I'm picky.
I want to talk a bit about what I look for in a doll, like my general criteria and what makes me want to add them to my collection (or my jumble, as is the term I decided to go with for this blog).
Firstly, I must enjoy the overall aesthetic of a doll. I like a doll that draws the eye and captures my attention. Doll lines like Novi Stars or Monster High have this quality exactly: they are intriguing and make you want to read the back of the box and see what they're all about. A doll line that is on my wish list is Spectra by Mattel from the eighties. These dolls may have inspired Novi Stars! The characters are from outer space. They have metallic bodies, and a surprising amount of articulation for the time. They are pretty to look at and fit the ticket exactly for aesthetically interesting and pleasing dolls.
Secondly, I look for full articulation in a doll. In a lot of cases I will overlook a lack of articulation if I like other aspects of the doll enough, but generally I like the ability to move them around and pose them. Rainbow High does (or did, long story) very well with articulation: neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, and knee. That list is usually considered "full" articulation, but some doll lines also have articulation in the bust and/or ankle, which is always a plus. I love a good ball-jointed doll, or BJD. BJDs typically have full articulation, and are great for customization.
Thirdly, I like a doll with nice clothing. Clothes lacking in quality can be a huge turn off for me. An example of dolls with good quality clothes are Licca-chan. Often called the Barbie of Japan, these dolls rule the market overseas. I have a few that I've picked up in the last year, as well as a couple clothing packs for them. I plan to add pictures to this blog, but in the meantime I recommend looking them up. For their price, the clothing quality is superb.
Lastly, I like to buy dolls new in box, or "complete" when possible. I love the experience of unboxing a doll. Buying dolls NIB can get expensive though, so if I purchase them unpackaged I try to find a doll with all of their accessories and clothing included. I have a few dolls in my collection that I have not and most likely will not unbox, mostly because I like the look and design of their packaging, but generally, I want a doll in good condition with all of their belongings.
Obviously there are exceptions to these criteria. I'd hardly call it criteria anyway, more of just things that make me love a doll more and might make me choose one over another. In my collection, the doll line that I have the most of are Rainbow High, but they quickly became outnumbered by the rest of my jumble. I want my collection to be diverse. I am not the type to collect every single doll in a line, or multiples of the same doll, but that's just my style. I like a little of this, and a little of that. I love that there are no rules in doll collecting. I have mad respect for (and jealousy of) the collectors that can dole out hundreds of dollars for a single doll.
Anyway, that concludes this post. I don't know how long I'll keep this up for. I think maybe I could talk forever about these things I love, haha.