Toy figures have been known for many millennia. The history of the doll is closely connected with the development of humanity, its vital and spiritual values. It is she who becomes the first friend of a growing baby, it is through playing with her that the child learns the world and its rules. A doll is a small copy of a person. And accordingly, it requires all the attributes of a real person. Clothes for dolls are of great importance in creating an image. The creation, as well as the choice of doll outfits, is one of the most important elements of the game for the little owner of a simple doll and the basis for the creative realization of an experienced doll artist.
Varieties
Doll clothes are usually divided into several types based on the direct purpose of the doll. Texture, cut, style directly depend on the type of toy. Let's consider what outfits for dolls can most often be found in modern life.
For gaming
Play dolls traditionally include types intended for active children's games. This includes all modern dolls: from miniature copies of girls with pronounced feminine figures to dolls depicting plump newborn babies:
- Clothes of a toy in the form of a small child, for example, a doll, Baby Born, Reborn and their analogues. The wardrobe of this doll, as a rule, includes all the things necessary for a newborn or one-year-old baby:
- Rompers or panties made of soft fabrics in delicate colors;
- Undershirts, vests, T-shirts;
- Little dresses and sundresses look good on girl dolls, and funny suits look good on boy dolls;
- A doll's outfit will be incomplete without a bonnet, hat, bright headband, booties or soft shoes;
- Knitted sets look great: hooded sweaters, overalls, dresses.
- Outfits for dolls of popular brands: Barbie, Winx, Monster High, Bratz. Fashionable sets of these dolls represent a carefully thought-out, stylish "look". The costume can depend on the character or doll image, and also change depending on the wishes, artistic vision, taste of the owner of the toy. Since the main role of such dolls is to educate the style, selection and creation of thoughtful images, in the process of the game the original outfit is often supplemented with new outfits, various designer wardrobe items. The clothes of these doll fashionistas can be conditionally divided into several groups:
- Original fashionable outfits. The clothes in which the doll is sold represent the image of a modern girl (on a walk, on vacation, on a romantic evening). Often complemented with appropriate accessories, stylish jewelry;
- An outfit that defines a profession or type of activity. For example, a doctor doll, a hairdresser doll, a rescuer doll;
- Outfits that identify the fairy-tale or fantasy image of the toy. Outfit copying the dress of any feature or animated film (Rapunzel, Cinderella, Fairy, Queen of Hearts);
- Author's outfit. Often replaces or complements the original doll's outfit. Has a huge number of variations, styles, manufacturing methods. However, this group of outfits is distinguished by an artistic approach, sewing in a single copy and, as a rule, painstaking handwork.
For ritual and protective purposes
Protective and ritual figurines were revered as the personification of ancient gods, guardians and a wide variety of spirits. Such dolls protected loved ones, the household, the comfort of the home, and also ensured success in any endeavor. Considering that the dolls were made from natural fabrics, straw and threads, the outfit and body of the sacred figurine were quite often a single whole.
The features of making clothes for handmade protective dolls include:
- Assembling a doll or parts of its clothing without cutting or piercing tools (needles, scissors). Usually by tying or winding threads;
- Use of only natural fabrics and threads (cotton, linen, hemp);
- The use of protective ornaments as embroidery on a shirt, dress, belt, or headband (usually with red thread).
For utility options
Utility dolls include household items made in the shape of a doll. A typical example of such a doll is a teapot warmer, a pincushion doll or a candy dish. Since this toy is actively used in household chores, clothes for a utilitarian doll should be durable, easy to wash, non-marking, while decorating the interior with brightness, beauty, cheerfulness, making any home more comfortable. Outfits for utilitarian dolls are distinguished by:
- National features and special character. Most often, the teapot warmer is decorated with a Russian lady or a ruddy, plump merchant's wife in a colorful, fancifully decorated dress with a lush, quilted skirt-warmer;
- Special cut. In most cases, it is the clothes that are the functional part of the utilitarian doll. For example, a skirt with large pockets for candy, a multi-layered wide petticoat of a tea warmer, a hat-pincushion.
