Real Blythe | Fake Blythe | Custom Blythe Dolls
What's the difference? And wtf is a OOAK Blythe?
Blythe dolls have been around since the 1970s and are still being made to this day. However, due to their unique look and popularity, there are a ton of fake Blythe dolls sold in the market. I wanted to put together this guide for those new to the hobby of collecting Blythe dolls so that you know what a real Blythe is and what isn’t.
As of 2025, real Blythe dolls are the ones sold and distributed by Hasbro and licensed by Cross World Connections. Hasbro currently owns the “Blythe” trademark. Junie Moon is a CWC retail division that sells official Blythe goods on their website and in stores in Japan.
REAL / AUTHENTIC BLYTHES
Real Blythe dolls are 11-inch fashion dolls, with one pull string, and contain 4 sets of color-changing eyes, the original colors being orange (front), green (left), pink (front), and blue (right). Authentic Blythe dolls have a shiny face and body. Blythe bodies are barely posable, their legs can click twice, and their arms only move front to back.
Real Blythe dolls are expensive, ranging from $120+ for a Neo Blythe. Middie and Petite Blythes (though a new Middie and Petite haven’t been released since 2022) are slightly cheaper due to their smaller size.
If you want to purchase a real Blythe doll, your best place to buy them is either from Junie Moon or Good Smile Company(US). If you’re looking for an older model that is no longer being produced, you can buy them on eBay, Mercari, or Mandarake. However, always double-check the photos and don’t be afraid to message the sellers for more information on the dolls. If the seller is snappy or doesn’t have a lot of information on the doll, I would be hesitant to purchase from them.
Real Blythe Dolls:
Have an official name (like “Flowergirl of Happiness”)
Are 11-inches
Have an illustration that was made before they were even released
Come in an official Blythe Doll box
Come with a 4-leaf clover stand1
Contain a shiny face2
Have a Takara-style body
Come with a stock set
Have one pull string3
Doesn’t come with sleepy eyes (two pull strings)
Have the manufacturer embossed on the back of their bodies
NOTE: Don’t buy from ThisIsBlythe!!! This is not a credible place to buy real Blythe dolls as the domain was bought by scammers who now use the site to sell fake Blythe dolls at a high price to new customers. Sadly, when you search the term “Blythe dolls” this is one of the first sites that pops up due to the website being around for years.
FAKE / FACTORY BLYTHES
Fake or factory Blythe dolls (also known as Blyth) are dolls made from rejected parts of official Blythe dolls that were placed together and resold at a discount price, hence the term “Factory”. However, many Blythe collectors argue that Factory Blythes aren’t a thing anymore because there are so many fakes now. You may be better off calling your unauthentic Blythe “Fake” or just an “Aliexpress Blythe”.
You can get fake Blythes pretty much anywhere but the most popular place to get a fake Blythe is on Aliexpress. This is because they’re really cheap on Aliexpress! Most start around $20 and go up depending on the doll specifics.
Fake Blythes come naked and on a fake Neemo body (seen above). This body style is more posable, unlike their real Blythe bodies. These bodies also come with a set of hands that you can change out. Most fake Blythe dolls come with a matte face finish; however, I’ve seen a lot of shiny finish faces too, and some even come with an extra face plate. Be aware that there are also fake Blythes that come on a fake Takara body that I’ve seen available on Aliexpress.
CUSTOM / OOAK BLYTHES
Custom or OOAK (one of a kind) Blythe dolls are dolls that have been customized by an artist or doll customizer. Depending on the customizer, they may have either used a fake or real Blythe doll and customized them. Every customizer is different. Some doll artists only use real Blythe bodies because they want the doll to be of good quality. However, some artists only use fake Blythes because they’re more affordable.
Depending on the customizer, you may have you ship your official Blythe doll to them so they can customize them, or some customizers buy an authentic Blythe doll and just customize them. It all varies. If you’re looking into buying a custom Blythe, make sure you message the artist to find out whether the doll you get is an official Blythe doll or not. A legit customizer is transparent about the type of Blythe doll they use.
Custom Blythe dolls are more expensive than authentic Blythe dolls. This is because you’re mainly paying for the customization and the artist's skills. I’ve seen some dolls for $200+. A lot of customizers will literally go all out with their doll customization and reroot hair, make custom eye chips, sew an outfit, etc. When you do all that work, I wouldn’t blame them for charging their dolls at a high price.
There are hundreds of Blythe doll customizers and artists on Blythestagram from all over the world! Browse around and follow your favorite style of customizer if you’re into their work. Above, I listed some of my favorite doll artists.
DON’T GET SCAMMED!
Just like with everything, there are people out there who are looking to take advantage of innocent people by ripping them off. I’ve seen a lot of people online reselling a Blythe doll they got on Aliexpress for the price of (if not more) a regular Blythe doll *cough cough ThisIsBlythe* which is a huge rip-off! You can easily buy a fake Blythe with clothes on Aliexpress for less than $100, so if you want a fake Blythe, you can easily buy it off AliExpress yourself and save some money.
As I mentioned, if you want a real Blythe doll. I recommend purchasing from an official Blythe doll retailer like Junie Moon or Cross World Connections. If you’re looking for an older Blythe doll, buy them off eBay, Mercari, or Mandarake. These websites are places where a lot of Blythe collectors get older doll models for a good price.
BLYTHE RESOURCES
Blythe Wiki ~ All things related to Blythe dolls
Blythopia ~ For a list of past and present Blythe dolls
My Doll Collection ~ An app to keep track of real Blythe doll releases
The Kenner Blythe Guide ~ For more info on Kenners
Customizing to-do list ~ If you want to get started in customizing
Comparing the Blythe bodies ~ Learn more about the different Blythe body types
FINAL THOUGHTS
Whether you choose to buy a real Blythe, a fake Blythe, or a custom Blythe doll, I think the most important thing is knowing the type of doll you have. You wouldn’t want to start talking about Blythe dolls with someone only to find out from them that you’re holding a counterfeit Blythe.
I’m not above owning a fake or custom doll, I think they’re cute in their own way. Some people can’t afford to play a real Blythe, so they buy the cheap ones from Aliexpress. !’ve seen some doll collectors criticize fake Blythes or even customized Blythe dolls for not being authentic. Some people only like Kenners. Everybody is different. In the end, be nice and enjoy playing with your dolls.
Do you have a real, fake, or custom Blythe doll?
Sources: Blythedoll.com, Blythe Wiki, Blythopia, and Junie Moon website.
There are a few different doll stands but the ones currently being produced are the colored-clover stands. There are regular clover stands that hold the doll at the waist and a special clover stand that hugs the dolls at the legs, these are for the dolls that come with gowns.
There were a few limited edition Blyhe dolls with a matte face but it didn’t work out, so they no longer produce official Blythe dolls with a matte finish.
Some limited edition Blythe dolls came with one pullstring, but having two pullstrings isn’t common on real Blythe dolls. Dolls that come with two pullstrings also have “sleepy eyes” which makes the doll close close their eyes.