Why I love Pullips and you might too!

It should be no secret anymore that I love Pullip dolls. I love collecting, styling and taking pictures of them. I love to read about other people’s collections online and do research on past and future releases. There are so many reasons, why I love Pullips and I wanted to write an introductory post about my interest, since I have not done that until now. Please enjoy my reasons for loving Pullips and let me know, if you agree or disagree with me in the comments!

1. Pullips mean staying true to myself!

Dolls have always been one of my favorite things. My interest in Barbie dolls never vanished completely, even though they were stored away in my parents’ basement. I still did my research on Collector Barbies from time to time, but never had the courage to spend my allowance on them. When I moved out and discovered the first series of Monster High dolls a few years later, I was so happy to finally collect dolls. Still, after some time the themes kind of got repetetive, I was (and still am) content with the collection I have and I wanted something that felt of higher quality. My first Pullip encounter was on the Japanese Amazon site, while I was browsing toys. It was Pullip Classical Alice that looked so pretty in the thumbnail that she immediately wandered on-to my wishlist. She stayed there for many years because I could not justify spending so much on a doll, not being sure, if I would stick to the hobby, since I had already given up on Barbie and Monster High dolls. In 2014 Groove Inc. started their collaboration with Sailor Moon and so they never fell off my radar. Last year I decided to finally be true to myself in every aspect of my life. Yes, I love to collect things that are probably out of the norm for most people my age in my culture, but I don’t care anymore. My first Pullip was Alice du Jardin Mint Ver. and I could not have been happier. Since then I have embraced honestly liking, what I feel is fun and beautiful!

2. Pullips are a product of creativity and high quality!

The factors of creativity and high quality are the main things, why I do not mind spending more money for a doll I really like. There is a big difference from release to release, which makes research so important. I can definitely recommend to check out dolls that come with lots of stock and are widely popular. The Alice releases come to mind and there are lots to choose from. The stock bodies are a little dainty, but should not hinder you from trying things out, if you want to take pictures. Of course, the quality can vary from doll to doll. Some have pretty thin stock wigs that show a lot of the cap and one thing I absolutely dislike are their doll stands, since they are flimsy and bad at doing their job. Still, the creativity that goes into the design of these dolls is stunning! There were so many times, when I was looking at a new purchase and thinking:”I would have never thought to attach this at this place. That’s genius!”.

3. I love Pullips’ eye mechanism(s)!

Pullips can move their eyes from side to side. This discovery was a complete game changer. Not only do they have totally pretty and sometimes super realistic eyechips, but you can even adjust their eyes the way you want to! More than that, you can close your Pullip’s eyes and some even wear eyeshadow on their lids. Since Cheshire Cat in Steampunk World, all new Pullip releases come with another eye mechanism that allows you to show off your doll’s eyeliner, while her eyes are still open. Its result depends on your doll, but my Cheshire Cat and Optical Alice look more thoughtful, while Lupinus looks sleepy and/or confused. I am a big fan!

4. Pullips are a dream for make-up lovers!

I love make-up and have lots of it. I don’t always have time to glam myself up in everyday life, but I love to see my dolls wearing various kinds of make-up and rocking it! I might should have mentioned it before, but Pullip, who are just a little bit under 30cm (11,8 inches), have proportionally large heads. That’s why the right make-up or face-up is so important. A stroke of eyeshadow or a little bit of shading can completely change the feeling of a doll. Important as well are the eyebrows, even though they are often covered by bangs. It will show you, how important this girl will take putting on make-up or if she is a little rebel like My Melody HEN-NAKO Ver.! There can also be done a lot with different lip colors to transform your doll’s mouth and you will be blown away by creativity once more!

5. Pullips introduce you to different kinds of fashion!

Lolita fashion is something I like to check out, I love to see other girls in it, but I could not ever imagine it on myself. I was browsing through Angelic Pretty and Baby, the Stars Shine Bright, but I could not see myself in any of their cute clothes. Thankfully, there are lots of collaborations with Japanese fashion labels that still my thirst for their fashion, without having buyer’s remorse, when looking into my closet. Marie, a release with Angelic Pretty, is my perfect example for an over-the-top rococo-inspired sweet lolita, while Pullip Seila embodies the concept of gothic lolita beautifully. Those are just two of the many styles that Groove has done over the years. I am sure, there will be something in it for you!

6. Pullips introduce anime characters into your home!

My favorite anime of all time is Sailor Moon. Nothing can beat this feeling of nostalgia in my chest, when it comes to Tsukino Usagi and her adventures. There are tons of Sailor Moon characters in Groove’s repertoire and I am pretty sure that we haven’t seen the end of the series yet! Besides Sailor Moon, there are also two Rozen Maiden series and the characters from The Rose of Versailles that come to my mind immediately. I know that there have been more in the past, but also if you are no fan of anime, you can have a look at their DC Comic characters or Disney, since Groove’s Cinderella doll is coming out with the premise of being the first of a bunch of Disney princess releases.

7. Pullips spread creativity!

There is a reason, why Groove’s Make-It-Own kits (or MIO kits) are as popular as they are! Pullip fans love to make their own visions of Pullip and love to share their work! I have yet to get my first kit because I am still too nervous to put my skills to the test and face and embrace the first inevitable fail. In the meantime there is nothing that I love more than to see new Pullips from Poison Girl’s Dolls, Yummy Sweets Dolls, Charon Dolls and so many more. I am constantly falling in love – it’s heavy on my heart! 😉 Custom made dolls are pricier since they are one of a kind, but Groove also has their own Creator’s Label, which features artists like mitsubachi@BabyBee, Silver Butterfly, HAPPYDOLLY/Memento, herein before mentioned Poison Girl and many more. This allows you to own dolls from your favorite artists without overstepping your budget. I cannot wait to see more of those releases!

Thank you so much for reading! Are you a fellow Pullip lover or are you thinking of becoming one?

Theri