For textiles
Doll clothes for textile toys are similar in many ways to the outfits of utilitarian and protective figures. The patterns that will be used to sew clothes for textile dolls, in most cases, do not have specific sizes, because each textile doll is unique, being the result of the work of one author. In clothes, the artist strives to convey the image and character of his textile toy, decorating the outfit to his taste.
Doll clothes of these toys can be of two types: removable and non-removable. Removable allows you to change the clothes of the textile figure, and non-removable - either sewn to the doll or is part of the cut of the doll.
Handmade clothes and outfits from scrap materials
An author's toy certainly requires unique, beautiful and original clothes for dolls. Professional doll makers approach the formation of a doll's image with extraordinary care and ingenuity. Wardrobe items can be made of both traditional materials (velvet, satin, lace) and very unusual materials, such as cotton wool, paper, foil. Tights, socks, old ties or napkins are actively used. Much in this case depends on the author's idea and the functionality of the doll:
- Sets of collectible and exhibition dolls are neat, detailed clothes, fine author's work. Artful outfits can be of complex cut, intricately decorated, made in vintage style, artificially aged or tinted;
- Clothes for a regular play doll can be sewn from scraps or old things available at home. In this case, it is enough to find drawings, templates, simple patterns for cutting and knitting cute doll outfits on numerous thematic sites;
- The figurine, which is part of the gift wrapping decor, can be dressed in a skirt made of corrugated paper, flowers, lace, or a fur coat made of cotton wool or felted wool.
Jewelry and accessories
The doll image will seem dull and artificial without decorations, small fittings and accessories for doll clothes. To make the outfit look complete, it is necessary to pay attention to small details:
- Doll accessories are not only a functional necessity, but also complete the entire image. Large colored buttons will give the toy a playful and spontaneous look, and lacing, rivets and a zipper will tell about the independent, free character of the doll;
- Decorative ornaments are a mandatory attribute of doll historical clothing. All kinds of rhinestones, beads, seed beads, glass beads have decorated aristocratic costumes and rich ladies' dresses for hundreds of years. In addition, decorated clothes for dolls are complemented by miniature removable ornaments: earrings, tiaras, brooches, necklaces;
- Additional accessories for dolls are also often used to add the finishing touch to the toy's outfit. A designer musician doll cannot do without a miniature violin or trumpet, an angel doll needs snow-white wings, a shoemaker needs a leather apron and a hammer, and a languid lover needs a photograph or portrait of his lady love.
What materials are safe for children
Despite the fact that adults are often interested in clothes for toys, the main fans of doll outfits are still children. Therefore, in addition to beauty and brightness, doll outfits are subject to the highest safety requirements.
- One of the main conditions for clothing a child's toy is its naturalness and eco-friendliness. The materials from which dolls' outfits are sewn must be hypoallergenic, painted with paints that are safe for health, not irritate the child's delicate skin, and also not contain harmful substances and heavy metals;
- If there are printed images, pictures and drawings on the clothes, they should not crumble or stain the skin during play;
- The fabric should be soft and pleasant to the touch. Doll clothes for very young children should not have small, easily torn off parts, buttons, beads or sharp fittings.
It is worth mentioning separately the clothes for interior dolls. Dolls' outfits for the interior are often objects of real art. Since the purpose of such toys is purely aesthetic, the costumes of this type of dolls are not intended for everyday play. Clothes are often non-removable, but hand washing together with the doll (for example, if the toy is sewn from knitwear or textiles) or dry gentle cleaning is often allowed.
Interior clothes for dolls are a continuation of the author's idea and a collectible. Among fans of interior, designer toys, outfits become a source of new ideas, doll clothes appear for inspiration, special artistic pleasure. For example, the creation of dolls in the image of Spanish passionate flamenco dancers can find its continuation in a whole collection of doll dance clothes or costumes of different nations of the world.
However, it is worth remembering that if an outfit is sewn by inept children's hands for a toy that is not unique, but a favorite one, it contains exactly the same creative spirit as an expensive designer outfit from a master.
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