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Post by Wickfield on Aug 25, 2013 21:21:51 GMT -5
I got this set along with the matching travel outfit for my bday yesterday. It is a beautiful combination, Caroline absolutely glows with warmth when she is wearing the entire combo! The accuracy of the hat is a little suspect in my opinion - I haven't really seen any felt bonnets or hats during the Regency period, at least not in 1811/1812 like Caroline's period (there are some from later years, like late 1820s or early 1830s though). So the fact that it is felt is a little odd, although the shape is correct, so maybe it's supposed to imitate wool covered buckram or something instead of actual felt. But the color is very nice and it is made of a good quality felt material that seems pretty durable compared to, say, the felt hat from Kit's school suit. I appreciate the extra ties to keep it on Caroline's head. Similarly, the cut of the spencer also seems a little fashion-forward for Caroline specifically (considering her battle dress and lavender dress shown in the illustrations, and her actual meet dress, are all slightly retro/outdated styles by 1812), although not impossible, I believe it might have been based off of a style similar to one worn by Lizzie Bennet in the 1995 P&P (http://www.jennylafleur.com/diary/em09/pnp2_446.jpg). I think I would have preferred a more basic cut myself - it's almost like Caroline should have swapped spencer's with Josefina. /history nerd observations Anyway, the spencer as it exists is still really nice. The material is very high quality - what feels to me to be wool flannel trimmed with velveteen. It velcros up the front but I actually don't mind, it is much easier to maneuver than the tiny buttons on Josefina's spencer. I also prefer the slightly lighter weight of the jacket and it doesn't seem over-heavy compared to the dress. Even though there's a whole lot of action going on at the shoulders, it doesn't really look too bad in person. So I would rate this maybe a B- for accuracy (for Caroline's character/lifestyle according to the books), but an A- for aesthetics!
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Post by Wickfield on May 25, 2013 22:40:07 GMT -5
I don't have pics of this outfit yet, but I will post some as soon as I take some pics! Anyway, I've liked this outfit since it came out a long time ago, and recently I bought just the dress and the shoes from another board member to serve as a birthday dress for my 1998 girl. To me, with the lettuce-edging and the tie-dying and the chunky shoes, it's perfect for a 90s girl. Anyway, I didn't really have any problems with this dress. It is pretty short, but because it seems so summery it doesn't seem skimpy or inappropriate. I thought that for a synthetic fabric it's still a nice quality, not chintzy. I'm afraid it will snag though so I am going to keep it away from velcro. I am impressed by the embellishments on the outfit too - the sequins are really secure! Frankly I like the look of it better without the white jean jacket! The shoes are nice, I like the seed bead detailing and the faux cork heels. I didn't know that they are slightly angled/high-heeled, but not enough that the doll looks funky when standing (although it is tough to get Amanda, who has loose legs, to stand correctly). Anyway, I will give the pieces I have an A! ~mod edit to remove dead image links~
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Post by Wickfield on May 16, 2013 21:52:36 GMT -5
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Post by Wickfield on Apr 5, 2013 16:35:06 GMT -5
I am so glad they decided to make Caroline's work dress! She wears it a lot in her books and it suits the doll's coloration very well. It is just darling! Even though the outfit is one piece, it is executed to look like two pieces and it does a good job of that. If you just look around the sleeves, for instance, the white sleeves aren't just attached to the patterned bodice, there is additional fabric to make it look like she is really wearing an undershirt. I don't mind that it's one piece even though realistically it should be two, because I really probably wouldn't be mixing and matching these two pieces with anything else anyway. The fabric and detailing is very beautiful. I love the fabric pattern's design and it looks historically accurate and I like the incorporation of the pink inset, the lace, and the kind of gold/earth tone ribbon. The pink and green dress portion does seem a little dressy for work, but I'm wondering if it might be made to look like Caroline had outgrown the dress and couldn't wear it on nice occasions? The extra pink fabric at the base seems to look like it was added to let the dress down to a proper length, which may explain the otherwise slightly fancy dress being used for work. That's my headcanon, anyway. The cap is also very cute and looks really sweet on, I actually like the additional ribbon ties because they differentiate the caps from some in Lissie's collection (this is also historically accurate). It doesn't smush her hair. As far as the boots go, they are kind of awkwardly shaped in the front - like they don't indent enough toward her ankle, if that makes sense. They are the same cut as her winter boots but were easier to get on, and they were shown in the book vignettes, which is another plus from me. She reminds me of one of those old-fashioned china shepherdesses when she is wearing this gown and I think it is the sweetest thing. A+ for matching her coloration and for being featured in the books! ETA: I finally got around to trying this on over the undergarments I made for my Caroline. The dress fits fine over pantalettes, a shift, and a petticoat all at once, so I wouldn't say AG skimped on fabric. Just fwiw.
