a lot of fun. ❤️
every single point you made was so good and something that has crossed my mind. you captured this so perfectly
Thank you! 😊
My hubby collects funko pops. He has hundreds and hundreds. He keeps their cardboard boxes in special plastic boxes. He orders them, displays them, adores them. Society is cool with this.
I collect dolls. Barbie, and any discontinued dolls I like. I have hundreds and hundreds. I keep them in their boxes. I order them, display them. Adore them. Society makes fun of me on the daily. Entire SNL skits are written about me.
The difference can be explained with one word: misogyny. Belittling women (and gay men) and their interests is a long standing tradition of the patriarchy. Sewing, cooking, child care, doll collecting…all are diminished and disregarded by the patriarchy. Keeping women down requires a constant belittlement, and shaming women for their hobbies is par for that course.
Good point about action figures being dolls. I've always thought it was ridiculous society shames adult doll collectors but not action figure collectors (or people who play video games- that's also play)
Also, playing video games is a LOT like playing with dolls if you think about it. There's character customization, cosmetic items to dress up your avatar, and role playing. It's literally playing with virtual dolls. 🤣🤣🤣
Comments I get:
Aren't you too old for dolls?
Do you play with your dolls?
Don't you have enough dolls?
When are you going to sell them?
Shouldn't you be saving that money?
Lol, no one has ever asked me, "When are you going to sell them?" That's such a bizarre question. We're not investing in the stock market, we're collecting little plastic people. 🤣🤣🤣
I love your coverage of “shame” within the fashion doll collector community. It’s certainly something that I think all adult collectors deal with at some point, especially for those that are gay that collect female dolls. I know I’ve dealt personally with many of these points of shame you’ve covered.
I find it interesting that there are so many fashion designers for women, that are men, and so many of them are gay. As are there so many male doll designers both at the major doll companies, and independent doll creators like myself, that are also gay. The human sized fashion world and the fashion doll world I think have major crossovers.
For myself, I unbox most of my dolls to enjoy them out of the box to interact with them, pose and display, and sometime redress. Unless of course, if to me, the boxed presentation is something that is so amazing, to remove the doll would lessen then aesthetics. Or if the box itself has more value for me then the doll. I’d include some of the SuperStar dolls from the late 70s and 80s that I have in boxes, for I love the illustrations on the boxes even more than the dolls housed inside. And it’s so easy to get an unboxed duplicate to enjoy the doll itself, and still have the boxed doll.
As the doll sculptor and creator/producer of my own 18” GlamourOZ Dolls, which is part of the 16” scale of fashion dolls targeted to the adult fashion doll collector, there’s more of an emphasis on the boxing being the classic shoe box presentation. This allows for the doll to be, with intention, to be removed from the box to fully appreciate and engage with the doll.
I have purchased several DisneyStore 16”/17” collector dolls. And in each case, I’ve removed them from their boxes, to claim their outfits for my own GlamourOZ Dolls to model the fashions. Which is much more fun, and has greater meaning to me.
I love the Cruella DeVille doll you showed in your video. I have her too, but have deboxed her, and redressed one of my own GlamourOZ Dolls in the red dress, as I feel the dress comes alive in a way that I enjoy, when posed on my doll.
instagram.com/p/CYOTjHfJ8No/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
32:28
Your dolls are stunning! 😍 I might need to own one of them someday.
I only started collecting dolls a few years ago while I had already been with my partner for a couple of years, he instantly was onboard and fully supported how happy it made me and he even buys me some, I am so glad I always had the most important person in my life never judge me. now even my friends like to see my collection and my mum buys me them for special occasions
That's so sweet! It's always important to have people in your life who support your interests. 💕💕💕
I want to comment on in the box or out of the box. I do know that from experience dolls that stay in boxes especially if they’re like Barbies they tend to melt a little bit and it’s harder to take off their clothes if you need to because they kind of stuck to the body. It’s always best but it’s a personal preference I like to keep my dolls mainly out of box because I am totally blind, I don’t get too much pleasure with them being inbox. There are some dolls that I know I will keep inbox because I’ve seen them and I know what they are, but to identify them mostly I have them out of box. 33:18
This was such a thought-provoking video! I wanted to add to that discussion of being environmentally conscious. So, I've wondered about people who re-body dolls all the time. I have no idea what they do with the body they didn't want, and I don't really see a way of considering the environment here (besides maybe reselling the body you would discard). As an example, I've seen a lot of TH-camrs re-body Barbie fashionistas with facial molds they like for the sake of articulation. I don't see anything wrong with customizing something you bought; honestly, I think doing little things like this would make a product more endearing to me. I don't have a lot more to contribute here, I think I was just trying to speculate about a potential source of shame collectors may face.
I never even considered that. I hope they sell them on eBay or something. I'm sure crafty people could use all those doll bodies for something creative. 😆
I can guarantee almost all doll doctors keep all the extras. I have a draw of body parts. I’m planning on having a thin draw on ready made doll wigs soon.
So there's this thing that keeps happening to me... I end up really liking a show or a comic book or a toy line... and shortly after I get into it, it gets cancelled. Which, on the one hand, can be frustrating and disappointing. But, on the doll hand, it does keep my costs down when I get bit by the completionist bug! 🤣
One of my favorite things about living on my own is the fact that I get to put a bunch of my toy collections out on shelves in my living room. I spent my twenties with my JEM dolls and My Little Pony packed away in boxes, and now I get to see them out on display every day.
Omg I WISH I could just put dolls everywhere. 🤣🤣🤣 I have 2 partners, and we all live together, and neither of them care for dolls. So all my dolls are confined to my office where I film my videos.
