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Post by Lady Lena on Jun 1, 2022 0:08:23 GMT -5
The 35th Anniversary Edition of Molly was sold for a limited time in 2021.Molly was one of the first six dolls introduced by Pleasant Company, now American Girl. Celebrating the 35th anniversary of her launch this special collection, includes:
A Molly doll that’s almost just like the original doll from 1986—she even has a neck string! She has long, wavy dark-brown hair with bangs, and gray eyes. A navy-blue wool skirt that reaches her knees A navy-blue knit sweater with a blue, red, and green argyle pattern on the front A dickey with a white woven collar and rickrack trim that Molly wears under her sweater in place of a full shirt A pair of white bloomers with an elastic waist A pair of white ankle socks A pair of black Mary Jane shoes Two red hairbows that tie on the ends of her braids A pair of round-frame silver metal glasses with a red felt glasses case A navy blue felt beret A shiny red purse with a shoulder strap A woven white hankie with her name embroidered on it in red A silver heart necklace A reproduction steel penny in a paper envelope A Meet Molly paperback book with the original book design
I can’t believe we don’t have a thread for her yet! I bought the 35th anniversary Molly on her release date; I already had Sam and Addy and Josefina and Felicity, and have no interest in Kirsten, so Molly was the obvious choice. (Plus I’ve had a soft spot for her stories since my grandmother bought them for me as a kid 💖) For $150, I got Molly in a repro of her original meet, plus her accessories! She does have the new face mold and the lighter lip paint especially, but I think she’s adorable! http://instagr.am/p/CPJapuVMQck While this is my first Molly, I’ve handled both PM and Mattel Mollys, so there are some subtle differences I noticed between her Mattel, PM, and 35th anniversary outfit and accessories: Her sweater for the 35th anniversary Velcroes up the back Her “locket” is now a silver heart-shaped pendant; it doesn’t open. And the pieces of course follow the new tagging. All in all though, she’s excellent quality, absolutely adorable, and probably the best AG impulse purchase I’ve made in ages! Here she is with her friends: http://instagr.am/p/CVSzgyHMTim
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Post by Lady Lena on Jan 22, 2021 23:26:00 GMT -5
I ordered this set a few weeks ago when my January rewards came in (along with the wombat set and #86), and I have very mixed feelings about it. So, the pros: - the COLORS are absolutely beautiful!
- actual embroidery on the jumpsuit
- sandals have knit elastic back straps, so less likely to snap than some previous flip flops
- the top and jumpsuit are two pieces
- the top is very versatile; it's a pretty shade of yellow and a basic tee that can be mixed and matched
and the cons: - the jumpsuit is viscose - and if you don't know what viscose is, all you need to know is it wrinkles more easily than any other fabric I've ever owned, except maybe linen
- the flip flops did not fit my 86's feet; the actual soles are too small
- the headband took me, a grown adult who has styled doll hair for years, a full two minutes to put on my 86 - and seeing as Kira is also a Josefina mold, I'm not granting leniency for 86's big head. it has very little stretch
You can see the fabric wrinkling easily here: The shoes fitting poorly: And the headband: When all's said and done, I wish I'd gotten the casual outfit instead, but since I had $50 in rewards and I do like enough about it, I'm not going to go through the hassle of returning it. I am going to keep the jumpsuit hung up though, to avoid wrinkles. I'd probably rate the set a C+
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Post by Lady Lena on Nov 25, 2020 21:47:25 GMT -5
I've wanted #25 for well over a decade now, and I recently found one in excellent condition locally! She's a gorgeous doll; mine has pretty thick, shiny hair. http://instagram.com/p/CGFxAR6syle Her hair is very silky, so it tends to fall in her hair - but headbands and hair clips do the trick to keep it back! http://instagram.com/p/CH6FbCFsI8R Genuinely, I do think she's one of the prettiest dolls AG has ever made!