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Post by Wickfield on Mar 21, 2013 16:57:33 GMT -5
Okay, so apparently a dresser trunk is actually a thing: www.tangiblesonline.com/item.php?tag=chan&item_IDX=995I always assumed AG had just sort of compromised and made a trunk with drawers for efficiency, I had no idea there were real late 19th c. trunks that were originally built that way.
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Post by Wickfield on Mar 18, 2013 15:38:03 GMT -5
I got these skates as part of the winter swap at the end of last year (even before I got Caroline) and this is really a very superior set, albeit with a few minor issues. The skates are very heavy and quality - another reviewer mentioned that the skates in the book were new, but those were made for Rhonda, and Caroline had had hers for awhile so they would probably be a bit worn like these are. The shape is just like ice skates in period drawings with the little swirl at the tip, and a doll can stand in them easily while wearing them. I think the blades are kind of oddly thick though and don't actually look like they'd cut into the ice, and I wish that the faux buckles had been a little more realistic and less plasticky, but they are still nice. The boots were really tiny and only fit on my Agnes Lydia over her thinnest stockings. I think they've stretched out a bit but they were tough to get on, even for me (and I usually don't have much problem with doll shoes). They are made of a nice material and I think Agnes Lydia is going to get them to go with her burgundy winter dress (Caroline isn't shown wearing these in her books). The mittens seem a little bit fragile. They look really nice on the doll (and their earth tone coloring seems realistic) but there is not much stretch to the cuff and no elastic, so I'm a bit nervous stretching them over the doll's hand. Like the shoes, though, they look very nice when they are finally on. I'd give this set an A and take off the plus simply because of the few tightness issues I noted. Still though, I would definitely buy it as it is a lovely piece for Caroline's collection!
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Post by Wickfield on Mar 5, 2013 13:05:31 GMT -5
My Caroline (who I purchased from a board member) just arrived yesterday, and she is such a sweetheart! She is the first blond doll in my collection and the first with decal eyes, so despite her similarity to other AGs that have been released she feels very unique to me. I actually really like her fair hair and don't think it makes her look unrealistic, ghostly, or even particularly princess-y. In fact, I think her hair makes her look youthful, and her disheveled curls give her a kind of flyaway look. Her eyes are also pretty and I think a good match for her skin and hair color. Oddly enough, Caroline has a very wide face and wideset eyes compared to my other dolls. Also worth noting, one of her eyebrows and the part in her hair were a little bit to the side, which may be an issue with some dolls although I'm starting to get used to it. Closeup of her eye:
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Post by Wickfield on Jan 18, 2013 15:36:37 GMT -5
I bought just Saige's ring from a fellow board member and beacuse I asked her to mail it in an envelope, it arrived bent and with the stone popped out. Fortunately I was able to coax the plastic back into shape without it snapping, and I just glued the "stone" back in, so it will work fine for me. But I wanted to mention that it CAN be a little delicate so to watch out for that. Anyway, I like the ring's simplicity and I'm using it as a southwestern ring for Josefina's collection, a turquoise ring for my Regency girls (like Jane Austen's www.thehistoryblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Jane-Austen-ring.jpg ), and a mood ring for my 90s girl Amanda. It also fits on both Mattel and PM dolls!
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Post by Wickfield on Dec 31, 2012 15:29:08 GMT -5
I personally love it. I know it is not 100% accurate (as far as construction goes) but it looks like it, and the colors suit her beautifully!
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Post by Wickfield on Sept 5, 2012 22:06:43 GMT -5
FWIW, the elastic in the neckline is probably meant to simulate the "drawstring style" that some dresses were made in - not sure if that can apply to the sleeves as well though.
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Post by Wickfield on Sept 2, 2012 11:31:48 GMT -5
I actually have to disagree with Candace on this one - there are quite a few differences between the two sets, so I wouldn't necessarily buy the Oven and Food set as a direct replacement for the earlier set. First of all, this oven is a different color than the other set's oven. I actually prefer the color of this one, which has a more realistic pinky-clay tone compared to the more yellowish color of the original. However, it is lacking in the details of the original; the "smoke" trails are very clearly airbrushed (and they come across as purple because of the pink of the oven), and the fire inside is not painted to resemble embers like the original oven. However, the paddle does fit in both of them without tilting it sideways. The unbaked loaves of bread are basically the same in both sets, although my earlier set has more rubbery loaves, whereas this one is harder plastic. The baked loaves are colored differently - Original bun on left, Oven and Food bun on right As you can see, the coloring on the original is more yellow (mine actually has some damage to the top so please disregard green streaks ) and the newer one is actually better and looks tastier. Finally the corn. Also different - the original corn has larger, more irregular kernels (I only have this sole survivor which came in a lot) and a shinier finish, and it also appears to have had a real husk stem at some point. The newer corn has plastic stems and a different kernel pattern. I actually think this set has several strengths and it is definitely fun to play with. Even though the mano/metate are plastic now they still look realistic (and have more weight than I was expecting), the fresh chiles are a nice contrast from her dried paper chiles, and you have a chance to get the oven again. Basically, if you don't have the original this one is a fine substitute but just know that they aren't identical.
