Naked.

Why are all the dolls naked?

When a doll or 12″ action figure as guys call them is discarded and makes it way to the tagged baggies at Value Village, why are they always naked?

Where are the clothes going?

It’s not as if someone else is wearing them. I hope. Silly club kids, Barbie’s clothes are for Barbie! When mom or dad realize that their little girl/boy is done with their childhood play things, do they take the clothes off before giving them to Goodwill? Oh, this dress is far too smart to give away, let’s just keep it here in this pink plastic wardrobe for our grand-daughter/grandson when they come along. Sounds good honey, and we’ll tuck these camouflage pants in with the dress, just in case.

I know that one of the most rewarding part of playing with dolls/large action figures, is that you can take their clothes off. It’s just fun. They try each others clothes on, have a laugh then take a bath and completely forget they were ever wearing clothes and remain naked in the toy box for years to come.

I have seen more old laundry baskets full of naked dolls in compromising positions at toys shows than I care to remember. But I have never seen an old hamper of soiled gowns with the shoulders torn off, tiny pink tees with the arms and necks cut out to go 80′s style or little faux denim pants that you can write on with special coloured markers. The clothes are just gone. Maybe the vacuum claimed them. Maybe the dog digested them. Maybe they are with all the missing single socks having a party in another dimension…

Bent and twisted and jammed into a plastic sack face to butt, it is the fate of all dolls and large action figures to leave their employ without dignity. To make it worse, they hang on pegs and hooks, or peer from dirty old buckets with their hair knotted in grey clumps waiting for a second chance at play time and freedom. But it doesn’t look like it will come. They are naked and as clothes make the man, they also do the doll. And or large action figure.

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