starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Mar 1, 2012 21:33:17 GMT -5
I finally found this much-sought-after dress for a decent price on eBay. No wonder everyone says it's one of Samantha's best. It looks absolutely gorgeous on her, and is historically accurate to boot. Interestingly, I had no problems getting it on my PM Samantha. The lot didn't come with the ribbon, but I have plenty of ribbons that would work with it anyway. If you have Samantha, Nellie, or an Edwardian-era character and can find this dress for an affordable price, grab it. It's very worth it.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Feb 23, 2012 22:00:58 GMT -5
I found what I believe to be a PM set on eBay - it came with a hanger and a plastic burgundy garment bag with a dress picture on it along with the pants, shirt, and navy ribbons. I probably overpaid for it, since the top and bottom buttons are missing, but I've wanted this for Molly for a couple of years now. I could probably fix the buttons.
Buttons aside, I love it. The flannel shirt and corduroy pants have worn well over the years. If anything, the outfit's vintage makes it feel even more like something a real ten year old would wear to play, even now. I didn't have problems with the sleeves, but the waist of the pants were a little snug on Molly. My Molly's a plump PM doll, though - it may not even be an issue with Mattel dolls.
If you can find this used for even a remotely decent price, grab it. It's a great mix-and-match outfit - would probably be wonderful for boy customs, too.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Feb 9, 2012 23:18:25 GMT -5
I picked up what I believe to be a Mattel version of these from eBay last fall. The slippery laces are hard to tie, and it took me forever to get them on Molly's feet. It was worth it in the end. She looks so cute (and she knows it - she's wearing them now with her Skating Outfit).
Overall, I'd say these are perfect play shoes for any Molly collection.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Feb 9, 2012 23:13:29 GMT -5
I was also on the fence about this one, for the same reason as everyone else - the cost didn't seem to justify three pieces. I finally caved in and grabbed it when I saw an early version mint in the box on eBay, complete with the original perforated cards advertising Molly and Emily's winter outfits and accessories and a hanger.
I like it and will keep it, but my feelings are mixed. The skirt fits my PM Molly just fine, but the sweater is too tight over her School Outfit blouse. She can't put her arms down all the way! I had no problems with the buttons, and the fabric seemed like a nice, soft flannel to me.
Anyway, the skirt might be a nice mix-and-match piece, and the sweater's cute for the thinner Mattel girls.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Jan 9, 2012 20:54:26 GMT -5
I just got the PM version of the cloak on eBay. It always seemed so simple, I figured I could make something similar or have it made...but then Felicity was the last of my AG dolls to lack a coat or some kind of winter weather protection. Red is my favorite color, so I was delighted to see how bright and warm this is! It's a nice, thick piece of felt, with long ties. I wish the ties were a little thicker, but they do tie well. The felt is so thick, it doesn't really need lining. My only very minor complaint is that, yes, the edges are unfinished and may ravel with time. Otherwise, I'm glad I finally caved in and grabbed this. No wonder Lissie wears it in most of her books!
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Jan 4, 2012 21:54:04 GMT -5
I picked this up in mint condition on eBay for my PM #4 Jessa for Christmas. I really didn't have any interest in the modern dolls when they debuted in 1995, and I barely looked twice at this outfit. I mainly bought it for the pieces, rather than the outfit as a whole. While yes, it looks extremely early 90s when put together, it remains one of the best for mix-and-match. Jessa's wearing the vest turned to the magenta part now. It came with Grin Pins still on the cardboard, but not the velvet flats (not a huge loss, since Jess still has the velvet flats from her First Day Meet Outfit). My white shirt came with Velcro.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Dec 26, 2011 21:55:26 GMT -5
I found Mini Cécile at Barnes and Noble, and since a friend gave me Mini Marie-Grace for Christmas, I decided, why not pick Cécile up, too? Cécile is so sweet. I love how wonderfully soft her hair is. I wish my curls were that soft! Her curls are a little unruly, but so's mine, so I can't complain there. Her dress is a little stiff, and I wished it billowed out as nicely as Mini Marie-Grace's, but other than that, I think she's a real little beauty.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Dec 25, 2011 21:34:09 GMT -5
I got my Mini Marie-Grace for Christmas from a friend who collects historical books for children but not dolls. I think she's just darling. Her dress is so pretty, and her hair is soft and a really beautiful color. Her teeth don't bother me that much, as I have an overbite myself.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Dec 9, 2011 0:09:21 GMT -5
I just got what I believe to be the Mattel version of this doll for Samantha for Christmas from eBay. She must not have ever been played with, because she's absolutely gorgeous, with perfectly smooth and shiny hair and no runs or stains on her dress. She's missing the Nutcracker, but otherwise, she's perfect. No wonder Samantha wanted her so badly in "Samantha's Surprise!"
