advice on putting on shoes

not sure if this should be in clothing because my question is about shoes or questions/ answers because i'm asking for advice, so my bad if it's the incorrect forum! 

 

usually i'll point the doll's foot down at an angle to slide on the boot, gently hold the tongue to the shin, and zip up. for shoes i do pretty much the same thing. does this work for you or is there a better way to go about it? if you get an older outfit set, do you put you girl in the old shoes or do you look for something that matches the vibe?

 

i think my issue is 1/2 old shoes and 1/2 me... i can get default boots like ceil and saber alter's boots on and off with no issue. boots like miku's senbonzakura, rina ogata's pink boots, and nia's loafers, however, have all deteriorated and the sole peeled almost immediately. i know a lot of these shoes are bound to break down eventually but i've seen other people with the same shoes in good condition so i feel a lil discouraged. 

any advice is appreciated!!!

Edited November 6, 2024 by amiamitchi
clarity

Honestly can't wait to see tips on this-

I have heard people say the one doll item you shouldn't focus much on is shoes, as they don't age well in general (for reasons you've noticed).

 

Material deterioration, not much can be done about that (especially pleather, which is super common with volks it seems?). However, the main cause of concern when putting shoes on is the heel crushing/pushing the shoe. So being gentle and mindful of how the shoe is going on is important mainly. 

 

I can imagine those who have older sets in nicer condition simply don't mess with their dolls much once in the outfit, or only use the full outfit for photos. If you're someone who loves changing doll outfits very often, i would avoid using shoes from limited dolls/fullsets.

16 minutes ago, luna_Lillie said:

Material deterioration, not much can be done about that (especially pleather, which is super common with volks it seems?).

one of those things i'll just have to accept... easier said then done 😅

minor scuffs i don't actually mind because it makes the shoes feel like worn shoes the doll absolutely loves, ya know? but it seems like no matter how slowly and gently I try to put shoes on i always end up with more peeled off pleather than i'd like 😕

23 minutes ago, luna_Lillie said:

If you're someone who loves changing doll outfits very often, i would avoid using shoes from limited dolls/fullsets.

i try not to fuss with shoes too much once their on the doll but was curious if others maybe try preliminary treatments before putting on shoes or something 🤔

ty for the reply i totally agree with everything you said ^__^

I have had... some luck treating shoes and other pleather items with vinyl conditioner. I use this kind, but pretty much anything made to preserve and clean boat or car seats would probably work equally well. I wear rubber gloves and smear the stuff on with a cloth, then wipe it off with a clean cloth.

Basically, once the pleather has started crumbling off the cloth backing, there's no saving it. However, if you can soften the pleather before it starts to come off, it'll reset the timer to a certain extent. I don't want to just up and say 'it works', but I treated several pairs of pleather shoes with the stuff about three years ago (including a pair that was over ten years old) and they are all still flexible and not crumbling. I go mash them with my thumb every few months to make sure.

I also smeared a blob down the shin of one of my DDs, just to make sure it wouldn't stain or discolor her - it did not.