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Post by Lady Lena on Nov 21, 2020 22:18:11 GMT -5
My #8, Kimmy, is my first AG, and will forever hold a special place in my heart. Her limbs have gotten floppy over the years (and I don't have the heart to test out restringing on her for the first time), so I don't photograph her as often as I should, but she is a gorgeous doll. http://instagram.com/p/CGSqj3QsJ1s She's from 2003, so she does have a slightly chubbier body than most of my newer dolls, and she has that rock-hard vinyl. http://instagram.com/p/CGxqrtdsqYJ Her hair has stayed soft and shiny through the years, though I know I used to take her everywhere, so she's never needed any Doll Hospital treatments. It's definitely more auburn - the same color as Mattel Felicity. Here's Kimmy with her sister, Kate (who is a Caroline with a Blaire wig) http://instagram.com/p/CATUye-leGe Here's a picture of when I got her - though I don't think it was the day of:
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Post by Lady Lena on Oct 5, 2020 23:36:52 GMT -5
#85 is one of the prettiest dolls I've seen AG put out in a long time, and she came out just in time; I'd been waffling on a CYO with pretty much the same combination! She has the new darkest skintone, and her curls are tighter than I believe any AG previously (though I might be mistaken in that). Her hair is very full and thick - and soft, which is unusual for curly haired AG dolls. I can't quite figure out whether her hair is textured at all. She does not have a set part, and you can change her part by shifting her hair. She has a lot of smaller hairs to cover her wig cap. http://instagram.com/p/CC4U29rMJFS Her hair is easy to style; I'm used to working with curly hair, though 85's hair is much more tightly curled than anything I've handled to this point. It retains its curl even after being put in a ponytail or pigtails. I haven't yet tried braiding. I haven't needed to reshape her curls yet, and I've been styling her hair pretty frequently. http://instagram.com/p/CC6rSS6sMKu http://instagram.com/p/CDBimrLsWJr I got my 85's ears pierced when I ordered her, and put some drops on her earrings. They don't seem to get caught in her hair, but they do get hidden easily. I think she looks best in white and in bright colors. It really suits her coloring. http://instagram.com/p/CFKgVD7Mrt6 http://instagram.com/p/CEmYb_rsh7B http://instagram.com/p/CEzly7GsFwR As you can see, I've even tied her hair up in a wrap, and it bounced right back to its beautiful curls after I took it out: http://instagram.com/p/CFHyc-wslk- I don't think I have any photos of her in her original meet (the newer white dress with rainbow stars + hot pink jacket), but she looks fantastic in it. Both the white dress and bright jacket really make her pop! I've also been using Lanie's clothes on her; I had bought a lot of Lanie things a while back, and feel that her collection washes her out, but on 85, they make her shine: http://instagram.com/p/CFSzolHs0A- Overall, I think she's an excellent doll, and a great addition to my collection! http://instagram.com/p/CFkgtMBsBFc
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Post by Lady Lena on Oct 5, 2020 23:07:07 GMT -5
I absolutely love my Jess! She's been a longtime favorite around here! Her hair color is one of my favorites that AG has ever made. The reddish tint is extremely unique and really makes her stand out among my other dark-haired dolls. And that part! The zigzag part is so perfectly mid-00s! My Jess's hair is still pretty full and soft, though when it's down it still falls into waves more than a decade later. http://instagram.com/p/CE2dGkPsXug http://instagram.com/p/CBjcEP0s-d- http://instagram.com/p/CC_9VBtMhOC I will say I did buy a second Jess to customize, and her wig is a little dry and thin, however, since it's been so long since she was released, I'm not sure whether that's natural variation, or if the second Jess was very well-loved.
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Post by Lady Lena on Oct 5, 2020 22:51:38 GMT -5
I bought an 83 with rewards, with the intent of making two customs - her wig would go to a Marie-Grace, and I had a Jess wig (from a previous custom) for her. I started working on her almost immediately, so I only have a few photos of her with her original wig - and none with it out of the net, though I did get a few pictures of a display doll at AGDC. She has the same skin tone as Blaire - the new light skin tone. As such, her face paint looks really vibrant. Her wig, like most curly AG wigs, is a little crunchy and thin, but it is a very pretty color and long. I don't have comparison photos, but for me, it's nowhere near as light as Caroline or Lanie's wigs, though still lighter than most AG blonde wigs. She does have the newer hazel eyes, that are mostly brown with bits of green. Here's the 83 that was on display at AGDC: And my 83: Here's a picture of her eyes (this is post-customization, but I did try to crop out most of her new wig): She's really a beautiful doll, and while I'm happy with my two customs that I got out of her, I don't think I'd be opposed to buying another 83 to keep her as-is.