Great video! I still deal with shame. I tried to share with others outside the doll community only to have those "looks of judgment" and common hurtful comments casually thrown at me. So I just keep it to myself, my family and spouse support me and its so wonderful for content creators like you to share your thoughts and hopeful educate others. As for in box or out, its a real odd discussion. I do both. Its your doll, you enjoy it the way you want. You paid for it. Decide for yourself. I dont argue with people on that topic. Its really not for them to tell me what I should do with my collection.
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I have no friends in real life who understand dolls or doll collecting. That's the main reason I started this channel honestly. 💗
I'm glad to listen someone discuss about the topics openly. There are things under surface and I feel such things need to be discussed. Thank you so much.
I resonate a lot with these points.
I grew up in the 90s as well and I was always encouraged to play with boy toys, which I loved. I loved my GI Joes and pop guns and my Hot Wheels, but I loved Barbies and stuffed animals and Cabbage Patch Kids too and it was always this compromise over whether I could have them or not. When I finally would amass a collection, there would be this pressure to get rid of them because of the threat of being ostracized so I would and I'd regret it every time.
Now as an adult, there is no stigma for me because I've waited my entire life to have them and actually keep them. But I still have or currently struggle with the stuff you mentioned. Getting over the hurdle of being a grown man collecting dolls wasn't as hard as I thought it'd be. However money is a big one, especially when everything goes on sale for the holidays or whenever I buy a doll that's over $50. But that's honestly all external. I don't think I'm wasting money, but I'm anticipating being told that I am. Same with the amount of dolls that I have. I amass them very quickly and I get stuck in that trap of thinking there's too many and I don't have space, even if I do. But like you said, I'm also not big into travel or cars or designer clothes either, so it really is one of my main hobbies and there's nothing wrong with that.
As far as boxed dolls go, I ALWAYS take them out of the box. I don't care how old or how rare or how coveted they are. They always come out. I've seen so many dolls melt and rot inside of them that I can't in good conscience keep them in there. That's honestly a fairly recent development though and I still have some that need to be unboxed. I've thought about the collector stigma too, but I came to the same realization as you that I'm not a reseller or making an investment so I have no reason to keep them all in box.
And as far as guilt, I think setting rules for yourself helps a lot too. I try not to buy dolls unless they speak to me on some level. I know a lot of collectors only go for posability or fashion or complete sets, but for me it's mostly in the face. Do I connect with this doll? Do I feel them tugging on my heartstrings? If yes, I feel like I have to get them. If I don't, I always regret it. I'm also much more interested in boy dolls than girl dolls on the whole, so I tell myself that I can have as many Barbies as I like, but I try to be more selective with girls otherwise. Sometimes it involves dealing with scalpers to get only half of a date night two-pack, but ultimately I end up feeling better knowing that instead of having hundreds of dolls from MGA for instance, I only have about 8. That does end up creating a reverse problem where I want a thousand Max Steels and GI Joes and Batmans, but let's not talk about that, hahaha.
One last point about used dolls I came to terms with that I don't really see mentioned is how much you're willing to invest in them. The dolls I collect from my childhood, either ones I had personally or ones I wanted, I like to have complete. But I've learned the hard way that avoiding dropping $70 on a boxed doll isn't always the best route. Sometimes you're lucky and you'll find a used doll unboxed with everything. Other times you'll find a doll nude and in rough shape that cleans up perfectly and then you have to source the clothes and accessories, which can easily get back up to that $70 price tag or higher. So what I like to do is go for the best deal on a boxed or intact doll I can find, and if I can't, then I buy the most accessible one and dress it in a fashion pack as a unique doll. Not always the most ideal, but most of the time I feel just as satisfied.
All great points! You're right. The used doll market can be really difficult if you're looking for in-box dolls. Also, I have no max steels or GI Joe's in my collection, just a few Ken dolls. 🤔 Maybe I should consider getting into them.
@@dollthighs Max Steel can get pretty expensive, but his looks make him a huge gay staple, haha. I feel like it's a little too on the nose why I liked him so much as a kid.
Your comment on whether the doll speaks to you really resonated with me. I totally agree. As my collection grew, and I became more knowledgeable about the different manufacturers, head, hand and leg mold styles, etc., I got choosier about what I bought and more willing to let go of the earlier more impulsive buys. We're renovating currently so my darlings are packed away, but I'm liking your comment about not keeping boxes, they take up so much room! I was conditioned over the years to "keep the box!!!" but even flattened, they degrade eventually and take up space. ❤️
@@sharonthompson672 Yeah, I'm also getting to the point where I think it might be time to start getting rid of boxes too. It's hard!
I spend 45 EUR for gingham pink dress Barbie movie doll and I am so proud of myself, so happy I got her, and I want to get more and more Barbie dolls because it's important for my mental health ❤ because I love Barbie❤❤❤❤😢😢 toys are for everyone at any age , dolls are for any gender 😇 and everyone😍😍😎
This is an excellent piece about the different ways that society can creep in and put guilt and shame into something you love. I was fortunate that my parents understood my collecting habits growing up - my mom and my aunt used to hunt for Star Trek action figures for me, and my mom kept a list of what she'd bought and what she hadn't. She always bought way more than would work for presents, so I could use my allowance or money from baby-sitting to buy them from her for store price. My mom also bought into the collector idea of "it'll be worth something someday", so she made me keep two of each - one to play with, and one to keep in the box. I've long since gotten rid of them all - donations, yard sales, ebay. I'd just gotten rid of the last of them when I discovered Monster High in the 2010s - just after I'd turned 30, when I found an Operetta doll, and that sparked my desire to collect, because I LOVE Phantom of the Opera.
