From Dolls to Dressing Ourselves

Growing Up Without Letting Go

In Part 1, we talked about how dolls shaped the way we see style — how the Bratz, Barbies, Winx Club girls, and even our beloved Polly Pockets became tiny muses for our early fashion dreams.

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized:
It’s kind of sad how fast we were expected to move on from dolls.

One day, you’re trading outfits with your American Girl doll and dreaming up full-blown adventures for your Monster High crew. The next, you’re being told it’s time to “grow up.” Suddenly, it’s “not cool” to play with dolls anymore. Dressing them up, creating stories, imagining outfits — all the things that felt so fun and natural — became something you were supposed to leave behind.

And okay, I’m not saying I want to sit around every day and play dolls like I’m seven years old.
(Although... I’m also not saying I don’t.)
But I can’t help but wonder: if technology hadn’t exploded the way it did, would we have seen a more evolved version of dolls?
Would we have gotten to keep creating and dressing up in a way that felt natural, without being pushed onto a phone, a filter, or a For You Page?

Because when I really think about it, Generation Z was the most doll-centric generation up until that sharp switch into the digital world.
We were raised on Barbie movies, Bratz commercials, My Scene webisodes, endless Polly Pocket accessories, Winx Club episodes after school. Dolls weren't just toys — they were full, intricate worlds.
Fashion, friendship, adventure — it was all built into the experience.
We didn’t just “play dolls.” We built lives. We built characters. We styled, dreamed, and created entire worlds from scratch.

And maybe that’s why I feel so attached to it even now.
Because dressing up was storytelling.
Putting together an outfit was crafting a character.
And maybe part of me still believes — and will always believe — that personal style is just grown-up dress-up if you’re doing it right.

I don’t know what an evolved version of dolls would have looked like if technology hadn't taken over — but I like to imagine it would have been magical. Maybe there would have been dolls that aged with us. Maybe there would have been a way to keep storytelling, styling, and world-building a part of our culture instead of forcing us to jump straight into social media, comparison, and fast-paced content.
Maybe growing up wouldn’t have meant letting go of that pure, creative joy.

At the end of the day, I think the real magic of dolls wasn't the tiny shoes or glittery outfits (although, those were iconic).
It was the creativity, the imagination, and the freedom to make something entirely your own.

And honestly? I don’t think we ever really lost that.
It just looks a little different now.

It lives in the way we put together an outfit that feels so us.
It lives in the way we curate a room, a vibe, a look.
It lives in the little details we choose every day that say, “this is me.”

So if you ever feel nostalgic for the days when playing dress-up was enough — know that in a way, it still is.
You’re still creating. You’re still dreaming. You’re still playing dress-up.
You just swapped the dolls for yourself.

And honestly? You’re doing an amazing job. You got this. <3

XO,

𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