Dollieh Sanctuary

So tomorrow I'm going to lunch with a friend and I'm going to be bringing Hisui, my 70cm Dollmore doll. It's my first time taking him out of the house, so I'm crazy nervous over the kind of reactions I'm going to get. My friend knows I'm bringing him and she's seen photos, but I'm more nervous about other peoples' reactions. It also doesn't help that I don't speak Japanese that well, so if anyone actually asks me anything most likely I can't really explain.

I'm curious, what have your experiences been like taking your dolls out not just to doll meets but just on a normal day? I'm kind of used to getting stares since I like to dress in gothic lolita fashion, plus if I'm out with friends or on my cell I speak English (even though I look Asian since my family's Chinese), but for some reason bringing Hisui's putting me on edge even more than usual.

Have you found most people to be just curious or are there more negative reactions?

Generally I find my eccentricities are just willfully ignored... But that may just be because I'm in a university town... I frequently have my hujoo somewhere visible... Though I guess Hujoos being small I may not be able to help much!

I suspect Japan will be more understanding/ will choose to ignore. I look like a Westerner, and wandered around in cosplay - the only time I was talked negatively at per-say was when the ticket machine in the station malfunctioned and a commuter got cross so I think you can judge it by your lolita fashions experience!

I've never had a negative reaction from a stranger. I haven't taken my bigger boy out to too many places but the small ones don't usually attract attention. I think people's reactions depend almost entirely on you. If you're acting self-conscience about it, people are more likely to pay attention. But if you act like it's perfectly normal, they tend to go along with it. Sometimes people do ask questions, which if you have a language barrier could be an issue. Maybe you could have a little notecard with an explanation written out? Or a little card with a website on it that they can go look up on their own?

One of the funniest experiences I had was when Kiki-chan78, one of my students, and myself went to the Corning Museum of Glass, each of us with a doll. The woman at the counter looked at us, looked at the dolls, and said 'oh, you brought your children with you.' ^___^ She then gave us the 'kids' entrance tags for the boys. Hehe!

Another fun time was when I was visiting Kiki-chan in Puerto Rico and we went to the Castillo Serrallés in Ponce, with our boys. The ladies in the gift shop went nuts over them, and before I knew it (since my Spanish is fairly pathetic) we were getting wisked up the staff stairway, into areas NOT on the tour, and being given permission to take photos of the boys in the interior atrium. (They don't let you take photos inside the house!!!!!) The woman managing the Castillo even told us to go ahead and sit on the furniture for some pics!



Yeah sometimes you get stares, sometimes you get REALLY weird looks... but if you're into the gothic lolita stuff then you're probably used to them. I say don't worry about it. I mean, some of my dolls come to work (art classroom) with me every Friday. Try explaining to junior high boys that YES, the dolls are male and I really CAN drop their pants and prove it if they really want me to. ^_~

I actually took out of my house only one of my dolls, Yukina, my 11 cm Obitsu, in a day that wasn't a meeting but at the same time not a very normal day, so my experience will probably be not so useful ^_^'' but I'll tell you anything for the sake of sharing! I took with me little Yukina at an handmade-goods market in which I had a market stall, and had her in my hand while talking with costumers. I also photographed her on a mini-bench a girl in the next stall used to show her handmade jewelry. People that actually saw her (she's so tiny!) were curious, but not at the point to cause me discomfort. I surely was a funny vision with Yukina because I was dressed like a '80 metalhead with jeans, white adidas shoes and a Judas Priest t-shirt... the last person you expect to have a doll in her hand, I suppose! But in the place there was also a lot of lolita and gothic/rockabilly fashion dressed girls and some cosplayer... I still have to try taking some of my dolls to the restaurant, in my university classroom or similar situation. Italians are often really rude, so I'm not really sure if I really want to try...

No one notices me or my dolls because I'm a little old fat white-haired lady. Little old fat white-haired ladies are invisible in NYC. The only exception is when I go shopping in the quilting/fabric store near me, and there my dolls and I are warmly welcomed. There are several other dollieh lovers working there.
While I was writing this, I was thinking about being invisible. I wonder if anyone would comment if I went out wearing a tiara and carrying a sparkly wand like a little old fat white-haired fairy godmother? I think I'll try it some time.

EAB - I found from my brief time living in NYC that it doesn't matter who you are or what you're wearing/doing. Everyone is invisible there. There was one woman on my old block who used to walk her iguanna on a leash while she'd be wearing these brightly colored sequined overalls. No one seemed to notice her except for when the iguanna got in fights with dogs. Personally I love being invisible like that. I find it very freeing but I know so many people who hate it. Except for when you slip on ice and people actually step on you. That was way less than cool.

lol EAB you totally should! And have a video camera hidden somewhere on your person to capture expressions when someone does finally notice. Don't forget fairy wings and a blue bathrobe.

Well you get some stares and maybe one person curious enough to ask you "Why you shoot the way you shoot?"(They are my models, its a form of photography).

Keep your eye on your doll all the time. Don't always dump your doll with the dollsitter, there may not be one around all the time. Get used to lugging your doll around (it helps build stamina lols)

While I was shooting my 1/6ers at a recent balloon display in the mall. This security lady was watching me quietly. My gals are in my hand(its faster than setting up a tripod and they're light) and nowhere near enough to the balloons unlike 1/1 people practically bumping into said display. So be mindful of the security people and don't stress them out if they ask you not to place your dolls on items/display/etc

as for not being able to speak Japanese. There was one time when I was shooting Osaka castle and this elderly dude saw me with a bunch of 1/6ers. He asked me a few questions but I just politely go a few english/Japanese words about shooting videogame characters and the old "Sorry, I can't speak Japanese." I believe he gets the idea and then wandered off after a while.

I seem to get ignored more often if I'm with my 1/3, unless I'm out with a bunch of doll firends. Oddly enough folks unfamiliar with anime culture prefer to ask the female owners questions than the guys.