I don't tend to keep dolls in-box any more, and I only save collector boxes. And when a doll I've bought no longer brings me joy, I put it in the donation bin, and it goes to either a thrift store, or to a yard sale. I can't recall ever having shame over collecting things, probably because my mom is also a huge collector (though for her it's Chintz and Hummel figurines and Lilliput Lane houses and egg cups and such), and she always had her things on display, and took care of them. My students think I'm weird, but some of them like knowing their teacher also likes the things they do/did, and won't make fun of them for their interests. Dolls make me happy, and I refuse to let other people ruin my happiness with their negativity about my hobbies. I'm not letting your classmates make fun of your shoe collection, high school student of mine, so don't make fun of my dolls.
I do occasionally feel guilt, though, with prices of some dolls being so high. There are dolls I want in my collection that I'm likely never going to own (Cerise Wolf from SDCC) because the price for them on ebay or mercari or wherever is more than I can justify out of the budget. My max price is usually twice retail. Higher than that, I wait. Things go in cycles. Those Trek action figures my mom was convinced would be worth something? I see them for under their retail price at toy shops or comic shops, or maybe a buck or two over, if it's a rarer one. Better to yard sale them, and watch someone's face light up when they find something they've been looking for, and can make them a good deal. It isn't about the money when I get rid of dolls/figures in my collection. It's about the faces of people lighting up when they realize I have something they want, and I'll offer it for an affordable price.
Thank you so much for sharing! It's awesome that you had role models that collect as well. My mom is also a collector. She never cared about toys, but she has pins and things like that. That's probably where I learned it. 😂 also, I agree with the selling part. I usually sell on eBay for convenience but never in an attempt to make money. Just because I know there are others out there that want the doll more than I do, so I'd rather make sure it's easy for anyone who wants it to find. ❤️
As for boxes omg! I went through so much anxiety about taking it out leaving it in blah blah. I have kept the box and all I did was take up more space. Can you resell for more money w the original box it depends on the doll and the box! If the box is beautiful and has a unique beauty or background yeah I keep it. If it’s just part of boring production what I’ve done is display my stuff and rotate them and put them back in the box to store them and take them out again when my rotation comes back around! I’ve had to use an entire closet/storage room just for the darn boxes. They take up space and hate to ruin them. I have figured out how to fold the boxes and clear plastic in a way to store better. But a person could drive themself mental over this. For the most part I’ve chucked the box and then stored the item carefully wrapped. But I have many still with their original box. Which can help organize them when storing. Well I think men or women they/them it doesn’t matter whom we are or how we store them we all have our own process and once that doll is in our possession it’s our personal preference as to how we mandate our personal hobby and not up to anyone but ourselves. Like I’ve said I’ve driven myself kookoo over this and it just isn’t worth it. Like you said honey it’s not your business if I take her out of the box! The bottom line is to enjoy what your collecting not have a conniption fit over keeping it perfect. Unfortunately we live in a constant state of entropy! It takes energy to keep things perfect everything is in a constant state of breaking down and becoming disorderly it takes our love and energy to keep these things we collect looking amazing or not! Se la vi! Mwah! 💋
Thank you so much for talking about this.
Yesterday I was cleaning out all the empty made to move barbie & Disney princess boxes when I had a shame filled urge not to get caught by my family with the evidence like an alcoholic with all those empty bottles.
I have definitely been there before. 😞 now I can't be bothered to hide anything. Lol, I pretty much always have stacks of dolls that need to be unboxed on the floor of my office now. 😆
thank you, I needed this. you seem really well spoken and reflected. I hope your channel gets more eyes on it!
Thank you! 😊 ❤️
I do care about consumerism and the environment, and almost only buy 2nd hand. Fast fashion, fast food and fast dolls are destroying us. I've mostly stopped buying the newest fix and switched to making things for my dolls instead.
I completely agree. I don't usually buy much fast food or fast fashion. But I do buy too many dolls. I need to make more stuff for my dolls, for sure. 🫠
The only problem with doll collecting I’m having now is I’m ALWAYS running out off space to display them. I got the lol remix super surprise (on clearance for the price of one doll which was such an amazing steal) and it’s currently stuffed in a closet cause I don’t have to shelf space for the whole display (the boxes and everything)
Omg SAME I need new shelves. I'm going this weekend to get more floating shelves so I can make like a full rainbow high wall. 🤣🤣🤣
"heterosexuals should collect dolls- if they want to" There's something about this phrasing that just took me out as a queer, instant follow
😂😂😂
My cousin's son collected dolls (I'm not sure if he still does) and had the inside of his closet painted pink. He was even the pink Power Ranger and he wore costumes. My cousin really surprised me. He was ok with it all (this was the late 80s), when most definitely wouldn't allow it. So, I think humanity is slowly making progress, it just seems to be going backwards a lot lately.
My son loved the Penguins of Madagascar and that pink Barbie beach buggy car they drove. THAT particular vehicle was nowhere to be found, so I made one and glued the characters into it. I gave it to him for Valentine's Day when he was 4 years old. He loved it. I'm 100% sure if his father had been around, he'd have tried to stop me. I still love that car....10 years later. 🐧🐧🐧🐧
That's so sweet! Also I think having these kinds of communities online is helping a lot with making progress. I made this video because I thought even if it helped normalize doll collecting for one person who needs that it would be worth it. I never expected this to be one of my most watched videos. 😂😂
@@dollthighs It's a great video and very important! I'm definitely putting it on the list to show my son. 👍🏻😀
I agree. Vacations are highly expensive. The doll is tangible. It depends on what you want.