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Sept 19, 2011 21:42:40 GMT -5
I found Miss Abigail Griddle Bear (she insisted that was her name) a few months ago on eBay. She didn't come with clothes, but otherwise, she's a beauty. I collect teddy bears, so she's right up my alley. She's soft and comfortable, yet of a good weight and well-made. She's become good friends with my slightly larger Steiff bear Brownie.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Aug 29, 2011 20:52:46 GMT -5
I got this on eBay for Molly and my modern doll Jessa to share. This sweet outfit is one of the most versatile AG makes, bar none. Because I got it second-hand, it didn't come with the shoes or the clip - Molly's wearing the shoes from Kit's yellow floral dress. While the sweater set does still snap and button, alas, my skirt comes with Velcro instead of a hook closure, which I would have preferred.
Everything else is great, though. The sweater and skirt are otherwise well-made and very soft, with no pulls or pills. The sweaters are a little tight on Molly, but she's a PM and this appears to be a Mattel version, probably fairly recent. The skirt is a comfortable linen and a very pretty pattern.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on May 7, 2011 23:14:50 GMT -5
I picked this up for a good price on eBay for Molly and my PM #4 Jessa to share. Yes, the pants are much too tight. I had to struggle to get Jessa in them. On the other hand, the shirt is cute, and I absolutely adore the realistic high-top sneakers. They remind me of the Converse high-tops that were popular in the late 80s and early 90s. They even have nifty rubber tread with the original AG of Today logo on them. The yellow socks are nice and thick, too.
Highly recommended if you can find it; great for boys and girls, as well as historicals Molly and Julie.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Apr 14, 2011 20:27:57 GMT -5
I bought this on eBay for my birthday (and Molly's). I wanted to get it for her last year - she still needs summer clothes and pants - but it was back-ordered. It's such a cute outfit. Surprisingly, the NIB set I got seems to be from 2007 - it still had the perforated cards with Molly and Emily's summer outfits (all of which but Molly's Bathing Suit are discontinued now).
This is a great, classic outfit, and it's a shame they retired it. It fits fine on my PM Molly, and I love how the shirt really buttons, instead of using velcro. The quality on everything is great, and the hat's adorable! One of the all-time best AG outfits for mixing and matching.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Mar 16, 2011 16:00:21 GMT -5
I just picked up what I believe to be a PM version of this outfit from eBay. It's fully-lined and has nice, thick, soft woolen fabric. Problems getting it to lay right aside, I really love it. It seems so warm and snuggly, and the gaters are a nice addition. Sam looks so elegant in this cloak!
(My ribbon ties have also snagged, the only other problem I have with this outfit.)
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Mar 16, 2011 15:49:45 GMT -5
I just got the dress and regular lace stomacher on eBay, no extras. First of all, I'm disappointed that they used velcro for the last of these dresses instead of more sensible snaps. I also agree that the fabric is awful. It feels more like a bright blue parachute than a ball gown!
On the other hand, the color looks gorgeous on my PM/transitional Felicity, and it's still such a pretty dress, it was worth getting. (Especially since I doubt I could learn to sew well enough to make this pattern anytime soon!) I could probably figure out how to make her a lace cap, and if her mother can improvise a necklace in the book...well, so can I.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Mar 7, 2011 22:14:08 GMT -5
I bought this for my Molly, who really needs a winter coat. While I agree with the general consensus that it needs socks and a blouse or shirt, it's otherwise very cute and well-done. I love the pretty embroidered flowers on the jacket, and the fleecy bib snowsuit feels so warm, I almost wish I had a pair! The boots are very realistic and fit nicely over the pair of socks that came with Molly's Miss Victory Tap Outfit. The yarn that keeps the mittens from getting lost is a nice (and practical!) touch.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Feb 11, 2011 21:45:23 GMT -5
I got this today from AG. I absolutely adore it! It's so cute. I've seen older versions on eBay that didn't come with the tap shoes. I really wanted the tap shoes, so I decided to get this directly from the source...and I wasn't disappointed. My Molly looks so cute! Unlike earlier versions of this outfit, the fabric is nice and soft, and not stiff at all. It also gets big points for using the non-snagging Velcro. This kind of fabric is notorious for snagging easily.
