cami713
Historical Dreamer
Order of the Llama
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Post by cami713 on May 1, 2006 11:50:42 GMT -5
This outfit was released in 1987 and retired in 2006. It is worn by Samantha in the 1986 and 1998 editions of the book Happy Birthday Samantha.
Frilly and fanciful, Samantha’s birthday dress is a rose- and white-striped taffeta. It’s covered with a crisp white pinafore that has ruffled lace “bretelles” and a wide sash that ties into a huge bow. There are even party socks to go with it. But the crowning glory of this outfit is Grandmary’s gift, the old-fashioned circlet of rosebuds that once belonged to Samantha’s mother. Tie it around Samantha’s head and let the soft ribbons float on her dark curls.
PM, 95
The Good: I love the dainty pinafore. Circlet is adorable (although I seem to have lost mine?), and the white/pink party shoes look very cute with it.
The Bad: Weird material, and I like it less now than I did when I was little.
Rating: ****, A-
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Post by supernonamegirl on Jul 25, 2006 1:08:18 GMT -5
I got this for my birthday a few days ago and briefly considered returning it. It's simply not my favorite. I'm keeping it though as I figure I'd get it eventually otherwise. Also, I hate returning gifts, it seems ungrateful. The material is taffeta but the pink stripes aren't a solid pink, which I always thought the were, there seems to be s epckly effect in the fabric, possible due to the way it's made. It's really unnoticeable from any distance though. They're also a deeper color than I thought. The pinafore is also a little frilly for my taste, but I suspect that may be in combination with the puffy, lacy sleeves of the dress. I'm goint to mix and match both pieces with other outfits I have and I suspect it will turn out better. Als the circlet seems cheap to me. I expected it to tie on, but the bow is sewn together, giving the impression it's supposed to be just placed on and I'm not to happy with the way I have it on right now. I love the socks though. I could easily see a "rip-off" turning out nicer than this, simply by using different fabric, toning down the lace and even the puffy sleeves a bit. All that said though, it is a nice dress, well made. I was happy the pinafor tied in the back, as all my handmade ones have snaps and that's just not as nice. I also think it has potential to grow on me, when I head up to my dull colorless dorm, but right now that pink is at terrible odds with my purple walls. Grade C-
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Post by C.I.Fairfield on Jan 14, 2007 18:26:48 GMT -5
I just bought this outfit today and I think they have changed the fabric. The stripes on mine are solid when viewed close up. I also think the lace is different on the sleeves and pinafore. I'm a little disappointed. However, I was able to clip the stich holding the circlet on the card. I'm almost certain you're supposed to. Now it can be tied.
Overall I still prefer the one my mother made for me when I was little.
B
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scandia
Historical Dreamer
Ich liebe meine Puppen!
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Post by scandia on Jun 10, 2007 9:15:40 GMT -5
I like it for the most part. I am curious as to why would a spring/summer outfit have such a high neck, though. Not all of Sam's outfits do, so it's not like it was taboo to show neck (especially not for a 10 year old girl). The dress kind of resembles (in fabric and sleeves and design) my 8th grade pin dance outfit (which I wore 5 times in total)- so that is a plus point for me. I like the lace on the sleeves, and the pinafore overall. And the rosebud circlet is adorable period- I like the combinations of colors and that there is more than one rose color. A-
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AztecQueen2000
Girl of Many Lands
We will miss you Samantha 1986-2009
Posts: 558
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Post by AztecQueen2000 on Aug 14, 2007 14:22:32 GMT -5
C overall. The pinafore looks like it's from either the 1860's or the 1950's, sonce most 1900 pinafores were coverall garments or hung from a yoke. The dress itself without the pinafore is too plain for a party frock, especially in light of the detail on her other frocks.
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Post by sicahbelle on Oct 26, 2007 12:58:17 GMT -5
This was one of my favorite outfits as a kid. I think I loved the color, and the rosebud circlet.
It is still a favorite of mine, but I think that I would like the pinafore if it was slightly shorter. A friend of mine has a newer one, and her pink strips are slightly lighter. I think I prefer my older one.
Overall, I would give it an A-.