Wow! Very interesting video indeed. I'm not a doll collector, I collect HotWheels but I do feel a lot of shame telling other people about it, but your points are very interesting and are some things I've been thinking about for some time. I feel very validated by your video! Keep up the good work!
Thank you! I'm happy to hear the points applied to collecting hobbies other than just dolls. ❤️
Putting aside money specifically for doll releases is incredibly smart and financially responsible. You're incredibly realistic with your finances and it's aspirational. I don't look at my bank statements as much as needed let alone put money away.
Lol I try my best. Some months are easier than others. But some months when there's no doll releases, when I should just save the money, instead I go crazy on eBay
🤣
@@dollthighs LMAO
I can't comment on the shame aspect cause I have the luck of being a 26 year old woman who still gets mistaken for a teenager.
I think the only time I had shame was when I bought mermaze mermaidz dolls at TK-Maxx 2 weeks ago and the cashier was my former bully who looked confused at my purchase.
The guilt part is something I often feel when going doll hunting offline. The guilt of maybe having spent my money wrong. I keep making justifications for buying something that brings me joy and sometimes take a friend with me who isn't that judgemental and I often need for evaluation.
I would love the possibility of thrift hunting dolls so much, but here in Germany there aren't many thrift shops that have toys for people above the age of 6 and ours aren't even nearly as cheap as the American ones
Yeah, I am always shocked at how expensive dolls are in other countries. I can only imagine how much harder it is to be a collector when they're harder to find and more expensive. 😞
For awhile now I‘ve had a desire to break into doll collecting but was always too scared to because I was scared of being judged, even tho I’m only 17 but I finally said fuck it and started doing it and it makes me so so happy
Yaaasss! It's definitely the right choice. Lol, also people are going to judge you no matter what you do. So just do what makes you happy. As long as you're not hurting anyone, it's one else's business. 🥰
I love your honesty, your personality, your warmth and I am so glad that you are in a good place. I'm sure that many people find strength in your words. I am a middle aged mum of two and I love my dolls, they bring me joy and happiness, everyone should be allowed and encouraged to have enjoyment in their lives in whatever shape or form it comes. So long as you are not hurting anyone - live your best life, always. Xxxx
Thank you! Doll collecting is one of the most consistent sources of joy in my life so I am very happy I came back to it as an adult as well. 💕
Agree! There's so much backlash of collectors getting lumped in with hoarders nowadays that the younger generation has swung the other way and gone minimalist (tiny houses, no clutter/sparse shelves) and seems to be imposing that mindset on their kids. 😔
I think I started collecting as an adult because as a kid, I'd come home from school and my toys had disappeared. Mama'd "cleaned house" & chose for me. Ugh. 🤦
Sorry in advance for the lengthy rambling but this topic means so much to me and I was thrilled to see that you made a video about it!
I just need to disclose that I am a cis male, I was assigned as male at birth and I identify as male, since that impacts some of the stories below.
There was a period when I was maybe three or four when my family indulged my love of dolls, particularly Wizard of Oz themed dolls, and I was allowed to have them and play with them. However I remember a distinct point when I was maybe six or seven when I came home from school and nearly all of my dolls were gone. It’s been so long at this point so I can’t remember the excuse my parents made, but I now know that they had taken what dolls they could find and donated them. This was incredibly traumatic for me as a child and I still think about those dolls (some I have re-collected but I would like to get them all back eventually). I think that action from my parents showed me that dolls were “not for boys” and that if I wanted to have them that I went against the status quo. That my parents would throw my dolls away taught me that I shouldn’t have them, or that the people around me didn’t want me to have them.
Tv shows often portray doll collectors as weird, hermit-like, on the fringes of society, or even in some extreme cases as psychotic and murderous. It’s really upsetting when the prevailing representation of oneself in the media is a negative one, the subject of jokes, and intentionally othered. I know as a child when I saw depictions like that it made me feel like people would perceive me as weird or bad if I wanted to collect dolls, so there was a long period of my life where I had nothing to do with dolls for fear of being judged. It wasn’t until college really that I began to not care about what others thought and embraced the collector side of myself.
Generally I’ve seen more depictions of male doll collectors portrayed as creepy, while female doll collectors are not depicted in this way as often. I think it’s important to examine fashion dolls in particular in this light and why it might be “okay” for women to collect them but not men. Most fashion dolls are of female characters, this is a fact. I think a somewhat direct comparison would be how clothing is often arbitrarily gendered, despite being inanimate objects, and some clothing is “for girls” and other clothing is “for boys.” Why is it that women can wear pants but it is taboo for men to wear dresses? Why do we still have headlines every time a man wears a dress on a red carpet? I think it comes back to femininity and misogyny. It’s as if society encourages women to abandon femininity in favor of masculinity (wearing pants) but is shocked whenever a man would embrace femininity (wearing dresses) “because why would a man ever want to give up his masculinity?” I think it’s stupid, clothing should be no more gendered than toys should be, and it should not be seen as “degrading” for men to embrace skirts or dolls.
Obviously this is a very nuanced topic and I’m only scratching the surface, but these were some of my thoughts while watching this video. Thank you so much for making an in depth look at a topic that is very close to home for me!
Thank you so much for sharing. I'm sorry that happened to you as a kid, but I'm glad you were able to get through it and enjoy your collection again as an adult. ❤️
Also, I completely agree. Clothing being gendered also makes absolutely no sense. I didn't even consider that as an influence on the way dolls are viewed.
I totally relate to having your things taken when you weren't expecting it. I think that's a part of what makes doll collecting, especially as an adult male, feel so dirty sometimes. Overcoming that is a big life step.