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Post by Lady Lena on Oct 5, 2020 22:00:47 GMT -5
I found my Rebecca on ebay with the full intent to customize her into a mini-me (I'd planned on buying a BeForever Rebecca with the darker hazel eyes to be my Rebecca), however, I fell totally in love with her. She was in great shape; I did wash and condition her hair (as it was a bit dry), and I did clean up her limbs with a magic eraser, but I didn't need to put that much work into her. She is an older Rebecca; she has the same exact hazel eyes as Mia and Lanie (I checked), and they're much lighter than #83. I do feel like the newer hazel is perhaps a bit more true to the illustrations than the older, brighter hazel, but she's gorgeous either way. She is, imo, one of the prettiest dolls AG has ever made; I love her curls. They're easy enough to maintain without worrying about finger curling. They brush easily. http://instagram.com/p/CCChNFwMPCu http://instagram.com/p/CDZ1RZIs4eV http://instagram.com/p/CD1fwqcMY6X http://instagram.com/p/CEMO1arMnna http://instagram.com/p/CF-Dw-2MuUO She looks good in just about everything, even modern clothes. Rebecca is close enough to be my mini-me without customizing (my eyes are more green and less hazel, and my hair is a little darker), so sometimes she fills that role for me: http://instagram.com/p/CF7jxZ6sW1P http://instagram.com/p/CCHZJPvMpwo I do still eventually want to get the BeForever version with the darker hazel eyes, though whether I'll end up with two Rebeccas, make one of them (a more true to canon) Ana, or finally make one of them into a mini me, I'm not sure.
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Post by Lady Lena on Oct 5, 2020 17:44:11 GMT -5
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Post by Lady Lena on Oct 5, 2020 0:47:03 GMT -5
I love Marie-Grace's unique face shape, as well as her eye color. To me, she reminds me strikingly of my older sister around age 12 or so. I have three Marie-Grace dolls: one custom boy with a black wig (Raviv, see customs board), one custom with an #83 wig (will post on customs board once I'm done), and one whose only customization is that I boil dipped her hair in braids, so it's got a natural wavy look to it. I waffled on a bit with whether to do that, or to straighten the front of her hair that had been braided for years and was thus well indented. Because of the braids, her wig isn't really even; it's clearly meant to be braided in the front around to the back, like in her meet style. It is much thicker in the front than in the back. Before I boil dipped her hair, I kept it in a french braid: http://instagram.com/p/CAwegB3MGFy But I think it looks much better now with the waves. http://instagram.com/p/CEZhOmgsyBx She's an absolutely beautiful doll, and I do wish AG would use her face mold again, or at least add it to the CYO options.
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Post by Lady Lena on Oct 5, 2020 0:39:22 GMT -5
I bought my Gabriela secondhand, and she needed a bit of TLC. she has some shine marks, and I've had to fiddle with her hair to salvage it (it's a bit dry), but she has lovely dark face paint and a sweet expression: http://instagram.com/p/CA-7C0Dsn9H You can see a shine mark on her forehead that I haven't tried to work on with micro mesh quite yet. http://instagram.com/p/CBMS9u3MwHE She looks great in bright colors and whites. My Gabriela does not have pierced ears. http://instagram.com/p/CBWeuIZsnp4 Here she is next to Sonali, for comparison. Her hair is lighter, and she seems to have a warmer and lighter complexion overall, as well as darker/brighter face paint. http://instagram.com/p/CBn_NHWsJkP Because my Gabriela came with TLC hair that I washed, conditioned, and styled, I haven't been afraid to try new styles with her hair. http://instagram.com/p/CEzly7GsFwR She's a beautiful doll, and I'm glad she's part of my collection http://instagram.com/p/CFPmvRGsFp_
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Post by Lady Lena on Oct 5, 2020 0:18:41 GMT -5
I went to AGDC to get Blaire and Luciana, and instead, I fell completely head over heels in love with Melody and had to get her instead (sorry, Luci!). Melody had been a "someday" doll for me, but after seeing her in person – that day was the day. Here she is right out of the box http://instagram.com/p/CCg7qhtMjjf You can see she has the "box hair" and the choppier bangs. I find her bangs endearing, and I've managed to style her hair so it's more evenly flipped on both sides. Her hair is textured; not as much as PC Addy, but more than say #80. It has a very nice feel to it and styles well (even though it's short!). I much prefer her hair over the slipperier straight hair that AG seems to be favoring lately. http://instagram.com/p/CC1t-TMMj3d http://instagram.com/p/CD9ltlUMwKh My Melody came in an older box (with rubber bands holding her arms and legs, and not the thin ties you have to cut), but she has the good eyes and no perma panties. That said, I have no idea when she was manufactured, even though I bought her in 2020. Here she is with my Sonali and Gabriela, for comparison: http://instagram.com/p/CFSzolHs0A- (she looks adorable in her school dress!) http://instagram.com/p/CFfFBncM9sI
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Post by Lady Lena on Oct 5, 2020 0:01:18 GMT -5