The crown is still cardboard attached to elastic. This isn't a problem for me, but for people who buy this for kids, be warned that the crown probably won't last long. Also, as much as I love the shoes, I had a hard time getting them on over Molly's socks. Maybe she'd be better off wearing tights of some kind with this outfit.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Dec 27, 2010 21:14:40 GMT -5
I received the Mattel Riding Habit from my mother for Christmas. (Good thing she got it early, well before it sold out on AG's website!) My Felicity desperately needed winter clothes.
While the fabric is a little thin, it still looks nice and warm, and is a lovely emerald color. Yes, the edges are unfinished, but my dolls don't see a lot of rough play, so that shouldn't be a problem. The jacket is very tight; it took a little struggling to get it on Felicity over her shift. The hat is nice, with pretty braiding and a good-sized feather.
Overall, I really love it. It's very true to the period and to Felicity's stories and her tomboyish personality.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Sept 17, 2010 23:40:33 GMT -5
This really is a gorgeous outfit. My stepsister told me she bought this for her #4 doll when she used her for a project on Chinese New Year. The ribbons and flower clips are long gone, but she gave me everything else, including the velvet shoes. Jessa wears this as her Christmas outfit, and she looks lovely in it. It's held up surprisingly well over the years, considering it spent a lot of that time in my stepsister's closet. The frogs are still attached; nothing is frayed or ripped.
The velvet shoes get a lot of use around here. Samantha and Molly have both worn them with their dresses. They're a bit different than the shoes my stepsister's #4 came with in her First Day Meet Outfit. Those shoes, at least the ones I have, were more silky than velvety.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Sept 5, 2010 20:03:27 GMT -5
I have this! My aunt gave it to me for Christmas one year. I use the tin for a Christmas decoration with my porcelain doll display and keep the recipes and the cookie cutters out year-round. I use the cookie cutters to make Molasses Roll-Out Cookies for friends during the holidays. And the tin and cookie cutters are still in perfect shape, no denting or rusting. Well-worth looking for.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Aug 28, 2010 11:58:48 GMT -5
I just got the pantsuit and slippers (no ribbon) off of eBay for my Molly. I like these a lot better than either Molly's or Kit's current pajamas! In fact, I think these might be the cutest pajamas American Girl makes. Though I didn't really have much trouble with the pantsuit, even on my PM Molly's plump rear, I could not get the slippers on! They kept getting pushed down in the back. I did finally get them on, but I'm going to have to remember to pull them out at the sides when she wears them. Her feet are pretty large. Otherwise, these are highly recommended for patriotic Molly, tomboyish Kit, and any modern American Girls looking for sailor and patriotic show costumes, or just for really comfy, unique PJs.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Aug 28, 2010 11:46:23 GMT -5
Like SailorMolly, I got this dress for my Molly off eBay as a hand-me-down. (Not to mention all of Molly's summer outfits were backordered at AG's site at the time, and she badly needed summer clothing.) I think this is one of Kit's most adorable dresses. The fabric is a little thin, but that goes with it being a warm-weather outfit. It's the most cheerful, cute print, though.
My favorite part hasn't been mentioned yet. I love that embroidered collar! It really adds a nice feminine touch to the dress.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Jul 26, 2010 21:30:45 GMT -5
I've been wanting to get this dress for years, so when I finally saw a good price for it on eBay, I went ahead and said "what the heck?"
I definitely wasn't disappointed. I got the whole outfit in mint condition, and it was worth every penny. The pinafore is slightly stiff, but that's ok. That was probably just being in the box for a few days. Sam looks so cute in this dress, it makes up for anything. It's also one of the few genuinely versatile outfits in her wardrobe.
