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I got this dress for Amanda after going on a Victorian/Edwardian kick from watching Sherlock Holmes. I love it!

The dress - this is so high-quality! The dress is made from thick, crisp, shiny taffeta, with a wonderfully large bold plaid pattern. The colors are terrific and work well together, and IMO it would look better on a dark-haired doll like Samantha, rather than Nellie (and it also looks very nice on Josefina when she plans to masquerade as Italian immigrant). I really love the pleating detail, they are deep enough to stay in place and the skirt uses enough fabric to seem swingy. There's also a lot of detail on the yoke, which is made from a thinner cotton and decorated with tiny white buttons. The sleeves look correct, helped a little with elastic sewn in at various sections. My only quibble is that the dress is supposed to be "drop-waisted", but it is sewn to the belt so you can't really make the top blouse over, and also the pleats are only stitched halfway down so you can see the thread. Still, though, A+

The hairbow - I never had many problems with this, but I usually use it for a different style than Nellie or Sam. It's not really a bow, just a piece of folded velvet tied in a knot and sewn to a ponytail holder. I don't mind the ponytail holder but it's just so thick, if it had been a piece of elastic it would have looked better. Also, I'm not sure if a velvet hairbow is historically accurate. A-

The tights - super-thin AG tights of the flimsiest variety. They seem really oddly long, too! I use these for the Ice Blue outfit, not this dress, for which I substitute Samantha's Christmas tights which look much better. C-

The shoes - I LOVE THESE! I think they are just like Felicity's shoes, only made from patent leather. They also sport a round gold buckle on the top. They are just so shiny and absolutely adorable, and they complete the outfit. They also fit PM dolls! A+

I can't believe this outfit sells so high on Ebay, I just saw one sell for $185! I got this outfit the year it came out, December 2004.

The dress - this dress is made from a very thin cotton in a pretty creamy shade. I would say the fabric is too thin, although this is a summer dress; it also wrinkles fairly easily. I love the lace details on the yoke, skirt and sleeves! The waistband is also accented by a thin, ribbon-y flower. I think this dress would look very nicely under Sam's duster, and I like it better than her birthday outfit but it's still not my favorite. Maybe it looks better on Mattel Samanthas than my PM #14. B

The hat - the hat was kind of a bummer, I haven't used it very much. It is made from a mesh-like material and the same cotton as the dress, but with an eyelet texture. It doesn't puff the way catalog pictures show, it lays flat and oddly on the doll's head. There are also a few ribbon flowers on the hat. I like how it was based off a real historical piece, but I think the doll version could have been done much better. C

The croquet accessories - I'm glad these were included, they were the best parts of the set! Both the ball and mallet seem to be real wood partially painted green, very similar to the AGoT set that came out in the 90's. The wicket is made of bent wire stuck into plastic bases made to resemble grass and flowers. These pieces look really nice in displays, too. A

This has to be the best new AG historical outfit, one of our absolute favorites for Kit. She looks so nice in pink, no wonder her mother's all over her about it! This outfit is really great for a fall outfit, and is historically accurate as you can see in these pictures.

The blouse - made of crisp, stiff fabric like Kirsten's school dress, the coloring is wonderful on Kit. The material is warm brown with large, bold flowers in pink and white. The collar is so Art Deco, I love it, and the button detail is excellent if not functional. I hadn't thought about the shirt under her overalls, I bet that's cute. It certainly looks nice with this set. A+

The skirt - The skirt seems to be made of real wool, it is so thick and soft and quality! The color is a very warm salmon tone that matches the pink in the rest of the outfit. Unlike most pieces, it doesn't velcro but pulls up easily with elastic in the back. The belt is fake but the buckle is so nice, it seems like metal. A+

The cardigan - the cardigan is a little iffy, because it stretches out of shape and seems slightly thinner than the other pieces. But it looks nice, knit from a tweedy taupe yarn and edged in pink. A-

The hat - come on people, the hat is darling! I love Kit in hats and this one seems so classic 30's. It is made from sturdy off-white felt, but I would avoid stepping on it, of course. The ribbon is grosgrain, permanently stitched around the hat with pink thread that can be seen on the underside. The only problem with the hat is that the edges are squared, as if it's been cut with scissors. Otherwise, A+.

The socks - these are different than Kit's school socks, ribbed with a little scalloped top in pink. They are sturdy and stretchy, reaching past Kit's knees. As they are off-white, they won't match other outfits too well. B

The shoes - now honestly, I doubt Kit would have as many pairs of shoes and slippers as her collection boasts now, and if she did I think she'd give them to the hoboes. But I am glad AG is giving you a little more for your money. These are reddish-brown pleather t-straps, with "metal" buckles that velcro. Very cute with the outfit, A.

Here are some photos of the outfit on...Kit, actually.