Lindsey was the first AG doll I ever fell in love with, way back in 2001 when she was introduced. I loved her scooter, I loved her outfit, I loved her little laptop; I loved everything about her. Unfortunately, I wasn't much of a "doll" girl, and my parents didn't want to buy me a doll that expensive only for me to get bored of her, so by the time I convinced them I really did want an AG, Lindsey was no longer available. I'd long since given up trying to find her as she was always listed on eBay in my earlier collecting days for truly outrageous prices, but in about April, I found her listed on ebay as an unidentified AG doll. She didn't have her meet outfit, but she had nice face paint and her hair looked, while not silky smooth, not too dry, so I placed a bid and I won! Her hair was quite dry when I got her, and after several sessions of braid spray and deep conditioning, I realised the only way to fix her hair would be a boil perm. I did get the curlers a little too tight for her canon look, but it suits her: http://instagram.com/p/CAhYW2Es6mO However, as you can see, the curls have fallen significantly since then, while her hair remains soft: http://instagram.com/p/CECZ_14sQOq She also has the loosest limbs of any of my dolls (I suspect she was very well-loved, and I'm a bit nervous to try restringing), though with some careful posing, she can stand on her own. http://instagram.com/p/CEUTn7UMGmt My Lindsey does have a bit of a pallor to her, though it's not noticeable unless she's with other dolls.I wouldn't say she's grey but she's not quite as rosy as my other light skinned dolls. http://instagram.com/p/CF43ISxsL7m http://instagram.com/p/CF2TV0csVNF http://instagram.com/p/CF5WuQPsKc4 http://instagram.com/p/CF5g2gvsyJn Her meet outfit remains one of my favorites, and I still hope some day to at least get the shirt, skirt, and hoodie.
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Post by Lady Lena on Oct 4, 2020 23:45:39 GMT -5
I bought Joss as a birthday present for myself back in June, and I'm so glad I did! Her face shape is unique and adorable. I would argue that, much like Addy and #4, AG's stock photos simply do not do this girl justice. I hadn't seen her in person before ordering her, but I had seen photos on instagram that were enough to sway me. She has the same upturned nose as classic molds, but a heart shaped face (like Marie-Grace, though not quite as narrow). She does seem to have a more pronounced smile than the classic mold girls, but with the same lip shape. http://instagram.com/p/CBdoPcMsIvU Her hair color is different from the other brunette girls I have. I would say it's closest to Marie-Grace, maybe? but it has different highlights in it. Her hair is very smooth, to a point of being slippery, and that coupled with the layers severely limits the hairstyles you can put her in that look nice (and even then, it's a lot of effort). However, it seems like good quality (unlike some slippery wigs - I'm looking at you, Julie), if a bit on the thinner side. Here she is in her original hairstyle: http://instagram.com/p/CCe3am-s02n Her hearing aid pretty much just pops into place in her ear (her face mold's ears are specially shaped for this); I haven't had any trouble with it getting dislodged while changing her or styling her hair, but I have removed it a few times just to make sure I could, and it came out (and went back in) easily. http://instagram.com/p/CBgOOzTsPyl http://instagram.com/p/CCwNdvkspn2 Her meet outfit is cute but not to my style, though I love the shorts. The flip flops are tricky to get off; you basically have to get them sideways before they'll come off. (On the plus side: they don't just fall off, and they're solid plastic so there's no chance of an elastic band dry rotting like with other flip flops and sandals). I'd rate the doll an A- (for the hair), and the meet a B
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Post by Lady Lena on Oct 4, 2020 22:09:33 GMT -5
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Post by Lady Lena on Oct 4, 2020 21:55:18 GMT -5
Sonali is an absolutely beautiful doll, and I can't believe I didn't review her back when I got her! I don't have much to add to what's already been said. Eleven years later, my Sonali, Martha, still has soft hair, tight limbs, and almost no flaws. I did pierce her ears on my own when I was a teenager, and I drew a tattoo on her arm in eyeliner to make her match the character on TV (I suspect as a kid I had no idea she'd one day be so sought after lol - but that's fine, as I have no intention of selling her any time soon) http://instagram.com/p/CAisbZ9MsJb Here she is with her hair down and in more kid-style clothes: http://instagram.com/p/CBJWVH9snQx With Gabriela (she does have a cooler, darker skin tone than Gabriela, but that's probably down to the vinyl batch): http://instagram.com/p/CBn_NHWsJkP She's wearing her hair in a ponytail here; if you click through you can see her curls: http://instagram.com/p/CE5JeDPs8Ba
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Post by Lady Lena on Oct 4, 2020 21:36:17 GMT -5
As a Taylor Swift fan since... well, since her first album dropped, it shouldn't surprise anyone that I technically own two Tenneys. The first I bought on a FB BST group bald, put a Luci wig on her, and made a custom doll. The second I found on FB Marketplace along with Gabriela, and got the two of them together with full meets for a good price. Tenney Two (or Olive, as I've named her) has dry hair, and she definitely no longer has her gorgeous curls, which I do plan on fixing some day, but she has the sweetest face http://instagram.com/p/CDRl5-psG7L Despite her wig issues, I'm reluctant to send her to the DH for a head replacement, because I really do love her face, and I've seen a lot of Tenneys who have an almost mean look to them lol http://instagram.com/p/CEfEiGRsOug Olive gave her body up to a custom, so her body is now just a regular light skinned body without the shaped hands to hold her guitar or banjo, but that's fine, because Olive doesn't play either. I actually don't have any photos of her in her meet, but it is probably the one item of Tenney's entire collection that was not ripped directly from something Taylor Swift has been photographed or on video wearing (please correct me if I'm wrong and she has worn something similar to this), but regardless, it's cute! The t-shirt is something I'm pretty neutral on, but I love the skirt, boots, and vest. This is absolutely something I would have worn around age 12 when I was in the throes of my country phase.
