I am a dork, it's true.
Ahhh, finally getting off my ass and assembling this. I've had part of this review done for awhile and the rest, well... I'm lazy.
We're going to start with the easiest of the bunch and you're going to have to forgive me for being so unbelievably lazy. I just put the sweater on over the holiday dress because I'm lazy. Also, it works to show how see-through the sweater is or isn't. So there's that as a plus, sorta, right?
Behold, the sweater that is about a hundred times cuter in person. I bought it mostly because I thought it would make a good dorky sweater for when Saige is being Mallory Pike but really? This thing is awfully cute. It's also really soft and I was surprised by that and I don't really know why. Maybe because it vaguely reminds me of Izzy's sweater which wasn't dorky but it was stiff and not pleasant to touch. Kitten sweater is cuddly soft and I highly recommend it.
It velcros up the back. I have to admit I don't remember if it's the kind of velcro that'll snag the sweater to hell and back but when I next go upstairs, if I recall, I'll poke my head in the closet and check. (It is. It so is the velcro they should stop using.)
Anyway, Saige and I both say it's worth the money if you're making an order and want to throw it in. It definitely would have been worth picking up in store when it was available (and if you've got a Toys R Us that carries the Truly Me stuff, it might still be there). I can't say it's worth paying shipping for just this but again, in a larger order, sure.
Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, American Girl clothes came with little pamphlets/booklets that told you about the outfit, showed a picture of how it should be worn (or at least the stock image) and basically kept you from ripping your hair out trying to figure out how the hat was actually supposed to be worn, dammit.
I'm going to warn you now. The hats for Kit's and Rebecca's outfits have that stupid tag sewn into the brim of the hat. WTF, AG. If you're going to insist on that, at least put it where no one will see it when the outfit is being worn. Jesus. I've heard some complain the hat is too big, but mine seemed okay. No head eating was involved when trying to place it on Grace's head.
Hat aside, I really like this outfit. I'm going to start with the changes I would make because otherwise I'll just be here going "it's nice, it's pretty, I like it" over and over. It's got the velcro that snags. It immediately tried to eat her tights when I was putting it on so um, put the tights on after? Stop using the evil velcro, doll company. Just stop. I'd make it longer because people who are far more knowledgeable than I have pointed out that for Rebecca's time, it's too short. And finally, I would have made the purple apron removable. I guess, technically that'd be a bitch and a half to actually do, but then you'd get to see the pretty white dress. And it is pretty.
The purple fabric is pretty thin but the white fabric is sturdier and that makes sense. I like the sleeves and the buttons and basically I enjoy this outfit far more than I anticipated.
The boots aren't awful, but they do seem...shapeless? It's hard to describe but they aren't a style I enjoy as much as other boots they've done. The tights are tights and are a little on the small side so I don't think Sam could ever wear them because she's got a bigger booty than most everyone else.
The buttons aren't quite super shiny but I believe the aged look is intentional.
Velcros up the back.
Hat that mystifies me.
Tag that sticks out. Because good job, AG. :P
Overall, I'd give this one a thumbs up... but I'd strangle the asshat who decided that their tag should go on the hat that way.
I'm assuming the same asshat decided to do Kit's hat in a similar fashion. Seriously, I would strangle that person. Anyway, hat is a hat is a hat and it's cute but again, my kingdom for knowing how to put it on properly. You might think that maybe that's why the stupid tags are there but their countless years of putting tags on headbands and shoes and basically anywhere visible makes me doubt this logic. Sigh.
And now, Kit's Play Dress. Which you will get to see on Cecile and Molly because someone requested it on Molly and I figured what the hell.
I mean, Molly is pretty cute.
I still don't know how this ended up on Cecile when I bought it for Ruthie but these things happen.