Okay, so mini Kit is kind of freaky. She's a supervillain in our house (Kit the Kitster, of course). The doll has nice construction with a body just like her big sister. The skirt closes with velcro and the sweater set is, unfortunately, just one piece that slips over her head. I like the tiny replica barrette, but the doll's hair looks nothing like real Kit. It is white-blond unlike Kit's light yellow hair, and very crazy sticking out all over the place. Here eyes are wrong too, they are more sky-blue like Kirsten's, not the correct dark color. Her shoes won't stay on her feet and I was surprised to find they are pleather, not fabric. She's good for a supervillain but for a doll's doll she gets a C.

This is a nicely made, historically-accurate set, but ironically, it doesn't seem to suit Kit very well. It seems too girly and also very season specific, unlike the other girls' outfits. Oh well, here's the review:

The sweater set - made of a lavender-pink, this set is very soft and comfortable feeling! I like how the pieces look nice separately, too. It is made of a very fine weave, slick nylon yarn. The short-sleeve sweater snaps up the back with square metal snaps and won't snag the cardigan. The cardigan is a very mix-and-matchable piece that really buttons. A

The skirt - I like the 30's pattern on the skirt, and it feels like linen. I also am glad that it zips, it seems so much more finished that way. The fabric is thin but summery and matches well with the sweater. My only problem is that the pleats are only pressed, not sewn, and the skirt tends to want to "unfold". It seems like they didn't use enough fabric and that it's not swingy enough, either. B

The undies - These are bloomer-like underpants that are made of thin white cotton with elastic in the waist and leg openings. They can go with several outfits but will occasionally cause her skirts to blouse out. B

The shoes - The shoes are very cute but are made of real fabric, so I could see them easily staining. Also, the edges have begun to fray which does not look too hot, but it is also probably realistic for a Depression-Era girl. We got this set in 2007 and the shoes do velcro under a faux-buckle, which I don't mind because it still looks fine. A-

The barrette - I'm so glad they included this, Kit wears this all the time in her books. I wish the plastic weren't transparent and that it wasn't so yellow! I would have preferred a kelly green, opaque plastic the way it looks in the books. It actually seems pretty sturdy to me, though (unless you stepped on it or something), and it holds a lot of hair. A-

The dress - I don't mind the evidently polyester fabric at all. It seems really vintage, and is nice and heavy with a good texture. It is sewn to fit and drape really well, the skirt is swirly and pretty without being too feminine. The belt is attached and the buckle is "Bakelite", lol. I also like the contrast of the bright white, angular collar. I'm sure it's better for children but I wish the Scottie pin were still actually a PIN, so it could go with other outfits. A very nice dress, A

The stockings - yes, these are stocking not tights, and go all the way up Kit's legs. They seem to be knit in a fishnet-type pattern, the same kind as Sam's lawn party socks. They also have a seam running up the back. They are awfully thin though, and seem like they could snag. A-

The shoes - shiny patent little numbers, very cute and I believe identical to Emily's meet shoes. As of 2007, they velcro, but I don't mind because that doesn't look bad. They won't really go with Kit's other dresses but they look nice with this outfit. A

The hairbow - The hairbow is permanently tied and attached to a barrette, which is a good idea but it is still hard to position it so it looks right in Kit's hair. It is really big, and make Kit's big head+hair look even bigger! A-

^^ Farmhouse Girl, you have a very sweet Kit!
My sister received her Kit in 2007, so she is a super Mattel girl. Her face is slightly flatter than 2004 Kirsten and has American Girl stamped on the neck. Her body has the v-shaped insert and is also quite thin and loosely stuffed; you can actually bend her in half! She also has the newer, longer limbs, which I'm not to crazy about but they do make Kit look wiry! Our Kit is not grayish at all, but her skin is more golden-toned than our other Mattel girls. She has the larger, darker freckles. I love Kit's deep blue eyes, they really suit her and look nice with the black lashes, even though she has blond hair. Her hair is very shiny, and has a more yellow cast than Kirsten's wheat-colord blond. Kit's facepaint seems a bit much, it looks like she's wearing lipstick sometimes; a little less would have been nice to suit Kit's tomboyish character.
She's very sweet at heart, even if she is the conman in our house. Now she just needs to go wipe that facepaint off. A



Kit and Kirsten, for comparison purposes:

This is a nice outfit and looks sweet and culturally appropriate, but I'm not sure that the Mattel version (we bought ours in 2004) is worth the current price, especially since it doesn't even come with shoes or socks; maybe you could find one on Ebay.

The blouse - I love the concept of the blouse, and it is cut really roomy with a cute button at the neckline. But I hate that it is made of that ghastly flannel! It pills so badly and it doesn't even feel that warm. It is a nice piece that could possibly match with Kirsten's dirndl skirt (and has been used for Josefina in a pinch), but the quality gets it a B-.

The skirt - The skirt is made of thinnish black felt to represent wool. I like how Scandinavian this piece looks, with its intricately embroidered waistband in red and green. The bands on the bottom of the skirt are a different pattern and add some interest. It does tend to attract lint, but I'll give it A-.