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Mar 13, 2008 22:20:24 GMT -5
Overall Grade: A-This outfit is true to the illustrations in the book Happy Birthday Samantha, which is a plus in my book. The pinafore and dress complement each other nicely. The only disappointment is the circlet, which does not stay in place. | | AG Description: Frilly and fanciful, Samantha’s birthday dress is a rose- and white-striped taffeta. It’s covered with a crisp white pinafore that has ruffled lace “bretelles” and a wide sash that ties into a huge bow. There are even party stockings to go with it. But the crowning glory of this outfit is Grandmary’s gift, the old-fashioned circlet of rosebuds that once belonged to Samantha’s mother. Tie it around Samantha’s head and let the soft ribbons float on her dark curls. $22 Original Code SBO, 2007 ReCode D7933 | Back view of the outfit. Samantha's hair covers the back of her pinafore, but it truly does tie in a big bow like the description says. Her stockings have a knitted pattern all around the front, but have a solid line up the back. The circlet has a bow in the back, but it is stitched shut and cannot be retied. | | | I love the intricate pattern of the lace on this outfit. The lace on the pinafore and the sleeve match. It does not seem to be very delicate and can stand up to play. The rest of the pinafore is made from a thin material. You can see through it if there is a dark material underneath. | As other people mentioned before, the dress is not very flattering without the pinafore. It is very plain and looks incomplete. | | | The rosebud circlet looks beautiful on Samantha and has significance in the book Happy Birthday Samantha. It does not stay on her head very well since it cannot be retied and must be carefully positioned. This was a disappointment when I got this outfit, since Felicity's allows you to tie the ribbon yourself. | The eight rosebuds on the circlet are made from a silky ribbon and are in four different colors. They are safely secured to the ribbon with thread. |
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Post by missygirl on Sept 7, 2008 21:42:35 GMT -5
I received this outfit for Christmas in, I think, 2006. It is gorgeous! The material is a bit thin, but it works just fine for me. The lacy pinafore is adorable. This is definitely a girly outfit, and definitely suites Samantha's personality. I am with sheltiesweetie2007 - the rosebud circlet does not stay when being played with. However, it stays just fine for displays. I am also wondering how easily the circlet could be ripped, but I am not about to try and find out. I am glad this outfit comes with socks, though I would prefer it come with shoes instead of buying it separately. Still, for any Samantha collector, this is a must-have piece. A+
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Post by gdpigcollector on Feb 15, 2009 11:06:11 GMT -5
I actually recently bought this outfit off ebay, and I was so excited. Then, I hand washed it in cold water (as I do all doll things that enter this home) and hung it to dry. WARNING: DO NOT WASH THIS DRESS!! It was so severely wrinkled it took me an hour of pressing on low to get it somewhat normal again. The pinafore came out nice and white and crisp, though. So I put it on my Samantha, and....I don't like it. I'm a nurse, and this looks like the candy-striper volunteers outfits. Remember them? Well, I gave up on the outfit, but since I simply adore the rosebud circlet, she wears it with her Tea Party outfit, which is much more formal but so much more HER. I am spending too much time on my dolls! Now, to somehow get a white body Samantha...............
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Post by samlizziesmom on Oct 1, 2009 20:29:36 GMT -5
I have the Birthday dress, and yes the big plus is its accuracy to the illustrations. It's also plain looking without the pinafore, as others have said. As for the circlet, it is my fave part of the ensemble. But I was able to adjust the headband, are the newer ones unable to do this? Or do I need to ask my mother if we took out a stitch or two? LOL Overall: A- ETA: 2022 pic of my PC dress.
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Post by FelicityFan85 on Dec 29, 2009 15:27:19 GMT -5
I think this is a cute outfit. I got it in 2008. The dress looks all right without the pinafore but does look better with it. I cut the little white thread off of the bow of the circlet, like C.I. Fairfield, so that it can be retied. It can still be a tad tricky to do. I give the outfit an A-. Here are some photos: My mom's Samantha (wearing a PM dress with Mattel pinafore) and my Samantha (with an all Mattel set):
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Post by libbysey on Mar 7, 2011 14:26:48 GMT -5
Does this dress usually have an AG tag somewhere on it? I have no doubt it is authentic as it was sold to me that way and I do not doubt the word of the seller at all. I ask because, now that I have it in hand, I actually don't care for the fabric that it's made of, I never realized how cheaply it's made. Having only ever seen it in pics in the catalog or online, I had no idea. I'm considering reselling it because of this, and I'm afraid people might question it's authenticity, is it common for it to not have a tag? Ours is PC and both the dress and the apron have a tag, but it is possible that not all of them were tagged. The fabric of the apron is thin, a batiste I believe. The dress itself is a taffeta, like Felicity's meet/travel gown and Chirstmas gown.
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cami713
Historical Dreamer
Order of the Llama
Posts: 2,287
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Post by cami713 on Mar 7, 2011 15:06:30 GMT -5
Mine, definitely authentic and purchased either in 1995 or 1996, does not have a tag. Not on the dress or pinafore.
It's an outfit I've always personally disliked (my mom or someone must have liked it, as I don't think I ever expressed a want for it), too. Mine is thin, flimsy, and yes the fabric is weird.
If your only question is about the tags, and everything else feels authentic, it's probably fine =).
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Post by happymargaret on Mar 7, 2011 15:47:55 GMT -5
I purchased Samantha's Pinafore Dress (birthday dress) directly from AG before it was retired. Both the stripped dress and the apron have AG tags. The dress/apron is supposed to be a 'dressy dress' and that is why the taffeta appears 'thinner' as you have found. It was not meant to be a serviceable fabric for daily wear, but rather a special birthday outfit. Samantha does look lovely in the dress, and I have been pleased with the whole outfit.
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Post by JabberwockyPie on Mar 7, 2011 16:01:46 GMT -5
Mine never had a tag and it was purchased in Christmas-ish 1996. I AM so glad I sold it. I'm afraid the dress is just fugly as anything, alas. It's probably not fake, it's just that AG made it with an extremely unattractive fabric.
