Articles

2009 Dolling Trends Forecast

With the 2008 year ending soon, what can we all expect to be the trend for next year? Although it’s not an exact science, one can predict what the latest trends will be for 2009.

Dolling
Doll Progression Sheets - Everyone loves to figure out how their favorite dollist works. What techniques they use and how they too can replicate them. For the most part, there have always been tutorials on certain things to doll, specifically hair or a dress or shirt, but rarely a whole doll itself. Things have changed and an increase in doll progression sheets have popped up on the site DeviantArt. A doll progression sheet is a large sheet that shows each step or leap in progressing on a single doll from the very start of the base and up. It is a wonderful insight for those who want to see how you work and has become quite popular for the larger and more complicated Big Heads. (See Contests below.)

Steampunk - A sub genre of fantasy and speculative fiction, this popular theme has brought much inspiration into the dolling community. With its wide variety of styles and Victorian-like fashions, this makes a wonderful category for every level to doll in and will very likely continue on far into the upcoming year.

Male Dolls - For a long time female dolls have largely dominated the dolling scene but will the new year bring in a new turnaround for the males? Male base editing is becoming widely popular with the few selected dollists who are able to capture the masculinity of males without making them too buff or too feminine. No longer are dollists able to get away with just editing out the chest and making the waist a bit bulkier. Muscles, more rectangular waist, broader shoulders, thicker neck and everything that makes a man well, manly, is being added to capture the masculine look.

AsiaJam - With fashion direct from Japan being the hottest thing in the real world, why not in the dolling world as well? Even Doll on the Hill Factory has their own AsiaJam fashion category. With so many colorful combos and different styles, it’s perfect for those who need a bit of inspiration every now and then.

Contests
Big Head Challenge - First suggested by Jaeden, the Big Head challenge was designed to challenge yourself in your pixel skills to create a large baseless bust with as many colors as possible.  With most pixel artists struggling to create their works with as little colors as possible, this challenge defies the norm for all pixel artists out there.

Pageants - Will the pageantry fad fade away into the new year? Many believe that pageants will never truly die away but that they will become shorter for those who want a quick win. Contests with more than 3 rounds besides the infamous Next Top Doll will soon become obsolete with more and more dollers looking for pageants with a lighter burden. A new style that involves having all three entries at once in one round is slowly becoming popular for lesser known hosts who want to achieve a pageantry status while still keeping it fairly simple.

Bases
Hippie bases - With so many poses, perfect body proportions and excellent shading style, Holly’s Hippie bases will no doubt become a hot base for the 2009 year. Being outside of the skinny model form, the Hippies have a nice balance that every dollist can appreciate and admire.

Mini Moe bases - The Mini Moes have stirred up a storm! Just from being miniatures of the popular Moe bases by Suzy, it is without a doubt they will become the base to doll on for the 2009 year. Small enough for mini gifts yet still fashionable with their most used poses, they are perfect for small gifts and quick dolling.

© 2008 Dolling Magazine. Cover doll by Sumi, base her own