Nightgown I (RETIRED)

[SailAwayAK~]

This long-sleeved nightgown was released in 1986 and retired in 2008 with the first archival of Samantha's collection. It was worn by Samantha in the 1986 and 1998 editions of the books Samantha’s Surprise, Happy Birthday Samantha and Samantha Saves the Day.

A nightgown fit for a sugarplum fairy! Samantha wears a flowing white gown trimmed with lace and pink ribbons. Fine lace forms the wide shoulder ruffles and edges the neck.


Nightgown
$20 SNO
Grade A



I have both a 1989 and a current 2005 version of this night gown and will show you the very subtle differences. I am not convinced that a PM version is any real difference in quality at all. Both versions are lovely and almost identical!

When it comes down to it the lace is an EXACT match on the Mattel and the PC versions of this dress. I was very pleased to have seen that. There is a very slight difference in the ribbon. The older PC version is a bit slimmer.


Mattel Dress front


PC Dress Front

The real difference I can find is in the stitching and sewing of this garment. I can get those kind of differences in my own surger and finishing by the calibration of the machine.


Mattel Stitching


PC Stitching

[dollsforadoll]

I LOVE this nightgown but now it is discolored and yellow! I've never washed it.

[Ayla]

This gets an A+ as it saw a lot of play since I got it mid 90s and it never had any problems and is still very white. The pink ribbons and lace make it adorable without being over the top. The only thing I notice is that the lace is kind of bunching up.

[Buckingham Alice]

This is a really sweet little nightgown. It's somehow perfectly Samantha. The ribbon is a great detail. I actually had a mattel and PM version at the same time for a while... the Mattel version was better, IMO. The material was thicker and the opening in the back was shorter and less noticeable.

[cryssis4]

B+

I brought Samantha's night gown for about 15 bucks on eBay and over all, I'm happy with it. My only concerns is how thin it is. You can easily see if your doll is wearing underwear because it shines right through - worse if the panties are colored. Also, I'm not sure if it's supposed to be be that way, but there's a long opening on the back after the velcro.

I think it looks beautiful on brunette dolls. Destiny looks like Samantha when she wears it.

[Deleted]

I recently purchased a 1989 version on eBay for about $15. One of the bows is undone, so I will need to fix that at a later date. Otherwise, i am impressed with the nightgown. I do not know its history, but it is very white. The only thing I am not thrilled about, as others have mentioned, is the bunching of the lace by the shoulders, and the thinness of the material. I was expecting it to be a heavier flannel like Addy's or Kirsten's. Still, the nightgown brings back memories.

B+

[WildPigeonChase]

The nightgown is a little thin, but the cotton is very soft. The ribbon and lace details are very pretty, and overall the long sleeves and floor length make it very Victorian/Edwardian looking. I like how the sleeves are just elastic, rather than velcro.

[starwenn]

I just picked up what I believe to be a Pre-Mattel version on eBay. Mine too is very white and in perfect shape - it doesn't look like it was ever used. I'm disappointed that it isn't flannel, or something a bit softer. My mom made me a version of this nightgown out of flannel instead of cotton when I was a teenager, but I lost it when I washed it at a laundromat and accidentally left it there years ago. Still, this one is very pretty too, with it's crocheted lace and dainty bows. A sweet pair of pajamas for Samantha, Nellie, Rebecca, or even some girlier modern dolls.

[pcaglove]

Does anyone know if there is any major difference in sizing between the PM/mattel version?

[keeperofthepast]

Samanatha's nightgown looks darling. I love the lace shoulder ruffles and the ribbons on the bodice. I wish the ribbons were blue instead, so I plan to make my own.