The thing that always bugged me about Samantha's clothes, though, was that all of her dresses have drop waists, yet her "Lacy Whites" undergarment set has a waist at the natural waistline. MAKES NO SENSE and renders the underwear useless, blah.
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Post by PleasantMemories on Mar 8, 2011 10:34:45 GMT -5
This was one of the dresses that I wanted most for my Samantha. However, it ended up being one of my first disappointing purchases. To me it didn’t look like the catalog picture or the book illustration that I liked so much at the time.
Not that I particularly like any variation of the Lacy Pinafore & Rosebud Circlet outfit, but I’ve found that the material has changed several times over the years. Between my daughter and me, we have four of these outfits. The first was purchased in January of 1989 and the most recent was purchased in October of 2008. The others were purchased in 2001 and either late 1996 or early 1997.
According to some early Pleasant Company advertising the first Samantha birthday dresses (and Cranberry party dresses) were made from silk taffeta. While my first dress lacks the cheaper feel of the later dresses, it is really small and awkward fitting. Around 1989-1990, the material was changed to what appears to be a type of low grade taffeta. This is probably my favorite variation of the dress. Quality-wise the 2001 dress falls somewhere between my 96/97 one and my daughter’s 2008 dress. It is more slippery and less crisp than my 90s dress. The material of the newest one is undoubtedly the slipperiest and has a bit of a plastic-like feel. I guess what I’m trying to get at is that although none of them are stellar in my opinion; it’s possible that you could find a variation with slightly better fabric if you otherwise like the design.
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Post by 1994samanthafan on Nov 12, 2011 20:46:51 GMT -5
This was always my least favorite dress, but I had to have it to complete Samantha's collection. After getting it in person, I really do like it. The pinafore is delicate, but it's lovely. The under-dress always appeared cheap to me in photos, but the fabric is nice and it doesn't look that way in person. I really do like it now. A-
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Post by cheshie04 on Apr 28, 2012 16:42:45 GMT -5
While I seem to have misplaced the circlet, the outfit still looks fine. I find it to be especially cute- maybe it's all the lace and frilly-ness. The outfit is generally good quality except that the socks are exceptionally easy to snag.
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Post by thevintagelover on Jun 15, 2012 22:20:15 GMT -5
A I received this outfit as a gift in 2004, and it's lovely. The outfit as a whole looks very beautiful, and the colors are nicely coordinated with her other birthday accessories. The dress itself, is rather boring, however it is well made and hold it's skirt out nicely due to the stiff taffeta it is made of. The pinafore is the best part. I was not expecting it to be made of such a soft and delicate lace. The rest of the apron is made of a very soft and sheer fabric, similar to batiste. It looks great with other dresses in her collection as well. The circlet, which I have not pictured,is damaged. It is incredibly frail, and can fall apart if you are not gentle. It adds a final touch to the outfit, but is not necessary for the ensemble to work. Overall, this outfit is a beautifully made piece that is an important part in her collection.
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Post by WildPigeonChase on Nov 16, 2012 20:55:26 GMT -5
It's certainly a nice outfit, but not a must-have. Luckily it goes for pretty cheap second hand on ebay, so it doesn't cost too much. The outfit is pretty cute, and *very* lace. The pinafore wrinkled easily though. Like others have said, the dress looks pretty plain by itself. The lacy whites under it make it look a little bulky in this one. Props to AG for making the pinafore tied rather than velcro. The lace could have been dreadful if it was caught. Though my bow-making skills might need some work.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Jul 6, 2013 20:17:23 GMT -5
I wasn't going to get this one after I saw all the negative reviews, but I found a good price for it on eBay and finally decided to finish out my Samantha's collection. Maybe it's the girlie-girl in me who loves frills, or maybe it's I got a nice PM/transitional version from about 1997 (from the tag on the dress), but I have to admit, I love it. I love the cute puffed sleeves and the soft, cotton candy-colored pink and white stripes. I love the big, stiff skirt. I love that ruffly pinafore that is so little-girl. I didn't get the rosebud circlet, and given how delicate many people here said it is, I think I'm better off without it or making my own version.
Yes, I know the dress is fairly plain without the pinafore. Yes, I know the taffeta feels kind of cheap. For me, it doesn't detract from how darn sweet this is. Your mileage may vary on this one, especially since Samantha and Rebecca have other pink-and-white summer outfits that could perform the same function as a formal hot-weather outfit.
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Post by sparrowsandclovers on Jan 29, 2014 9:37:58 GMT -5
I got my set when I was 7 years old for my birthday (2004) and I had a couple sisters who were not as careful with my things. This was a favorite, and as cheap as the materials feel it failed to ever be torn! The material doesn't bother me at all, mostly because it doesn't show in photography or display, which is what I use my doll things for.
I give this product an A (no plus because I do agree with the cheap fabric factor)
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Post by keeperofthepast on Jun 5, 2023 14:58:35 GMT -5
I absolutely love this outfit. The lacy pinafore is the best with its beautiful bretelles. The rose circlet is darling and floats on Samantha's lovely dark hair.
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