My one and only complaint is I agree with Rosieangel that the hair ribbon is a lovely touch but really hard to tie! I have to admire all of you who seem to have gotten it right. I'll leave it for now, but next time I may end up doing what Ag2elizabeths did with her Elizabeth and use the thinner white ribbon I have for the Middy Dress.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Jul 16, 2010 21:05:30 GMT -5
When I got my stepsister's dolls last year, I also got the tutu, wings, headband, and one slipper. I've since gotten rid of the one slipper. I could probably find better ones at AG or on eBay.
I've kept this because my Molly loves to dance, but I agree that AG has since done much better outfits. It looks more like one of the Halloween costumes AG did in the late 90s and early 2000s. The tutu is a bit flat from being in a box for several years. The tiara is cute but hard on dolls' heads - don't expect to be able to take it off without even a little pulling of hair. The wings do stay on, but they flap around and would probably be a bit of a distraction in a real dance production.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Jun 7, 2010 19:53:58 GMT -5
I have Molly's bike. It isn't in the best of shape, but it runs. The handlebars are so loose, they can be pulled right off. I don't know if that's from lots of play, or how my stepsister had it set up in her closet for five years. It's also missing a pedal.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Jun 6, 2010 23:08:27 GMT -5
My poor Samantha needed winter clothes, so I got this for her off eBay. It didn't come with the ribbons, but she has plenty of white and black ones that look just fine. My version is PM. It feels nice and soft, not cheap at all. It looks good on her, and it's one of the few outfits in her collection that feels elegant without being too frou-frou.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Jun 6, 2010 20:39:10 GMT -5
My stepsister was in Girl Scouts, and this was one of the first outfits she got for her modern doll. I got it when she gave me her dolls and their outfits. I like it. I was never in Girl Scouts and can't vouch for the authenticity, but the shorts, shoes, and shirt are all great mix-and-match pieces. The vest still has all the little patches. The socks are the only things missing. Otherwise, the outfit is in great shape.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Jun 4, 2010 9:39:25 GMT -5
My Molly originally belonged to my stepsister. She came with her "meet outfit" skirt, sweater, dickey, and one shoe. (The other shoe, socks, underwear, and ribbons are probably lost in my stepsister's room somewhere.)
I haven't had any problems with the sweater. Yes, it's a little hard to get over her head, but it's cute and a perfect mix-and-match piece. Molly wore it last fall. I haven't tried the dickey with the sweater yet. I might put it on when she wears the sweater again, just to see if it does lay flat.
The skirt...oh, where do I begin? I keep it in the back room, where lint isn't a problem...but the Velcro's so gone, it won't fit her or my modern doll Jessa. Plus, I washed it, and I think it may have shrunk somehow. I had to give her a ribbon belt when she wore it last fall.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on Jun 4, 2010 9:25:16 GMT -5
This is my Sam's fall/school dress, worn when it's too hot for her wool school dress, but a tad cool out for lighter clothes. While it's not my favorite of her outfits, either, I do love the details. The ribbon belt is a great touch! The colors really look nice on Sam. My Sam is from 1993, and my dress has the thicker taffeta. I've never had any trouble with wrinkles, on the dress or hair ribbon, but I tend to store them hanging or laying flat.
The rest of this outfit isn't in as good of shape. Her stockings and underwear are so stretched out, they fall off of her if she wears them. I still have them, but she now wears new Springfield Collection black stockings, and I may try to make her similar underwear or ask my mother if she can.
And few people like her annoying shoes, including me! Mine aren't even in very good shape. Years of Samantha just barely fitting into the whitewashed baby bassinet I used for her bed has left the shoes with long white scrapes on the back. I gladly retired them to the dolls' shoe basket when my mother bought vinyl slip-on black shoes for all of my dolls to share last Christmas.
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starwenn
American Girl Prototype
Posts: 4,694
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Post by starwenn on May 24, 2010 23:56:46 GMT -5
This seems to be what my stepsister's modern doll came in. Honestly, I think it's cute. She's missing the socks, scrunchie, and accessories, and the corduroy pants are stretched. However, everything else seems to be in good shape, including the jacket, underwear, and shoes. She wears the jacket in the winter, and the shirt and pants are great mix and match pieces. Maybe it's a bit colorful and dated for everyone's taste, but it has its uses.
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