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Post by chernayakoshka on Apr 7, 2019 12:30:42 GMT -5
I need to take a moment to describe how awesome it was to receive Samantha's bed as a child. When I (and later, my sister) started seriously looking at American Girl dolls, my parents were astounded at the prices. They decided that they would buy us our first dolls, but if we wanted more from the catalogs, we'd have to save our holiday money and purchase it ourselves. Sometimes they'd get us an outfit for Christmas, though the expectation was that our dolls would be supplemented via more financially efficient means. And we were cool with that. So, with that in mind, imagine my surprise on Christmas 1997 when I opened a large box to reveal Samantha's bed! I'd received a lot of doll clothes that year to dress my Samantha, who I'd been gifted for my birthday earlier in the year, but all of them had been purchased at the various craft shows that my small town loved...to get not only something from American Girl, but a BED, was a concept that my six-year-old mind had a hard time processing. Needless to say, it was a good Christmas. My mum sometimes still brings it up: "Remember the year that you got Samantha's bed? I don't think I've ever seen you so shocked and excited!" But, anyway, on to the review... The FrameSo, at this point, my Samantha's bed is almost 22 years old and I'm super impressed with how well it's held up! The headboard and foot board feature brass curlicues with a painted plastic knob on each corner. The frame under the mattress has brass bars to support the bedding. One of the things I love about this set is how easy it is to store - the under frame just slides into the head and foot boards. No screws, no tools needed, very easy to put together and take apart. My bed was stored flat in a plastic tub for almost 13 years and still looks great! When I pulled it out recently to display, I expected to find rust stains on the fabric and to have to polish the brass. Instead, the bed that I pulled out looked pristine! The brass has held up very well over the years and the frame clipped right together like it always has. The style suits Samantha and is so elegant and delicate in that delightful Victorian way. The frame is sturdy and mine, at least, hasn't dulled at all. The BeddingMy mattress is thick and, I imagine, relatively comfortable. The padding in it is still evenly distributed after all these years. The comforter is plush and elegant with its pink bows and the pillow is nice and plump (though the thought of sleeping on something so nice makes me shudder). Like many of the historical beds, this one doesn't come with sheets, which always bothered me as a kid (and as an aside, my grandmother made me a complete bedding set for this bed, sheets and all, but I don't have any pictures of it). My single complaint about this set is how awkward it looks when there's a doll actually in the bed. The comforter is so plush and stiff that it looks very bulky when there's a doll tucked into it. Still, I like the look of this set and am pleased to have it for Samantha. I'd give it a solid A.
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Post by chernayakoshka on Apr 7, 2019 10:44:35 GMT -5
When this outfit was released as part of the new BeForever line, I thought it was one of (if not the) best pieces of the historical collection. It was also one of the first things I purchased at the American Girl Place in Columbus, which makes it just a little more special to me. I originally bought it for Kirsten (since I didn't have Addy at the time), and while it looked good on her, it's simply breathtaking on Addy. While I still prefer the original school dress in overall appearance, I'd say that this is one of the nicest outfits that Mattel has made for the historical line in a while. The Top I love the design and detail on the jacket. I don't claim to be a historian, but it feels appropriate for the period. I do sort of wish that the undershirt and jacket were separate pieces, but I think they were going for ease in dressing the doll - as a child, I probably would have struggled a tad to get the jacket over another shift (because I did not have the nimblest of fingers), so I get that and don't consider it a big letdown. I honestly wish I had this jacket in adult size; it's stunning and I'd wear it all the time! Although it's been a few years since I bought the outfit, I distinctly remember being impressed with it because it wasn't just another dress or dress/apron combo, as I recall thinking of many of the new offerings (not in a bad way, just as an observation). Mattel put some thought and time into this one, and it definitely shows. The detail in the jacket is what I love to see in the historical collection, especially in the pre-1900s ones (that I feel are often ignored these days). I do wish that it was lined, but