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Post by Lady Lena on Oct 4, 2020 21:25:34 GMT -5
I got my #4, Elia, a few months ago from a board member who saw her on a local listing for $20 and asked if I wanted her, since I was already going to pick up more purchases from her anyway. I said yes, of course, and I still can't quite believe that I got her for that price. Like basically everyone else, AG's stock photos never did much for me, but Inky definitely did. That said, I fell out of AG collecting before she was retired, and when I came back, prices on the secondary market were through the roof; I'm extremely glad I got Elia for the price I did, because in her condition in a BST group or collector board, I'm sure I wouldn't have found her for less than $150. She came in basically perfect condition. Her ears were pierced at AG; her limbs are slightly loose but she can stand and hold a pose on her own with no problems, so I'm not too worried about that right now. Her hair is full, thick, soft, and uncut. Her face paint is vibrant without being too overpowering. ETA: Elia definitely has the newer wig with the thinner bangs and a center part, though in pictures it's hard to tell as her hair is BLACK, with no brown whatsoever. http://instagram.com/p/CBzPSYyMHbZ http://instagram.com/p/CEcMHaYsdHl http://instagram.com/p/CEmYb_rsh7B http://instagram.com/p/CFNBN28sO_I http://instagram.com/p/CFVE2eds7QV http://instagram.com/p/CFkgtMBsBFc http://instagram.com/p/CFsbhf1MFXZ http://instagram.com/p/CFw5tAMsF-s suffice to say, she's one of my favorites!
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Post by Lady Lena on Oct 4, 2020 21:21:59 GMT -5
#20 was always a dream doll for me; as a child, she looked the most like me. I wanted #8 more, but I'd always wanted to get #20 someday - and then #20 was retired shortly after I got my #8. As I detail on this instagram post, I made a habit of scanning ebay for her. As she's been long retired and also looks similar to #3 and Kirsten (the grey is visibly different in person, but I can see how a non-collector, looking up the doll to list online, might assume her eyes are blue), she's hard to find on her own. I managed to find her on ebay for a steal (listed as just "blonde"), and she arrived in nearly mint condition: http://instagram.com/p/CBQ73his00M She's PC from the squish of her vinyl its the warmer (not grey!) tones (not to mention her missing body tag). Her eyelashes are soft and by an insane stroke of luck, at this point she shows no signs of silver eye or bubble eye. I can't date her more succinctly than "pre-Mattel", as she didn't come in a meet outfit. I suspect she was a display doll (most likely in a case as there was no dust on her whatsoever), as her limbs are extremely tight, hair smooth and soft, and face paint as vibrant as I have ever seen on a PC (no, I didn't touch her up!). She also came wearing a full early 00s GOT outfit, which furthers my suspicion. Her only flaw was some ink transfer from the bracelet from her outfit, which I took care of with some magic eraser followed by oxy treatments. http://instagram.com/p/CBizAkyM0xP I've named her Sláine Margaret Maguire; her middle name an homage to my grandmother, whose coloring (and ancestry, though my grandmother was born in the US) she shares. Here she is next to Jenniflore, my #85: http://instagram.com/p/CDtuKnpsebU
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Post by Lady Lena on Oct 4, 2020 18:43:49 GMT -5
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Post by Lady Lena on Oct 4, 2020 18:15:26 GMT -5
I got my #28, Alex, really cheap on eBay (she was mislabeled as Rebecca). I mostly got her for the custom dress she was in, and planned to customize or resell her because I already have Marisol, who I don't picture having a sister, but when I got her she was too cute to change (story of my life). She was in really good condition; I did wash and condition her hair and scrub her limbs with a magic eraser, but her limbs are tight and she only has a couple of small stains on her limbs that I'm going to need to oxy out when we start getting warm days again. Her hair is short and silky soft, and a perfect color match for Marisol. I think she looks quite different from my Marisol; they could pass for sisters if I really wanted them to, but they don't look similar enough to be identical twins. Alex, to me, has more of an emo or punk vibe, and she's claimed Blaire's pet chicken as her own. http://instagram.com/p/CFamMakscME http://instagram.com/p/CFkgtMBsBFc