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Post by Wickfield on Aug 14, 2012 14:46:17 GMT -5
Hinged Version:Hmm, interestingly my trunk (which is an early one, around 2000) doesn't have those leather pulls in the tray. It has the holes, but there's no indication there were ever any pulls in there. I don't know if mine was defective or if the earlier ones just lacked them or something. But I definitely think they'd be useful! I got the original hinged one on Ebay for less than the current one, actually. Anyway, I like it because it holds all my Josefina stuff (except the bigger furniture and the doll) and it makes the collection seem really...historical somehow. Like seeing everything in one place, in a big carved trunk, makes it seem like a real person's trunk someone found. It's kind of satisfying.
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Post by Wickfield on Aug 25, 2011 15:37:58 GMT -5
I got this doll yesterday for my bday and I love her! I'm usually not too impressed with the minis - something always looks "off," but this doll is just adorable. Her outfit is very accurate except for the comb and the construction of the underwear, but TBH neither of those things bother me. The Nina doll's outfit is also made this way.
Something interesting is that this doll actually looks quite different from the previous mini which we bought in 2003. Her skin and eyes are darker, her eyebrows are drawn differently, and she looks noticeably taller (which also tends to alter her 1:3 doll-for-a-doll scale). Upon further examination I also found that they have different head stamps - 2003 is "Pleasant Company" and the 25th mini is "American Girl LLC". The earrings are also a bit different.
My only problems with this doll is the fact that we kind of already had a doll's doll dressed like Josefina (Nina, though this mini's dres is more accurate), so this seems a bit repetitive, and also the mini book that was included should have had the cover of the actual full-sized version. I'll give this set an A-.
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Post by Wickfield on Aug 25, 2011 15:33:27 GMT -5
Released in 2011, retired in 2014.Josefina wears this fancy outfit for summertime fiestas: A one-piece dress with three rows of embroidered ribbon on the skirt and an attached sash. A fitted velveteen vest that's perfect for parties. A pair of black shoes to match.(Retired 2014) This outfit is LOVELY - so much better than I had anticipated. Yes, it's made all in one piece (with the camisa attached to the skirt and the sash sewn on top), but it's so aesthetically pleasing I really don't care. The skirt is a lovely cool red color with gold and purple flowers and a lot of gold trim - very detailed. The color suits Josefina so well! The vest is velveteen and lined in satin and while not all that impressive on it's own, it really compliments the outfit and gives it a formal vibe. The shoes ARE just another pair of black flats but techincally there's a difference between these and the two pairs of holiday shoes - these have a lower back and are actually dancing slippers. Surprisingly, they're a little large. As far as mixing-and-matching goes, her heirloom choker looks perfect with this outfit, and I also tied her red school sash over the ribbon sash attached to this outfit. The color coordinates well and it makes the outfit look more substantial and period appropriate (plus it causes the top half of the dress to ruffle better and look more like a convincing camisa).
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Post by Wickfield on Jul 23, 2011 19:19:20 GMT -5
I purchased these from a board member earlier this week, and I love them! So cute - they look just like real pajamas, and even though they were originally made in 1998 they really don't look dated at all; in fact, they look like something my nearly-20-year-old-self would wear now. Out of all AG's pajamas I think these look most like something someone would actually wear. The shirt is oversized like a nightshirt, and made more realistically than the 20th anniversary tee. The logo looks a bit diminutive but oh well. The pants are soft flannel with a weird waistband - it's just a wide piece of plain elastic (no casing). The crotch also seems a bit low, maybe to make the pants seem relaxed? The only thing I would change about this set would be the bands around the ankles, and maybe an additional accessory or something. But otherwise I love them! A *mod edit to remove inaccessible image*
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Post by Wickfield on Jun 8, 2011 22:23:48 GMT -5
Um, I got mine in 2009 and it still had the brown yarn....
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Post by Wickfield on Apr 15, 2011 14:45:55 GMT -5
Is #30s hair the same color as #25, or more like #14/#16? Anyone know?
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Post by Wickfield on Apr 7, 2011 13:10:28 GMT -5
She seems smaller than all my other dolls for some reason...I'm not sure why. I don't know if it's all the 2011 dolls or just Kanani, but in every pic I've seen of Kanani she's shorter and fatter than other Mattel dolls. It's a little strange but not uncommon to this doll.