that's the seamstress in me talking The Skirt The skirt is a simple skirt, same colour and trim as the top. There's not a whole lot to say about it except that it pairs well with the top, hangs nicely, and hits at an appropriate length. The waistband is elastic, making putting it on and taking it off remarkably easy. This was just quickly taken as I was getting ready to change Addy out of the outfit, so pardon the turned-up hem in one place and her pantaloons peeking through. Overall I give this outfit an A+, especially for a more recent offering. There are also two little hair bows on combs that slide effortlessly into Addy's hair (and don't mess it up!). I neglected to take pictures of these, but I'm happy with them. Some have noted that the fabric is a little thin, and I won't disagree...but I like the design of this so much and adore how well Addy wears it that I won't complain. I still hope to acquire the original school dress someday, but I'm also pleased to have this one in my collection. The two outfits are so different that I think most collections will have room for both of them (and kids may enjoy having a couple options for Addy's school adventures). So, well done, American Girl. This is one of my favourite outfits that's been produced in the past decade or so. b
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Post by chernayakoshka on Sept 19, 2018 21:38:31 GMT -5
I picked this outfit up at the American Girl Place Columbus this past weekend and couldn't wait to change Luciana into it (poor girl has been wearing her Meet dress since I got her in January, so she was just as eager to change into something else). Overall, I'm pleased with it and think it's a cute ensemble. It fits her perfectly (not too tight, not too loose), but it has its flaws. (Please excuse the lackluster pictures - I just snapped them quickly when I was changing her ) Shirt: I love the colour and style of the tank top (I'm a sucker for a high-necked tank!). I do wish, however, that the fabric at least reached the arm sockets. I can handle seeing a doll's cloth torso when they wear low-neckline shirts, but the arm sockets are pretty jarring. Regardless, it works well with a jacket and I can see it being pretty versatile if someone wanted to mix and match it with other outfits. Shorts: These are a solid pair of rolled denim shorts. I love the simplicity of them and I like the little touch of her "signature" decal (which I failed to photograph). They seem well-sewn and constructed. Like the tank, there's a lot of mix and match potential and I think they'd work for almost any modern doll even with the decal. A view of the tank and shorts. Hopefully you can see what I mean when I mention the arm sockets showing (not noticeable at all when paired with a jacket, but it might be more of a problem when worn alone). The necklace is part of her Meet accessories - she refused to take it off Jacket: This is the "showpiece" of the ensemble. If I'm going to be honest, I really really dislike the feel of the fabric. I dunno, it just feels like it'll snag easily to me (I could be totally wrong - I have no intent of testing this). The colour, however, is quite nice and fits with the "space" theme well. I also adore the patches, though I wonder what they're made of (they're this weird, kind of fuzzy material). I kind of wish that they looked more like they were sewn on instead of like stickers, but overall, I'm happy with the jacket. It also feels well made and like a real jacket, which is always a plus. A close up of the patches on the jacket's right side. And here's the left side. Shoes: These are some fun shoes! The cosmic pattern is fantastic and so unique...I wish I had shoes like this. I can see them going with plenty of other outfits, both for Luciana and other characters. It would have been nice to get some real laces, though. The laces provided are elastic bands stretched through the grommets. They keep the shoe reliably on, I suppose, but I had a devil of a time wiggling Luciana's feet into them (maybe that's just me?). I could see a kid getting really frustrated with them. The shoes. Very cute, but man did I struggle with getting them on! Overall: I give the Stellar Outfit an A-. It has some really nice pieces and I love the colour and theme of it, but its flaws are noticeable and prevent me from rating it any higher. Luciana thinks I'm crazy, though - she loves it
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Post by chernayakoshka on Sept 9, 2018 17:02:36 GMT -5