I’m female and although my collection is accepted by family and husband, they certainly aren’t enthusiastic about it. It’s so nuanced, but sometimes I wonder if I was a gay male they would accept it as apart of a hobby rather than just thinking I’m immature and stuck in the past? Idk. This conversation is nuanced and it’s so hard to pin point the shame that comes with it.
@@Blake1720 I definitely feel that as well. I think anyone that accepts it tends to do so on the condition that I don't gush too much about it. Most people don't get it.
I just came across this video and I loved your discussion. I have some dolls in the box and some out. I don't like keeping dolls in boxes for the most part because it takes up too much room. Some dolls you also cannot fully appreciate in the box because of the plastic keeping them in place or whatever imo.
I've loved dolls my whole life and was put through hell for it in my younger years. It really messed me up and like you, to this day I still feel funny about collecting dolls. I won't tell just anyone or allow just anyone in my apartment.
That kind of stuff stays with you forever. But being open about my doll collection and realizing that most people don't really care and some people even think it's interesting has helped me so much. 😁
After years of shame, mostly around age and $, I just got my first Bratz doll as an adult. I cannot wait to build my collection. I’m AFAB so I was never shamed for having them as a kid, but as a neurodivergent person, I was shamed for playing with toys after my friends had aged out of them. Amazing video
The age shame is so ridiculous. Why do people think adults aren't allowed to have fun anymore? 🤔
@@dollthighs Years ago, I was at a book signing for Anne Rice, and she said the coolest thing, probably not original, but: "you're never too old to have a happy childhood." 🥰
The gender distinction thing is plain stupid. I am a woman, heterosexual, and when I was a little girl I always played with Barbies, they were my favorites, but I absolutely ADORED going to my boy cousins's house and playing with their Batman toys and jokers, and Batman car, and I was always jealous of their he-man toys. Thank goodness my dad had some sensibility and sometimes bought me some cool g.i joe guys. Today I collect Barbies and other superheroes that I like such as Darth Vader, and screw stereotypes. Great video!
I just found your channel through this honest and wonderful video. I thank you for making it. I think many of us see ourselves in it. No shame! Any kind of collecting is wonderful and no one should feel bad about it regardless of their gender identity. Whether it's dolls, action figures, plates, key chains, pins, whatever!!🙏🏼
Thank you! 😊 ❤🥰
I totally understand you I used to be shamed for collecting dolls I was called so many names , sisy baby, but oh lord I need not go on as I’m sure you know exactly what I mean but my husband quickly assured me that I really should not be bothered what people think if I enjoy them that’s all that matters and yes he dose buy me lots of dolls and I feel very lucky so it doesn’t matter what ppl think if it makes you happy then that is the most important thing and I’m 53 so I really don’t give a hoot
I completely agree. 🥰
I have to add that you inspired me to get my first Rainbow High dolls. I had been on the ledge a few times with them, but I saw some of the achromatic dolls on sale, and I had to get them.
I LOVE Rainbow High! I hope you enjoy them. ❤️
Amazing video covering things most doll content channels don't cover.
Learning to not be a completionist with doll collecting has been a hard but needed lesson I had to learn. I got lucky, I learned it earlier when I first started collecting dolls again as an adult. I try only to get dolls I really love and make me happy because I have limited space and money but do have a few that aren't completely loved. It's hard to decide what to do with those extras.
Anyways, Love your content as always. Keep up the good work.
Thank you! Yeah, I'm the worst with the completionist thing. Lol, I went to ShopDisney today to buy one of the CreativeSoul dolls and just bought all 4 because I couldn't decide which one I wanted. 🙃 I loved them all, though, so I don't feel bad about it. Lol, I just wish I had more self-control for the sake of my wallet.
@@dollthighs If you love them it's worth it in the long run I think!
Thank you for this... you described all of these issues so well and everyone needs to hear it!!! (and you helped me decide on a purchase I was on the fence about :) ... and so hilarious, "nobody's come into my doll room and been like, ewww" 🤣
🤣🤣🤣 I'm glad I could help. 🥰
I've been shamed 🤣🤣🤣 But I have none. Very sad if another person is afraid of their own innocence. 💗
I also have no shame at this point. 🤣
I 1000000% agree with your Barbie Loves the Ocean comments, especially when you look to what else Mattel has produced (looking at you, American Girl... most recently, Kavi's backstage set, Corrine and Gwynn's bedroom, Claudie's bakery... when Mattel bought Pleasant Company in 1999, it didn't take long at all for most of the accessories to be made of plastic. Julie (released 2007) is a really good example of this.)
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thinks that! I appreciate that barbie love the ocean exists but all of these companies could do so much more to decrease their environmental impact. ❤️
Another example my Ex husband (who is a straight male) Collects Super Man dolls, Harry Potter Tonner dolls and some ooak fashion model dolls.
Hats of to you!
I've always wanted to get into Tonner dolls, but they stopped making them before I had the money to afford them. 😆
Goodness I belong to a doll collecting organization UFDC and am proud of it. We are thousands strong. I think any shame or guilt around spending would be similar to what you do when you buy yourself that extra wonderful dress or that new expensive car that you really shouldn’t have . I think that’s normal. I have spent twice as much or more than twice as much as you spent on that Barbie on a doll. The ladies and gentlemen in our organization also buy and sell antique dolls which go in the thousands and thousands. I have not purchased on that level but if I could afford it I might.
It’s like you say, we spend money on what we want and what we value. People really shouldn’t talk about that because they might spend money on things that we wouldn’t.
I have loved dolls since I was a child and I collect avidly as an adult and I don’t give a rats ass what anybody else thinks about it. We get a lot of flack even in the press and literature etc. Sometimes we become the butt of jokes because we collect dolls. Other collectors don’t get the flack we do. But I have come to realize that people collect lots of things and dolls are no quakier than people who collect miniature trains, baseball cards, door knobs or anything else. Collecting speaks to you and what you love in life and you should be OK with that if you’re not collecting harmfully.