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Post by Lady Lena on Oct 4, 2020 16:58:51 GMT -5
This is probably my favorite piece of Courtney's collection that I have so far, and given my love of acid wash, that's saying a lot. It is so soft and such a high quality, and while the bright colors and patterns seem tacky (part of why I love it), they do help it match literally any piece in her collection. The pockets are real and functional, and the sleeves easily push up and stay up if you want to show off her bangle bracelets or fingerless gloves. Next to the jean jacket; they're both high quality, but the jean jacket is stiff while the cardigan is so, so soft. http://instagram.com/p/CF42IjAM8E3
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Post by Lady Lena on Oct 4, 2020 16:54:52 GMT -5
Once I saw the mini walkman, I knew I had to get Courtney's meet accessories. They currently retail for $30 (though $5 off if you buy the doll + accessories at the same time), and include: - Cassette Player / Walkman
- Headphones
- Cassette Tape
- Cassette Case
- Four bangle bracelets
- Lip Smacker lip balm on a cord
- "Maureen for Mayor" button
Overall, I'm really impressed by the quality, though not without a few caveats. I'm going to go down each item individually. Helping me out with my photos are my Courtney (Mirjam), and my #25 (Simone, but we can pretend she's Tina borrowing Courtney's things - or reclaiming the things Courtney "borrowed" from her) Cassette Player / WalkmanThis is adorable! It is not functional, but you can put the tape in (and, I suspect, the tapes from the sleepover set, though that was not in the store when I went) and press down on the buttons. You have to open the cassette player manually; there's no springs or anything electronic in this at all. It is a bit strange how the only way for her to hold it (without practically breaking your doll's hand) is on the back of her hand. It looks so weird and unnatural to me that way that I made a cord with embroidery thread so she can just have it hang from that from her wrist. Not perfect, but a little better. There is also a giant grey peg on the top that the headphones go on top of, rather than an internal headphone jack-style hole to connect them. (with the cord I made to go around her wrist) (with the cassette tape inside) see pictures below for the awkward way the built-in strap makes it sit on her hand. HeadphonesSpeaking of the headphones, they are really nice quality! The headband is metal, the earphones are solid quality plastic, and they even have the little foam covers that headphones like that always had (still have? I haven't seen anything sold with old school headphones like this in a while). The cord is a thick yellow plastic, and while it looks a bit bulky, we have to remember that these are children's toys, and they won't be easily tangled. There's a plug at the end with a notch in it so that it can pop right onto the cassette player. See photos below Cassette TapeThe tape is cute, nonfunctional, and fits in both the cassette player and the cassette case. It says "Courtney's Mix 1", and has a designated A side and B side, just like a real cassette. (it even fits into the cassette player like a real cassette). Again, it's not functional, but it's cute. See photos below. Cassette CaseIt's just a basic little plastic cassette case that has the track listing (all two songs lol, neither of which seem to be real songs, presumably because of copyright issues with history that recent) that you can put the cassette into when you want to switch out what's in the walkman. It snaps closed and seems to stay closed. Bangle BraceletsThese are, imo, the most mixed of all the items. They are high quality, thick plastic, with embossed patterns. They aren't closed; there's a little gap so you can stretch them over her wrist. However, if you stack all four on one wrist, they're too small to go on and off without scratching her vinyl up. They also get stretched out the further up her wrist they are. Also, they just seem.... a little thick for 80s bangles to me? I could be wrong; I wasn't alive during the 80s, but something about the scale makes me think more of the chunky bangles that were popular in the late 00s than the thinner ones I'm used to seeing in media produced in the 80s (and family photos, of course). I've been stacking them two on each wrist when she does wear them, because that's about the extent to which I feel they can sit without scratching her vinyl. The bracelets on their own: Lip Smacker on cordThis is super cute! It's doll sized and adorable and nostalgic (for me, too; I remember these in the 90s). The cap comes off completely so you can apply the lip balm (plastic) to her lips. I suspect the cap might go missing with children (or even absent-minded adults). The lip smacker is two solid pieces (cap + tube) and to my knowledge can't be removed from the cord without cutting the cord. I haven't had any desire to remove it, so I haven't tried. The cord does have a sliding knot to adjust the length. Maureen for Mayor buttonLike Rebecca's rabbit brooch, this is a clip, not an actual pin. That said, it can slide onto her shirt, skirt, cardigan, or jacket, and seems to be of high quality. It's one solid piece, with the campaign logo printed on the front. It doesn't feel cheap at all, and I'm not worried about breaking it. Overall, I'd give the meet accessories set a B. Various photos using multiple pieces: - bangles up the arms; I really couldn't get four to sit in a way I felt wouldn't damage the doll coming off. maybe I'm just paranoid about a new doll. - headphones on, with cord - walkman tied to her wrist using a strap I made myself - bangles two per wrist; this is the way I think fits the best - as you can see, the walkman sits awkwardly on the outside of her hand. I have some friends who were able to finagle it so she actually held it, but my doll / walkman (not sure which is to blame) wouldn't do that. I tried to wrap the headphones over her neck, but it doesn't quite look natural because of how thick the cord is -Maureen for mayor button -Lip Smacker cap -Cassette case (open) -black bangle -Maureen for mayor button clipped onto the pocket of Courtney's meet skirt -Lip Smacker on cord
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Post by Lady Lena on Oct 4, 2020 16:30:20 GMT -5
This set was released at Courtney's debut in September 2020.Courtney has a great sense of style and she gives every outfit an extra layer of awesome with these totally ’80s accessories, including: A set with both pink and green earring posts that can hold either pink star or green triangle-shaped drop earrings that Courtney might have picked out when she got her ears pierced at the Radiance Salon at the mall, A neon green hair tie she can wear so she doesn’t have to borrow one from her stepsister, Tina, A pink lace headband with a big bow and elastic at the back, A pair of purple lace fingerless gloves just like one of her favorite singers wears. Please note: Courtney Doll does not have pierced ears. Ear piercing is available at the time of purchase or at the Doll Hospital.Courtney's fashion accessories include a neon green scrunchie, a pink lace headband, a pair of purple lace fingerless gloves, and a set of two earrings (neon pink or neon green) with drops (neon pink stars, neon green triangles) that you can mix and match. The set was $16, and for me, it was an impulse purchase at AGDC Everything in this set is really high quality. The scrunchie is cotton and doll-sized (so it can sit on her wrist when she's not wearing it in her hair), the earrings and drops are metal (though painted), and neither the headband nor the gloves feel cheap or like they'd snag easily. Here's one of my dolls, Zehra, wearing the headband and pink earrings with the pink star drops: http://instagram.com/p/CF5fTMIswTU And here's my Courtney, Mirjam, wearing the scrunchie and the green earrings with the green triangle drops: http://instagram.com/p/CF5g2gvsyJn The fingerless gloves are sitting in the box mostly because they were obscured by the jacket and sweater. They were easy enough to get on (given AG doll hands, they're definitely made more like super short armwarmers, with a little hole for the thumb and a bigger one for her four fingers). The tag is a bit distracting, and I haven't quite decided whether or not I'm going to cut it out For the price and the quality, I'd say it's worth it, especially considering how nice the earrings are (and versatile!) My only complaint is that without the caboodles set, there's really nowhere secure to put the accessories so they don't get lost. I'm not sure why AG got rid of their earring trees, but it is a pain to have to keep track of the earrings without one.