My Backstory: I've always admired Kit's desk as one of the nicest, most intricate pieces of school furniture that AG offered when it hit the market. Unfortunately, my parents weren't really into buying stuff from the company due to the cost (not that I can really blame them), so I never expected to get it and set my young-collector sights elsewhere. When I rediscovered my love for AG in my mid-20's, my husband also developed an enthusiasm for the dolls and their accessories. We visited the AGP Columbus when it opened and he was blown away by Kit's desk and chair! He wanted to get it there and then for me, but we were only just starting off at the time and were short on cash, so I turned down the offer. Skip ahead four years to 2017 and there's a big box under the Christmas tree - it was the desk and chair! He'd remembered that I'd wanted it and had searched eBay (since AG had retired it by then) to find the perfect one. It'll always hold a place near and dear to my heart for that reason alone But enough of that...onto the review! The Desk: This is a seriously cute, well-made piece of furniture. I've seen (human sized) rolltop desks in person and this seems to be the perfect miniature of it. The rolltop actually works, which alone impresses me, and there are several little drawers and a writing shelf that pulls out. As a particularly clumsy individual, I can appreciate that the drawers and shelf don't detach easily, which I'm sure helps them hold up to play. It feels super solid in construction - I'm always careful with my doll stuff, but I can also see it doing just fine with a child actually playing with it - and genuinely seems like a real piece of furniture shrunk down for doll usage. I currently have her school supplies set up on it and it looks very cute. My only complaints are the scale and the rolltop. Others have mentioned that Kit (or any 18 inch doll) towers over the desk. I haven't actually read her books (shame on me!), so I don't know if it's meant to be maybe be a child's version of a proper rolltop desk that she was given at some point as a child, but either way the scale looks off to me when displaying it. I was also a little sad to discover that none of her school supplies properly fit into the cubbies above the desk. The cubby drawer and lower drawers are suitably big enough to hold stuff, but the cubbies won't hold anything that I currently have. Additionally, the rolltop feels a little fragile. It's possibly stronger than it feels, but I'm always worried about either breaking off one of the handles or pulling the whole thing apart. I've never played with any of the real rolltops I've encountered, so maybe this is accurate, but it makes me afraid to actually close and open the desk. The Chair: The chair is a doll-sized swivel chair, which is fantastic! It supports the doll wonderfully and fully swivels. It even has the mechanics of a real chair underneath (they don't work like a real chair, but it's a nice touch nonetheless). I can't ask for much more in a doll chair! All in all, I give Kit's desk and chair a very solid A. It'd be an A+ if not for the scale problems and delicate feeling of the rolltop. I'm still very happy to have it in my collection!
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Post by chernayakoshka on Jan 1, 2014 15:10:15 GMT -5
I got this outfit for my 70s girl, Peggy (#58). My stepmother said it was authentic to the time period, and it looks great on Peggy ("groovy," as my stepmom said when I showed her how it looked put together).
Shirt: The shirt is a long-sleeved, cream coloured mock turtleneck. I love turtlenecks in general and am very pleased with how the shirt looks overall. I was a little disappointed that it didn't either zip completely down the front or have some sort of closure in the back, as it was very difficult to pull the shirt over Peggy's curly hair. Regardless, it's a great shirt with a lot of mix and match potential for those who enjoy swapping parts of outfits around.
Jumpsuit: The jumpsuit has a colourful assortment of flowers against a navy blue background. As others have already commented, it's made of a very synthetic polyester-feeling material...and I love it (seems so appropriate for the time period). It's very easy to put on and is very form fitting (it likely won't fit the chubbier PM dolls). The belt is a nice touch and adds some variety to the outfit.
Shoes: Seriously, AG? No shoes? For those with other pieces of Julie's collection, the lack of shoes might not be a big deal (I think at the AGP Columbus, they paired it with Julie's meet sandals), but this was one of my first purchases from the collection and I found that I had a difficult time finding shoes I liked with it. I ended up using the current MyAG meet boots, and those work well enough, but given the price of the outfit, some shoes or a hair accessory would have been nice.
Overall: I love the way this outfit looks. The pieces pull together very well to create a classic, if simple, outfit. As it's sold, however, it's a little disappointing that it doesn't come with shoes or, well, anything else. Peggy seems to like it, at any rate. I give it an A- overall: looks great but needs shoes.
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