Let's get this out of the way. Kit's Play Dress is damn near perfection. It's under $30 and you get a hat, dress, socks, and shoes. The trade off for this is the fact that the material is thinner than it probably should be. As someone who lives in Satan's armpit come summer, I can appreciate the fact that sometimes your clothes aren't going to be made of fabric strong enough to stand alone. On the other hand, it's so noticeable that everyone who buys this set comments on it, even if it's just to say it's not as bad as they thought it would be. You notice it is what I'm saying.
Seriously, how could you not love this?
I really like the print. I am also a sucker for blue and white color schemes so I may be completely biased.
The top has a little tie... thing. It's cute and it keeps the dress from being too simple.
The socks are pretty nice but the shoes are pretty meh. Not bad, not good, just... there.
Basically just repeat, "I love it" over and over. I wish I had more to say but it's easier to wax poetic about things I dislike.
Which brings us to the hat situation. Why, oh why, did AG think this was a great place for the tag? You can see the tiny strip of blue where the bow is which means the bow isn't in the back when worn because then all you'd see is that damned tag. Right there at the brim! WTF.
Lighting issues. Sorry. Also my hat has a tiny dent in it but it's something I didn't really notice until someone else mentioned that theirs did.
Dress Velcros up the back. Nothing complicated or fancy back here. I will say that the dress is pretty tight so I don't think poor Sam will ever be able to wear this, but I'm not sure about Kirsten. (She's thinner than Sam but not as tiny as the newer dolls.) Something to consider when buying.
Still cute.
Molly is here to show you the whole thing at once because somehow Cecile and I neglected to do that shot. Dunno how, but there you are and here we are. Molly looks adorable, no?
No hat. still cute. Also, it's strange how much Molly looks like a customer at work. So. Similar. Same eye color, hair color... it's a trip.
Overall I'd say this one is definitely worth buying if you're even considering it because it's lovely.
Now to the outfit that is probably the best in terms of no issues with the actual outfit but that I apparently took shit-tastic photos of so I'm so, so sorry in advance. Forgive me, Ivy.
Julie's new outfit was promptly snagged by Ivy because I don't own Julie and nope, still not transformed Grace 2 into Dawn so for now Ivy will do the honors. As it is, it's a simple little outfit that works without accessories (though they are obviously meant to go with this particular outfit). The embroidery on the shirt and shoes is pretty snazzy and the pocket stitching is adorable and helps make the outfit standout.
Seriously, love this. I think I had a shirt like this at some point when I was younger. In fact, the question isn't whether I had one, it's whether I had more than one. I have no memory of what happened to them, so it's possible I just 'borrowed' them from Mums or that they died and I preferred to remember them as they were: beautiful.
Cute pockets.
The shirt velcros up the back, the skirt just slides on.
The shoes have a heel and it actually kind of hooks onto the curve on my bed and kept Ivy standing even as Ozzie was investigating.
Overall, I really, really like Julie's new outfit. I don't have a lot to say because it's all love. Seriously, all love. There aren't any hidden quirks or oddities to explore like Rebecca's apron or Kit's thin fabric. For this particular outfit, the extra expense is due to the additional embroidery and the fact that it's not just an iron on thing. For me, it's worth it. Not sure if this is now available on Amazon like a lot of Julie's stuff now is, but if it is and you've got Prime and no desire to add to your AG Rewards, I'd go that route for the free shipping that doesn't take forever and a day.
Let's see. Oh, yes. The Penguin PJs which are on clearance for what, $9? Something like that. I recommend them if that's your thing because that price is pretty damn spiffy and I like so much about them but my photos are awful (seriously, why did I not re-take these before the sun went wonky?) so trust me when I say these are snuggly and awesome. Sorry, Lena. You and Ivy are going to kill me in my sleep and I deserve it.
In my limited defense, the day I took these my batteries were dead, my knees were shot, and I'm pretty sure I was unable to move my left ankle in any real direction. Basically I was a mess.
AG tag. Also penguin is cute. I really love this stupid shirt and I don't even know why other than it's really, really soft and very cute and somehow manages to make me overcome my dislike of pink and red and that particular shade of blue being thrown together. I don't know how or why this witchcraft works but it does and for clearance pricing I am happy.