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Post by Wickfield on Apr 5, 2011 16:58:02 GMT -5
I bought the skirt and sweater for my AGT and it looks very adorable with boots and socks. I think it's quite 1940s but I also think it carries over well to the modern era. My only complaint is that the sweater is very short-waisted which tends to look a bit awkward and uncomfortable - the skirt is pretty short, too (but at least it still fits PM dolls, even without velcro or a zipper).
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Post by Wickfield on Mar 28, 2011 17:55:34 GMT -5
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Post by Wickfield on Oct 10, 2010 13:51:23 GMT -5
Josefina chilling in her sarape and hat with her nightgown (used as a camisa), school skirt, and PM riding boots.
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Post by Wickfield on Sept 23, 2010 11:03:03 GMT -5
Okay, update to say that I recently acquired a PM version of this on Ebay. Wow, big difference! The fabric in the PM version is very thick, thicker than most of Josefina's camisas (whereas my late Mattel version is quite thin, see above)! It's a better version but I think it's too big for my Mattel doll. Just thought I'd add this for information's sake.
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Post by Wickfield on Sept 20, 2010 19:05:42 GMT -5
PM tan-faced Sombrita on the left, Mattel white-faced Sombrita on the right.
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Post by Wickfield on Sept 20, 2010 19:04:51 GMT -5
Here's an early Josefina I just received in a lot - she's fully PM, soft lashes, fat body, lack of body tag, the whole thing! She must be from between 97 and 99. She shares the exact same face mold as my 2004 version - they have the same tiny-lettered PC neckmold. Apart from the usual PC/Mattel differences, though, I also noticed that PM Josefina has a slightly yellowish/olive skintone in comparison to Mattel but a pinker body fabric, that her eyebrows are angled differently and are actually thicker, and that her wig is different. My Mattel girl has a defective wig anyway that snags like mad, but PM Josefina has fewer strands of coarser hair, which doesn't tangle at ALL and which makes for a nicer braid. The part is also slightly different.
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Post by Wickfield on Sept 12, 2010 7:37:16 GMT -5
Here's another item I've had since March of this year and have just now gotten around to reviewing here! Josefina's table and chairs are made of real wood. As you can see in the picture, they are stained much the same warm honey color as our hardwood floors. I thought they were going to be much lighter than this and so was a bit surprised by their color, but no less pleased. They're scaled to Josefina's size, more like a child's table set than a real adult-sized one. The furniture has a lovely "cornstalk" carving design, which looks like it could have been done with one chisel. The carving lends a simple elegant feel to the set! Pic of the little panel that slides out to reveal that the table is hollow. I was surprised by how little you can fit in there - don't expect to store her dishes underneath! - but her silver platter and bizcochito cookie recipe slide in for safe keeping. I don't yet have the dishes that accompany the table set - I will someday! - but for now I have it decorated with pieces from her Christmas and herb gathering sets. I'm not sure that having a chicken on the table is the best idea, though...
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Post by Wickfield on Aug 2, 2010 15:00:48 GMT -5
This is a cute shirt, very accurate to the late 90s time period! It could also work as a nightshirt in a pinch. A~mod edit to delete dead image link~
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Post by Wickfield on Jun 30, 2010 13:57:16 GMT -5
^ ^ Wow, that's even worse than mine - at least they had the rivets (in 2008).
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Post by Wickfield on Jan 16, 2010 20:05:06 GMT -5
The shoes in this set aren't identical to Sam's Lawn Party shoes - as Princess Emily said, the heels on Rebecca's pair are different, and the toe is rounder and there is only one bow on each, rather than two as on Sam's pair.
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Post by Wickfield on Jan 5, 2010 8:23:11 GMT -5
The leather cloth is to seal the gap between the oven and the door.
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Post by Wickfield on Nov 24, 2009 16:11:00 GMT -5
I think I'd have to give these ribbons a B. I did get them for retail which I don't regret since I'm a completist when it comes to Josefina. As the others have said, 11" is really too short. You can see this in my picture below - especially with the thicker ribbons (red and orange) the bow comes out more stubby than flowing! You can only tie these in one bow around the end of Josefina's braid; if you wanted to do other hairstyles, though, you could maybe tie the ribbon around a ponytail holder. Since no pictures like this have been posted, I thought I'd show the ribbons in comparison to some of Josefina's outfits. I do think it's a bonus that they match Josefina's wardrobe so well! Teal matches Josefina's birthday skirt, orange coordinates with her summer dress, and yellow is very versatile, matching her Christmas, Fiesta, and summer dresses: I don't have a comparison picture, but the red grosgrain ribbon matches all of Josefina's red pieces and I think the trim in her fiesta dress, also.
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