African Dance Outfit of Today (Retired)

[MaryCarly]

I have this outfit and love it, but I think the jewelry is fairly pointless. I am not even sure where it all is at the moment. I think my doll (JLY #28) may be wearing one piece of the jewelry, but even I could make something similar and I have no crafting abilities at all! I encourage you to jump at the next reasonably priced auction. I don't think you will be sorry. Even my dh commented on how much he liked this outfit and he normally doesn't even notice what I am wearing let alone how the dolls are dressed.

[Kennasmomluvsag2]

We have that outfit with the jewelry and my opinion is that the jewelry is poorly made. As soon as we took it out of the box the shells on the jewelry started coming off. You could probably make something better as far as the jewelry goes. The rest of the outfit seems well made.

[Curiouser]

Addy's outfit was sold without the jewlery in the last outlet Sale (I think it was in June). I got one of those ones from a member of these boards and really don't miss the jewlery.

[C.I.Fairfield]

I recieved this second hand for Christmas. My set was missing the anklet, choker and matching girl's bracelet. Otherwise the set consists of a skirt wrap, matching headband, and leotard.

I give this a B (for actual item) and an F- for history, placement and presentation.

Let's start with the F. As shown by my confusion with where to put this review, this is NOT a historical outfit. At best, it can go back to the 1970's (as I do for my Junie) and actually I think a lot of people would find in questionable in today's context as well. It's generic African print (not authentic Kente cloth), and the cowrie shells? Please. Throwing some shells at something does not make it "African."

This outfit is, if anything, a representation of African-American art forms, and not a particulatly authentic one at that.

But, on to the B. As an outfit itself, it's pretty good. The leotard is nice and thick and well finished. It's cut pretty far down in the back, which makes it easy to get on, and I like the sleeves that cover the arm caps.

The skirt is nice because it has elastic and some shaping, which helps it look nice on the doll. The headband is easy to get on - it didn't mess up my Junie's hair, which is a plus.

It gets the B because I am not sure that this was ever worth $28. Really? It's not a complete outfit, honestly. But it is kind of cute.

I ,too ,am very confused by the placement of this outfit with the historical section but I guess because it is associated with Addy , it may be easier to find if placed in her section. The outfit is clearly not historical nor is it authentically African but I will let AG off the hook for this one since they did name the outfit African Dance Outfit of Today. Emphasis on Dance ( the leotard and the jazz fringe) and Today (Addy clearly would not have worn this in the 1800's). With all that said, it is a very cute outfit and I purchased it because of it's uniqueness. The set comes complete with a black leotard; a print skirt that ties on the side; a matching headband; a gold cuff bracelet; a cowrie shell choker and anklet for the doll and a matching one for the girl. My only disappointment aside from it not being historically/ethnically correct, is that the cowrie shells are plastic and it would have been nice if AG could have used real shells. However, they are pretty decent replicas, having texture and shading making them look real. I rate it an A-

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