Visit an outdoor swap meet or a county fair. They abound with collectors and if you go into those sales area you find lots of collectors. They are collecting old medical tools, they are collecting farm equipment. They’re collecting doll houses, antiques, china, vintage dish and glassware etc.
We are not alone in our collection/collecting so we shouldn’t be ashamed of anything.
It’s like you said if you have the money, and you want to spend it and that Collection gives you joy and that’s enough for everybody.
I completely agree! I am very proud of my doll collection at this point in my life. ❤️ 😀
Wow! Very interesting video indeed. I'm not a doll collector, I collect HotWheels but I do feel a lot of shame telling other people about it, but your points are very interesting and are some things I've been thinking about for some time. I feel very validated by your video! Keep up the good work!
Ps: I love the Mark Ryden Black And White Ball Barbies you have!
Thank you! I thought most of the points would be pretty universal for toy collecting in general. I just focused on dolls because I only collect dolls, so I didn't have any other visual references for the video. 😂
@@dollthighs It's cool! Keep doing your thing, I love it! It's very cool and I love that you are so proud of it!
Sorry that I commented twice though 😅
I always think about the poor conditions and treatment of the factory workers that make our dolls and toys. It really is very sad and i wish it was an easy fix.
I know! 😞 I really regret not mentioning that. I knew I was forgetting a big factor, and you're correct. A lot of times, the working conditions and pay of the factory workers are intentionally hidden from the consumer, so we feel less guilty buying products produced by people who are most likely not making a living wage. I didn't remember to include it, so I don't have much info on which companies treat their employees better, etc. But I'm sure the infos out there, and I should look into that soon.
Just a gym bro also an artist who into mermaid 2 years ago after watching barbie pearl princess lol, started drawing and animating everyday. Now at 41 years old start collecting mermaid dolls and even won some from art contest. Though I prefer hunt for used dolls with good condition. They really boost my mood and inspiration. I used to feel shame since my friends are collecting cool action figures, but then I started to think that dolls are actually articulated action figure with non molded hair :D
So true! Dolls and action figures are the same exact concept with slightly different marketing. 🤣
I never cared what anyone thought. It's an enjoyable innocent hobby! I've converted a few along the way.
That's so great to hear! I used to care a lot. Lol, now I don't care at all what people think. Doll collecting makes me happy, and it's no one else's business but my own. ❤️
i completely relate- im about to turn 20 in a couple days and i just got randomly obsessed with doll collecting this year😭 i love it so much but i cant help but think im kind of a weirdo for it and judge myself for wanting to spend so much on doll clothes instead of actual clothes lol
Love this video! My cousin found out I collect dolls and said how weird it is. Most people have judged when I told them, so I try not to let people know most of the time. I started collecting dolls (Monster High) at 14 and remember looking up if 14 is too old to collect dolls. Now I am 25 and still collecting.
❤️ I'm so happy you enjoyed it. And I definitely know that feeling of looking for validation on the internet for your hobbies. 😆 that is how I discovered the doll side of youtube originally.
@@dollthighs Thank you! I am glad you found the doll TH-camrs, too!
There's a book called "You're Kids Don't Want Your Stuff". 😆 I have arranged for my dolls to be sold & the $ to go to specific charities.
I have no clue what to do with my doll when I die. Lol, they'll probably just get sold to some estate buyer and end up in a consignment shop or something. 😆
I love Dolls and I'm 65. But how do keep the dust off of them they are so easy to not over even with a stand but I'm like you if you like or what ever it doesn't matter I'm with you
🤣 I just move them around so much that they don't get too dusty. I'm constantly rearranging this room.
Great video.
I have a 3.5yr old son and really enjoyed the dialogue about gendered toys for children. I am a adult doll collector and have started letting my son help me open some boxes and it has been so fun to see how he responds to the dolls. For my new SH doll, he spent 30 minutes using the little accessories and dabbing her face and lips with the makeup brushes and lipstick. I would have never played with the accessories, they are just props to me, but to him they are the fun. This has opened up a whole new way of seeing some dolls with accessories that I haven't considered enjoying in the way I know he and I could enjoy them now. So now if a doll comes with a drumset or something - it has a bigger appeal as we can enjoy it together.
Another aspect of this - I have wondered if I am somehow influencing him in an odd way or something by utilizing something generally reserved for girls to have as something we can enjoy playing together. It is so fun and I feel ridiculous even having those thoughts (that boys cant play with fashion dolls) but they are there in the back of my mind whispering. I hope he looks back on our dolly time later in life with joy.
Recently I ordered the newborn pups Barbie set and him the vitiligo Ken and a tux set with sunglasses and stuff for him to have full range to undress and mess with while we play. I'm so excited for them to come in! He is going to trip about the puppies and it's so cute. He has requested a boy doll which I found interesting!
Sometimes finding ways to connect and spend playtime with a toddler can be hard or almost a chore and it's so fun to have something we both can focus in on and enjoy together. It is wild how deep societal conditioning goes that I have even had thoughts that maybe this is a strange thing to be doing.
Thank you for touching on the gendering of toys. I really enjoyed the talk.
That's so adorable! Thank you for sharing. 🥰 I'm terrible with kids and never know how to connect with them, but if they like dolls, we usually get along great. 🤣 Also, there have been a number of studies proving that children playing with dolls teaches them empathy and social skills regardless of gender. So I wouldn't get too hung up on the gender thing. I'm sure you will both look back on those memories fondly. 🥰
When I was able to go to shop at a store, usually TRU, I’d be buying dolls and wishing I’d run into other collectors so that we could shop together and talk dolls. 😢 But that never manifested. Now as a disabled senior, online shopping is a lonely hobby. And it seems antique and contemporary doll shows, that I used to thoroughly enjoy, are almost nonexistent.