The ribbons - I like the width of these ribbons, they are thinner than Kirsten's usual ribbons, but they seem kind of cheap in comparison - they aren't thick and woven like usual. They also won't really pair with Kirsten's other outfits, they only match this one. Oh well, at least they were included. A-

I love this outfit so much and was determined to buy it on Ebay!

The vest - very thick, soft plaid material, made of two layers folded. It would keep Kirsten warm! The laces are not real, only black nylon cording stitched up the front; the vest velcros in the back. It fits easily over the blouse, but it's not wool like described in the book. As part of the outfit it gets an A.

The skirt - another very soft piece, but instead of plaid it is striped in coordinating colors. It looks nice with the blouse without the vest, too. Along with the vest, both pieces match Kirsten's indigo school ribbons. A

The blouse - the blouse is very similar to Kirsten's winter blouse, but instead of flannel it is made of rustic-looking ivory muslin. The specks make it seem so wonderfully old-fashioned! The collar is folded down and tends to have a scallop, very nice. This piece makes the outfit match Kirsten's cream ribbons, too. A

The kerchief - a contrasting paisley print, it brings out the blue of the rest of the outfit. We don't usually use it because it can look kind of strange on Kirsten's head, but it will also work as a shawl. A-

The boots - they are made from the same plasticky-canvasy material as her meet boots but they pull it off well. I love how study they are! The laces have changed over the years, now they are cotton fray checked strings rather than the original laces with aglets. They have pretty much replaced Kirsten's brown boots in our house because they go so well with many different outfits! Highly recommend them, A+.

The socks - in concept, they are supposed to be identical replacements for Kirsten's meet, birthday, and winter socks, but they actually vary slightly in color so hey, there's a little variety. I was really glad for the meet pair as the ones Kirsten came in have not held up very well. A

Pictures soon!

The nightgown - Kirsten's nightgown was one of the first historical outfits we purchased way back in 2004. Fast-forward 5 years, Kirsten has many more outfits and this one is really not worn much. It's sweet enough and I'm glad for the stitching and yarn details, but the flannel has pilled very easily with gentle play and makes the gown look pretty shabby. I'm not sure it is worth full price and it looks kind of lonesome without the housecoat. B

This set is nice, but it looks too typically "American prairie", not nearly Swedish enough for a Midsummer celebration. Here we go...

The dress - The dress is a bit too frilly and fancy, but I am very glad it is based on an actual 19th century dress. The purple seems to clash with Kirsten's eyes and none of her core hair ribbons matches the outfit. I do like the cut, minus the ruffles, because the puffed sleeves and scoopneck look very nice on the doll. The dress looks nice with her brown or black boots. This is my sister's least favorite dress for Kirsten and I'm not too crazy about it either. B

The flowers - they are very cute, but the hair flowers rather awkward to actually put in her hair as there is no clip or rubberband or anything; you kind of have to bend the wire stem a certain way. They are fake, obviously, and look a bit off-scale, but hey, they are nice enough. The bouquet also looks very cute in the basket. A-

The basket - the basket is painted purple to match the outfit, with strange red and turquoise decals to simulate a painted effect. It seems to be made of wood and I really like the overall shape, but it chips and dents very easily. B-

Pictures coming soon!

This is a very pretty outfit and looks darling on Kirsten!

The dress - The dress is made from very lightweight cotton, printed in a tiny pink and white plaid. It is cut fancier than Kirsten's usual dresses, with elastic puffed sleeves edged in rickrack and decorated with white shoelace-like ties. Oddly enough, it does not have a grow stripe - maybe Kirsten was about to grow out of it? The great thing about this dress is that it looks nice and complete on it's own, without the pinafore. Though we usually pair it with her two-tone boots, it also looks terrific with her black boots and probably with her red boots too. A

The apron - a nice basic piece, made out of bright white cotton and edged in the same rickrack as the dress. A tiny strip of velcro fastens the waistband and there's a decorative button. It might look nice with other outfits, even her Baking Outfit, but we actually haven't tried that yet. Also I think muslin would have been more realistic than this "finer" cotton, but I still give it an A.

The daisy wreath - Kirsten's daisy wreath is her "birthday crown" and is a great finishing touch. The daisies aren't as plentiful as some of the stock pictures show, but once they are spread out and the leaves are arranged it is a very nice effect. It fits well on Kirsten's head with or without her braids. My only question is wouldn't the satin ribbon be way too fancy? I don't know but I'll give it an A.

The socks - these are more summery than her meet socks, with a lot more stretch. They're less woolly and feel like her winter socks, and they can go with other outfits too which is a plus. We got an extra set with her shoes and socks, but they aren't identical; the b-day socks are more tan, while the extra pair has a pinkish cast. They're just socks, but they are nice. A


Here's a closeup of the socks and daisy wreath - I'll upload dress pics soon:

I agree with the others - the threads make for difficult dressing, and the buttons are sewn on VERY LOOSELY, however they get bonus points for being so detailed. A-

Kirsten rocking her sweater and hat:


Some more pictures of the Mattel set: