Winter Skirt & Blouse (RETIRED)

[QNPoohBear]

This outfit is worn by Kirsten in the book Changes for Kirsten and the short story “Kirsten Snowbound”. Released in 1988, retired at archival in 2009.

Kristen’s winter outfit was inspired by a festival costume from the “old country.” The white blouse has full peasant sleeves and a button at the keyhole opening of the neckline. The heavy black wool skirt has a beautiful braid woven in a floral pattern at the waist and bands of red and green at the hem. Two hair ribbons woven in bright colors add an enchanting touch.


Kirsten's winter outfit is based on the typical clothing of Scandinavian peasants. The skirt is traditionally striped on the bottom in red and green, which are separate from the actual skirt. The skirt is black wool with an embroidered waistband. The fabric is thick (on PM version anyway). The blouse on the PM version is light cotton and has a little keyhole at the neckline and a faux button on the front. It closes in back with velcro. The newer version has a softer brushed cotton/flannel blouse. The sleeves on the blouse close with velcro at her wrists. The hair ribbons are woven floral ribbons. They are a typical Swedish design. The original ones I have are trimmed in red but I also have a paid trimmed in white and the catalog shoes an entirely different pair! This outfit is very cute but the velcro on mine never really stayed closed and with Kirsten's underwear underneath, she feels very much like a stuffed potato. She doesn't wear it too often anymore.

Grade: A














Original hair ribbons (white) and ribbons from Kirsten's hair ribbon set (red)

[scandia]

I had no trouble putting the clothes on my PM Kirsten who had the flannel underwear underneath. She looks absolutely beautiful. My favorite part is the skirt- I like that the waistband stays on the skirt and is not a removable sash. I love the hair ribbons as well. The blouse is lovely- it is flannel so it is warmer than if it were a crisp cotton. This outfit gets an A+ from me- I cannot believe I did not buy it earlier.

[Wickfield]

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

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

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

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

[emchhardy]

I was pleasantly surprised by this outfit. I didn't think I would like it very much but much to my surprise, I really love it. The skirt is my favorite piece by far (has a nice thickness to it) and the shirt and ribbons are just a nice compliment to it.

[Nostalgia]

I have the PM version of this outfit and I too didn't think I was going to like it but I'm so glad my grandma gave it to me as a gift. What I love most about it is the blouse. Its timeless by itself. I love using it for all time periods.

A+

[Mars]

I'm by no means an expert, but I believe that the ribbons and waist are both machine embroidered. Very lovely, not quite as nice as it might be if it was hand-embroidered. But I can't imagine how long it'd take to do it by hand, so. But either way, I love the detail and colors here.

Anyway, the shirt doesn't seem inclined to pill offhand so maybe that problem has been fixed. It has velcro at the sleeves so that they're snug on the wrists. I found that one of the arms was the tiniest bit hard to velcro, but it can be done.

The ribbons seem quite sturdy and I hadn't noticed them on the site at all, so I thought they were worth photographing. The skirt is like a wool...felt? Something in between. Wow, I'm awesome at identifying fabric. Anyway, it's nicer than felt but I'm not sure if it's wool; it doesn't quite have that same feel.

The whole outfit together is really pretty, and as long as it doesn't have the pilling problem noted above I give it an A.

[Trapicia]

Due to the archival, I ordered this from American Girl at the end of September (just before the free shipping code, it figures). I also just received a PM skirt and blouse today in a lot of American Girl/Pleasant Company items I bought.

I want to note that the PM skirt is very different from the Mattel version. The PM skirt has more of a woven texture and thinner fabric, and not the boiled, felt-y texture of the newer one. The new one looks shiny comparatively. Also, the cut of the skirt is different. The PM skirt seems to have a tapered cut, with fewer gathers at the waist, which makes it less bulky at the waist, but fuller at the hem; while the newer version seems to be more of a gathered tube. Combined with the thinner material, it fits Kirsten better, even though the waistbands are the exact same size.
Also the red and green trim on the PM version is cut and fitted to the skirt better. It is smooth, while the trim, especially the red, on my newer version puckers.

The shirts are very similar, but the PM shirt seems to have slightly longer arms and be wider in the shoulders. The length of the bodice is identical. The newer fabric is smoother, but I cannot tell if that is a change in the fabric or if the older one is fuzzier from wear. I love the keyhole neck detail.

All in all, I prefer the PM skirt, and I feel about the same toward the PM and Mattel versions of the shirts. Either one looks beautiful on Kirsten. But, if you have the opportunity to purchase the PM version, I would recommend that for the quality of the skirt.

[vflo]

This outfit is so pretty.

[rosieangel]

I have the Mattel set, which I also quickly bought upon announcement of Kirsten's archival. The top is a white flannel fabric that I feel rather ambivalent about - I like the cut of it with the sweet little keyhole front, but the fabric attracts lint from her woolens like a magnet!

The skirt, however, is lovely - a thick wool felt that holds a hooplike shape with an embroidered waistband and bias binding trim. It's really festive for the holidays - although I also have Kirsten's Santa Lucia gown, I prefer to have her in this ensemble with her "woolens" during the holiday season. The ribbons are also very pretty! They coordinate well with the skirt.

This set is fun to play with, since you can mix and match it with a variety of socks, shoes, ribbons, and other accessories. I probably spend more play time with Kirsten's winter clothes than any other.

[5hensandacockatiel]

One of the best buys ever from American Girl! I love everything about this set. Excellent. A+++

[Deleted]

I have a PC set I bought secondhand. This was one always I always wanted for Kirsten (living in a snowy place, you tend to immediately be drawn to warm, winter clothing).

The blouse is nice, though the pinhole closure shows off her skin (I do not have the winter underwear set). The flannel definitely has gotten piled, but I am sure it would be in the same condition had I gotten it for myself as a little girl. B+

I love the skirt. I like my neutral colours to begin with, and the addition of the flower design at the waist, and a couple of borders of colours at the bottom makes me very happy. The skirt seems to be made of a felt material, which I wish they used a more studier material so the skirt would hold its shape better. A-

The ribbons ... are ribbons? I do like the pattern on them, and they seem a but sturdier because of that than her meet ribbons or school outfit ribbons. A

Overall, I always wanted the outfit, and now I have it, so I cannot complain. It also works for me as her Christmastime outfit, due to the red and green trimmings.

[12kizuna]

Kirsten's ready for Winter in Minnesota!



The blouse is white, with a little keyhole opening at the neck with a button at the top. The button is just for show- it doesn't actually open and close the neck. The blouse has no other remarkable features. It's good that the top is plain-- it helps bring focus to the details of the other pieces of the outfit. (Note: The white you see below the keyhole opening in the picture below is from her underwear set. Otherwise, you'd see the color of her body fabric showing through.)



The two hair ribbons are beyond adorable. They are black with a white border and beautiful embroidered red and white flowers. These are my favorite hair ribbons for Kirsten, and by far the most detailed.



The skirt is the best part of all. It is black and thick with a beautiful embroidered waist. It is so colorful and shows beautiful flowers. It gives homage to her Swedish background. The waist on the skirt alone gives so much character to this outfit!



The bottom of the skirt has one green and one red stripe to tie in with the color scheme of the ribbons and waist detail. The one bad thing about the skirt is that it attracts lint like nobody's business!



I give this outfit an absolute A+!!! It is so gorgeous with bright details. It especially looks good paired with Kirsten's red boots, as was shown in the catalogs. I say definitely get it if you can acquire it for a reasonable price. It is beautiful and so very Kirsten!

[keeperofthepast]

I just love this set! I think Kirsten looks so cute in this especially with the red boots. I think this is great as a Christmas outfit. The hair ribbons are so pretty.