Childhood toys and adult women’s fashion expressions should have no relation. What good is a $3540 Balenciaga x Hello Kitty bag (SS20) to a 5-year-old girl? Nonetheless, renowned symbols of childhood are prevalent parts of women’s fashion expression and pop culture. Some examples include the “Living Barbie” aesthetic or lifestyle that reigned on YouTube in the 2010s, or Sanrio’s countless fashion brand collaborations, and more recently, the trend of $800-$1000 customizable “Blythe Dolls.”
At first glance, items like dolls (yes, literal dress-up dolls) and the Sanrio franchise (especially Hello Kitty) may seem like nothing but nostalgic clouds of the past. However, as one digs deeper, there is undeniable relevance of these childhood symbols in pop culture, high fashion and varying subcultures online. Notably, in the last year or two, the “Blythe Doll” community has grown immensely and found a niche corner of the internet for themselves on TikTok, amassing 92,400 posts under the “#blythedoll” as of March 30, 2025. So, what is a Blythe Doll? She is a plastic fashion doll originating from Japan. Blythe Dolls are known for their distinct features: large heads, oversized eyes with heavy lashes and most importantly, their trendy and feminine outfits. Do not underestimate her — Blythe has been featured in articles for both Forbes and Vogue.
According to the official Blythe Doll website, “Blythe is very popular because of her high fashion sense, which makes her become a presenter or model for many magazines or advertising. Women from all around the world love Blythe because Blythe’s fashion always reflects the fashion trend at the moment.” Blythe is no ordinary, run-of-the-mill dress-up doll. She is a fashion icon and attended her charity tour between 2001 and 2011. According to the official website, “…Blythe Anniversary Charity Event and exhibition. This anniversary extravaganza featured one-of-a-kind Blythe dolls customized and styled by famous fashion designers, artists and musicians. The anniversary exhibitions traveled throughout Japan, Asia, and even Europe.”
So, Blythe dolls are being styled by real fashion designers, going on tour internationally, and raising money for charity? However, at the end of the day, they are just dress-up dolls- a typical trademark of elementary school girls. So, why are so many adults invested in collecting them and paying thousands to get customizable Blythe dolls that resemble their owners (with matching outfits!)? This phenomenon is partially explained in a section of the official Blythe Doll website: “Neo Blythe was reborn, no longer as a child’s toy but as a fashion doll appealing to adult doll collectors.” This sentence is referring to the creation of “Neo Blythe,” one out of the three models of Blythe Dolls available for purchase. With the creation of Neo Blythe, it is clear that adults do not just crave the dolls for a quick tingle of nostalgia — no, the dolls are incredibly expensive and considered a “collector’s item.” Adult women want to take a childhood symbol and express their current selves through her, expressing their fashion. The Blythe Dolls are a catalyst for women to show their personal style expression through a figure familiar and comforting to them — a petite fashion doll, perhaps one of the most commonly shared experiences of girlhood.
Blythe does not wear tacky costumes or out-of-date designs. She has been styled by real fashion designers and trendy, elaborate outfit sets to purchase on her website. Most notably, Blythe can be customized with skin color, hair (color/texture), makeup and outfits. Blythe also has very modern, on-trend features. She has huge lashes and feminine makeup, and is a representation of trends for young women; she does not possess the cartoonish and simple features of actual dolls designed for children. Through Blythe dolls, women can project their own aesthetics and fashion taste onto a doll, a mini version of them.
