Plaid Suitcase (retired)

[Cheekadee]

This item is associated with the book, Changes for Molly. It was introduced in 1988 and retired in 2007.

Molly carried this handy plaid suitcase trimmed in green vinyl when she went to Miss LaVonda’s dance class. Open the clasp and there’s a pocket inside the lid that’s a perfect place for her star headband.


Molly's Plaid Trunk



Grade: A

Review:

This item is adorable. It fits nicely with the rest of Molly's collection and is very well made. The only con is the size, which is a little small. You could fit one outfit in there, possibly, but just not a lot.



Please note: Because of flash, the colors are not dead-on in my photo. The plaid is more of a classic red-and-green, while the photo makes it look blue-ish.

[Gomunk]

What are the measurements? I'm looking to find a doll suticase of a similiar size.

[Cheekadee]

I will have to double-check this once I get home, but if I recall correctly (and this is from memory, mind you) the suitcase is 2-2 1/2 inches deep, 3 1/2 - 4 inches tall, and 5-6 inches long. I wish I could be more exact, but I don't have it with me at this second.

[Gomunk]

Wow, you're right, that is on the small side, but those measurements give me enough to work with. Thanks!

[QNPoohBear]

I've seen similar suitcases on ebay and online retailers like Sew Dolling

[mamared]

“Molly carried this handy plaid suitcase trimmed in green vinyl when she went to Miss LaVonda’s dance class. Open the clasp and there’s a pocket inside the lid that’s a perfect place for her star headband. $18 MWAL”



This little suitcase measures just under 6 inches wide, 3.75 inches tall (not including the clasp or handle), and 2.25 inches deep.

It feels like it’s constructed of wood and covered with plaid cotton fabric and dark green vinyl straps. It also has a silver colored clasp and two hinges that are screwed into the wood base, and a handle made of a matching dark green vinyl strap attached by rivets. I appreciate how the entire outside of the suitcase is covered, and especially that care was taken to line up the plaid so that it matches on both parts of the suitcase.







The plaid fabric extends over the edges into the inside of the suitcase, which is lined with a shinier red fabric. The lining is loosely gathered on the sides (but still firmly attached), smooth on the top and bottom of the open suitcase, and there’s a large pocket with an elastic top also on the lid. I guess in the story this would be where Molly would put her headband, but it’s also perfect for undies or other small accessories.







In some of those pictures you can see the thick construction of the suitcase, which feels like a quarter inch of wood under the fabric. It makes the suitcase very sturdy. It also means that the interior dimensions of the suitcase are a half-inch smaller in each direction than the outer dimensions.

Some reviews mention the small size but I don’t see this as problematic. It should still be large enough for its intended purpose of carrying a costume around (although I don’t actually have that costume to try it out). I can put a couple of simple doll dresses in it or a dress and pair of shoes, plus some socks and undies, as long as the dresses are folded up and not made of especially thick material. I also had a similarly sized vintage suitcase (using the 1:3 ratio) that I regularly used for sleepovers when I was a little girl and that I still use for overnights now, when I just need a change of clothes and some personal items. Of course, longer travels would involve a larger bag.

Here’s Addy time traveling to the 1940s to show off the scale of this suitcase:



Overall, I really like the construction of the plaid suitcase and give it a solid A for that. I do think the plaid fabric limits the periods when it could be used, and I also wish a doll could actually hold the suitcase (the handle is too short as is, and the suitcase is too heavy to hold with a doll’s arm raised), but the attention to detail in its construction outweigh those potential drawbacks.