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Post by Lady Lena on Oct 4, 2020 16:16:36 GMT -5
I ordered Courtney 20 minutes after her release... and due to FedEx being FedEx, I've still yet to receive the package (she's been in shipping limbo for 2 weeks now). I called AG CS a little over a week ago and they offered to get me a free return label if I decided to buy another Courtney – so I went down to AGDC and picked one out in person. She is absolutely adorable. I was initially disappointed by the leaks (not in the least because AG has plenty of white blonde classic mold dolls), and I'm not a huge fan of the classic mold (I say even though most of my favorite dolls are classic molds), but she is SO much cuter in person! I renamed mine Mirjam and made her a West Berlin girl to fit in with my other 80s dolls better, but she is easily one of the most adorable dolls I've ever seen. http://instagram.com/p/CFzpSvusN16 Her hair is probably my favorite thing about her - it's not crunchy like the CYO curly hair or Gabriela's hair. It's soft and what's more: it looks and feels like naturally curly hair for once! No, the hair isn't perfectly uniformly curly. Courtney (as a character) has naturally curly hair, and it shows in the doll. I love her curls so much for that reason! http://instagram.com/p/CF42IjAM8E3 Her coloring is interesting and unique; while her lip paint, hair color, and eye color can give the impression in stock photos (or even non-stock solo photos) that she has the lightest skin tone (like Blaire), she actually has the same old "normal" light skin tone that AG's been using since 1986. Her hair is definitely more of a honey blonde with hints of strawberry, and her eyes are darker than the regular blue; here she is with my Lindsey and my Nellie: http://instagram.com/p/CF5g2gvsyJn As you can see, her hair and eye color aren't terribly far off from Nellie, although Nellie's hair is redder and her eyes are darker. There does seem to be a trend with some Courtney dolls having "shorter" teeth (most likely an issue of where the stamp fell in production), but when I picked mine out in person, I found the "shorter" teeth more charming and endearing on her, so that's what I went for. I know not everyone is inclined to agree, but I think she's perfect. Easily an A+ from me
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Post by Lady Lena on May 26, 2020 19:57:47 GMT -5
I recently purchased a Lanie in an eBay lot; I got a really good deal on her, her meet, her PJs, and her animals (all except the owl). As I'd wanted the animals for a long time it was a no-brainer for me. When she arrived, her hair was dry and frizzy, but the curls were perfectly intact; I don't think it'd been brushed once by her previous owners. Naturally, my first order of business was to give her hair a good wash, condition, and brush (brushing each curl out individually and restructuring them around my fingers). The one thing I did notice about her hair is that there are a lot of much shorter pieces in the cap to give the wig fullness (and to cover the wig cap) that makes it a bit more difficult to keep the curls looking smooth and nice. Her meet outfit is cute, but I think looks better on dolls with darker coloring. On Lanie, it makes her look pale, sallow, and washed out. I haven't experimented that much on clothes for her, but I think she looks much better in more muted colors. I'm not entirely sure whether I'll keep her; I'll see if she grows on me enough.
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Post by Lady Lena on Apr 11, 2020 19:35:19 GMT -5
I got my PM #2, Melanie, in a lot on ebay with some outfits - I couldn't justify not buying the lot for $15 - and had plans to customize her, but when she arrived I was too charmed. Her previous owner had given her a little bit of a haircut, but I think it suits her well. She has such a sweet face. I'd agree that she was probably intended to be a latina doll before AG had the Josefina mold, and her vinyl does have a sort of cooler cast to it than my Marisol, but I really like her. Overall, I'd probably give her a B+
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Post by Lady Lena on Dec 29, 2008 16:07:13 GMT -5
Like Bean said, Nellie is made of pure sugar and cute. I got my Nellie, Sarah Rose Jones (or just plain Rose) for Christmas from my dad. She completed the second Historical/best friend set I had. (The first was Felicity and Elizabeth. I've Emily, Kit, and Julie, but no Molly, Ruthie, or Ivy.) Rose is from 1912, but was taken from the Titanic by Mina, and now she time travels, and so is essentially modern. She's only got one modern outfit, and she prefers her blue dress. (Yeah, I'm working her into a story if you couldn't tell). I adore her meet dress, it's so beautiful! I also got her accessories and I love the miniature cross necklace. There, really, is nothing about her that I don't like. I've taken a lot of pictures of her with my digital camera, and I've still got to install the software once I get my PC up, so I'll post them at some point. A+ easily. ETA (10/4/20): I've since transitioned my Nellie to be a German Jewish girl from 1980s East Germany (Leipzig, to be specific) and have better pictures of her to share: http://instagram.com/p/CD_z9ICMWHR http://instagram.com/p/CEUTn7UMGmt http://instagram.com/p/CF2TV0csVNF I think she works well in any era!
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Post by Lady Lena on Nov 4, 2008 19:18:55 GMT -5
I ordered my Samantha a few weeks ago, and I love her! My dad has the camera and I can't find my cell phone, so I don't have any pics!She's one of the prettiest dolls I've ever seen! Her face is so sweet, and I love her dark brown eyes, especially with her bangs. Her hair is so beautiful and curly, and, ironically a lot more like mine than I thought Ruthie's would be. Her bangs are a little crooked, but that only endears her to me more! Right after I got her out of the box, I decided that she was destined to stay a Historical, joining Lucy and Emily as my stay-in-era girls. I love her so much that I might have to buy another off of eBay to make modern! A+ ETA 10/4/20: picture! (12 years later) http://instagram.com/p/CD3tAs9MmK8
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Post by Lady Lena on Jul 26, 2008 12:05:08 GMT -5
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