Wow! This video is one of the most enlightening discussions on the act and mentality of doll collecting. You’ve hit a nerve with many topics I haven't seen many creators venture into and do it so eloquently. I've just recently started to watch a few doll collectors for their awesome personalities, including yourself, as a decompression/mind shutoff tool from my work and own hobbies because doll collecting is something outside of my reality. I doubt I will ever purchase a doll, but sometimes it's just awesome to hear someone talk about something they have a passion for doing in their life. As much as I love watching you unbox and test doll articulation, this is the type of video I love for broadening my knowledge of others' interests at a human and deeper level. Thank you and sorry for the long comment.
Thank you! I have more videos like this planned they just take longer to prepare and edit usually, so I tend to do mostly doll unboxings. 😆 but I have a list of topics I'm already working on. 🥰
Girlfriend can relate on your advice she been collecting since may I think this year she has the barbie the movie dolls and some bratz dolls and barbie and Ken style resort collection, day of the dead rainbow high maria garcia doll,looks barbies ,and 2 omg fierce swag and royal bee dolls she loves just collecting signature and collector's edition dolls also has has some barbie rewinds and cabbage patch kids vintage 40th birthday collector's edition dolls she doesn't care about what other people think it's her hobbie and people should I say our society needs to grow up and respect others
Girlfriend loves to keep her dolls in box
I fully agree 1 I do not collect because the doll is “rare” I get the doll I want cuz I want it the end also I’m an avid “out of box” collector and not in the “EVERYONE MUST UNBOX THEIR DOLLS!” Head space more on the personal level if I can’t actually touch my dolls to me I waisted money! I’m also a doll clothes builder so for example if the mayors mother asked me that I’d have said “of course I’m going to open them but not only am I opening them i personally feel that the gowns they come in are garbage compared to what I can make! my Glinda will wear a hand made blue satin gown on which I’ll personally sequin each and every petal so it looks exactly like a miniature version of the broadway gown” and then I’d walk away lol but you’re also right it’s not her business! it’s as much her business as it is a stranger’s due date for their expected baby! But I do find the “FIGHT” about boxed or unboxed dolls kind of humorous! Like you know on both sides there’s people thinking “oh if they were my dolls they’d have such a better home!” 🤣😂🤣 and like it’s plastic with hair! And honestly once the 90s ended so did the “collecting for value” market. Barbie’s that went for hundreds of dollars in the late 90s and early 2000s are now selling for literally $35-$50 like no one cares like they used to. So some of the people who are only concerned about the appreciation of it confuse me, like how’d u find this as a way to make money instead of just a job?
I completely agree. I think the accessibility of dolls on the internet has made it much easier for all of us to tell what is ACTUALLY rare. Also, I wish I had the patience to do more custom outfits for my dolls. I'm hoping to get back into it soon.
@@dollthighs I will fully admit that there are so many custom projects I’m working on that literally get put on a shelf for over a year before I finally finish them. And some never get finished cuz like as much as I enjoy it I also just want it done lol sometimes I don’t want to actually “make” my designs 🤣😂😭😭😭😭🤣😂🤣😂
I loved this video so much!!! I've definitely gone through a lot of these phases of shame and the way you address it is just so perfect! AND YES, I totally know what you mean that it's just DOLLS and shouldn't ever be too serious (sans certain circumstances that some people may be in). 💜
Thank you! 😊 I'm glad you enjoyed it. I love talking about these kinds of topics. 😁
I definitely feel the age shame and in/out of box shame the most. Also, I thoroughly enjoyed the video! You’re a great speaker, I could listen to you talk about this for another hour! ❤️
Thank you! 😊
Doll collector 25 yrs + went through all that, shame guilt etc...with family and friends 😢 but! I've learned this is a stress relief ( high blood pressure suffer here, I've tested it myself and it works!!) I'm a deboxer too but I keep some stored in their boxes...I love to display them!! Be happy with them 😊!!
Years! Doll collecting is major stress relief for me as well. It's just pure dopamine. 😆
I really understand the environmental guilt of buying dolls. I try to get all my dolls second hand, keeping them in box, and keep boxes that are particularly pretty (like Lily Chang lol). I guess how I like to think about it is that if I keep my dolls in good condition, they can be given to someone else eventually so the plastic isn't going to waste. It really sucks just how many great hobbies that I have interested in are just so full of plastic, hoping in the future we'll figure out something different to make figures, models kits, and especially dolls out of that's not as terrible for the environment.
I know! Unfortunately, we live in the age of plastic. But it sounds like you're doing a lot to diminish your own environmental footprint. 🥰
Ive been shamed for having dolls by ppl close to me but idc i like what i like. Ive been told its a waste of money.
I felt like a closeted doll collector for my entire life right up to Mid 2022. I love my collections regardless of others' opinions, but definitely never shared that part of my life with anyone but my husband. They had been boxed for years, only taken out once in a while, then securely packed away again. But now I find I'm more excited to share and expand my collection since finding a whole community on FB and TH-cam I never knew existed. Kinda thought I was just weird and maybe even damaged from childhood that I never stopped loving dolls or toys, so i'm super happy to see so many doll lovers out there. And now I'm finally freeing my dolls from their storage permanently. Thanks for sharing! Happy Collecting.
Yes! Having an online community of doll lovers has helped me a lot, too. Also, as far as the "damaged" thing goes, another doll reviewer I watch once said, "When people collect books, we never assume they weren't allowed to read as a child." LOL, and I never thought about it like that, but society applies this weird stigma to doll collectors like we are all trying to heal some childhood trauma. It's so arbitrary and weird. Most of us just like dolls. It's usually that simple. 🤣
You are so right! And the stigma is real, I just never let it stop me. I am finding it is just that much more enjoyable sharing with others. So thank you for sharing =)
I collect comic books and I feel a lot of pressure to store them in archival bags and board because so many collectors do it. I have the tendency to obsess over things, so I'm doing my best to just enjoy my collection without obsessing over the collectability and keeping everything pristine. Your talk about no one dying over dolls that are kept in/out of box is so freeing!
I have a small comic collection too, and I feel that! Lol, they're so delicate, and it's hard not to worry about them getting damaged, but they're almost impossible to enjoy without taking them out of the bags. 🤣
@@dollthighs They're so delicate omg 😂 I have to keep reminding myself I don't need to keep anything in mint condition because I don't intend to sell them anyway. I was nodding along when you were talking about the Disney dolls ☺️
You are adorable! What a great video. I am 60 years old and two years ago started collecting Sylvanian Families/ Calico Critters. I first bought them for my granddaughter to play with but soon found out how much I loved them. I don't tell anyone I collect except my grown children and my sister. I am embarrassed to admit my obsession. My husband is so supportive and that is where the guilt comes in. I don't bring any money in the household. My husband works 50 hour weeks to support us. We are by far not rich but we don't starve. I feel guilty about spending his hard earned money on myself. He never makes me feel that way but I do.
It's so great that your husband is so supportive. 😊 I can definitely see how that could cause some feelings of guilt, but it sounds like your husband doesn't mind, so if I was in your situation, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I buy my partners things all the time, and it makes me happy to see them happy. ☺️
I know so many girls who weren't allowed to play video games or with Legos because of their parents. It makes me feel so comfortable and happy knowing there are more and more guys helping with breaking these barriers by doll collecting. 💖
That's so true. I find it fascinating how video games as an entire industry became so gendered. It makes absolutely no sense.
I’m not a doll collector because they scare me but I would have absolutely no shame or guilt if that was my interest. Shame and guilt are emotions that people who harm children and animals should feel not something that a hobbyist should feel. The dolls are your property bought with your hard earned money so others shouldn’t get to judge or make you feel guilty or shameful.
Thank you! I'm sorry dolls scare you. But I appreciate you watching my video despite your fear. 🥰
@@dollthighs it was the title that caught me. I just don’t understand why anyone would feel shame about something as innocent as collecting dolls. Its the dolls with glass eyes that scare me
When I was 11 or 12, I really loved insects. I asked for insect books for Christmas and took photos of the ones I could find. My mom teased me...definitely NOT in the lighthearted way. Soon, most of my family members were making me feel like a freak. Keep in mind that this was in 1979-80 so there was no internet for me to turn to for like minded people. So, I let that interest die. 🥺
I'm so sorry to hear that. You're definitely not alone though. I'm sure a lot of people drop their interests because people teased them or made them feel ashamed for enjoying something. I'm also sure there are tons of people out there fascinated with insects. They are very interesting creatures for sure. 💗💗💗
@@dollthighs Thank you. I may not have become an entomologist, but I have found many groups to join online. So, I got my buggy groove on eventually. 👍🏻😉 Happy (belated) Valentine's Day! New subscriber from Texas!
I’m so glad I stumbled upon your channel, this was such an interesting video! I think it’s a great discussion to have because a lot of collectors (including myself) can relate in one way or another. 💖
Thank you! 😊
Thank you for this interesting and thought provoking video. You bring up excellent points. I liked how you considered all perspectives. Well done. 🙏😊
Am 57 and crazy about my dolls. Keep collecting love the hunt
At this point I don't think anything could stop me from collecting dolls. 😂
Love this video!! Thank you for making me feel better!
I do the same thing about the box thing. If I love the way they look in the box, I’ll keep the doll inside it. Otherwise I love displaying them outside of the box.
So what I do about Fomo and the shame associated with it is that i tend to just try to like cap them for fav characters. So instead of trying to have a complete collection i just buy the Frankies/Cleos and dracluaras in a line because they are my favs. I will buy other characters if i find the particular doll is beautiful .
I totally agree, why keep a doll in the box unless it gives you joy being in the box? I don’t understand the mindset of wanting to keep something in box that you would love much more out of the box just because you think you can sell it later. Where’s the joy in that?
I completely agree! ❤️
Totally agree! Most of my collection are unboxed because I have no intention of selling them again. I love having them out and scattered around my room, it's so much more exciting to look at. I made the rather bold and rash decision to unbox my Roxie Grand who was far more expensive than the rest of my collection the other day and it was actually so fun to dress her up in something new!
Also, I have to say I love your picture! Olivia is definitely a highlight of the new RH series!
Thank you for such an interesting and thought-provoking video. This came up on my suggested feed and I’m glad I watched. Will be checking out your other videos too! I definitely relate to most of the issues you highlighted in the video.
Thank you! 😊 I'm glad you enjoyed it. 🥰
I love your enthusiasm about doll collecting and yeah, I do know that they’re is a lot of shame in the dog collecting community. I personally have no shame and I have been a dull collector for many years. I am 61 years old and I have been collecting dolls ever since I was very little, I don’t think it’s anyone’s business unless they really really wanna know how much money I spend on particular dolls and that’s where I stand with it. I don’t always volunteer the information because I don’t feel like it’s necessary unless I was talking to another collector, that would understand like yourself. 7:06