Shirt velcros up the back. Leggings are, y'know, leggings and pull on.
Boots are boots and pull on easily enough.
Would I have paid full price? No. No I did not and no, I wouldn't. But for clearance prices? Uh, duh. Yes.
And now you get a mini review without the fun angles because someone requested Melody's PJs on Saige and Grace and hey, I have them.
Ooh. Ahh. Tried them on Saige first. Could hear someone wailing about Melody's stuff being on a non-Melody doll and meh. Damn near did not try them on Grace because these buttons are a bitch to work with.
Had an easier time putting them on Grace... but she's gonna be in them til someone else requests something or I get up the nerve because ohmyglob, my hands. My haaaaaaaands.
We're going to start with the easiest of the bunch and you're going to have to forgive me for being so unbelievably lazy. I just put the sweater on over the holiday dress because I'm lazy. Also, it works to show how see-through the sweater is or isn't. So there's that as a plus, sorta, right?
Behold, the sweater that is about a hundred times cuter in person. I bought it mostly because I thought it would make a good dorky sweater for when Saige is being Mallory Pike but really? This thing is awfully cute. It's also really soft and I was surprised by that and I don't really know why. Maybe because it vaguely reminds me of Izzy's sweater which wasn't dorky but it was stiff and not pleasant to touch. Kitten sweater is cuddly soft and I highly recommend it.
It velcros up the back. I have to admit I don't remember if it's the kind of velcro that'll snag the sweater to hell and back but when I next go upstairs, if I recall, I'll poke my head in the closet and check. (It is. It so is the velcro they should stop using.)
Anyway, Saige and I both say it's worth the money if you're making an order and want to throw it in. It definitely would have been worth picking up in store when it was available (and if you've got a Toys R Us that carries the Truly Me stuff, it might still be there). I can't say it's worth paying shipping for just this but again, in a larger order, sure.
Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, American Girl clothes came with little pamphlets/booklets that told you about the outfit, showed a picture of how it should be worn (or at least the stock image) and basically kept you from ripping your hair out trying to figure out how the hat was actually supposed to be worn, dammit.
I'm going to warn you now. The hats for Kit's and Rebecca's outfits have that stupid tag sewn into the brim of the hat. WTF, AG. If you're going to insist on that, at least put it where no one will see it when the outfit is being worn. Jesus. I've heard some complain the hat is too big, but mine seemed okay. No head eating was involved when trying to place it on Grace's head.
Hat aside, I really like this outfit. I'm going to start with the changes I would make because otherwise I'll just be here going "it's nice, it's pretty, I like it" over and over. It's got the velcro that snags. It immediately tried to eat her tights when I was putting it on so um, put the tights on after? Stop using the evil velcro, doll company. Just stop. I'd make it longer because people who are far more knowledgeable than I have pointed out that for Rebecca's time, it's too short. And finally, I would have made the purple apron removable. I guess, technically that'd be a bitch and a half to actually do, but then you'd get to see the pretty white dress. And it is pretty.
The purple fabric is pretty thin but the white fabric is sturdier and that makes sense. I like the sleeves and the buttons and basically I enjoy this outfit far more than I anticipated.
The boots aren't awful, but they do seem...shapeless? It's hard to describe but they aren't a style I enjoy as much as other boots they've done. The tights are tights and are a little on the small side so I don't think Sam could ever wear them because she's got a bigger booty than most everyone else.
The buttons aren't quite super shiny but I believe the aged look is intentional.
Velcros up the back.
Hat that mystifies me.
Tag that sticks out. Because good job, AG. :P
Overall, I'd give this one a thumbs up... but I'd strangle the asshat who decided that their tag should go on the hat that way.
I'm assuming the same asshat decided to do Kit's hat in a similar fashion. Seriously, I would strangle that person. Anyway, hat is a hat is a hat and it's cute but again, my kingdom for knowing how to put it on properly. You might think that maybe that's why the stupid tags are there but their countless years of putting tags on headbands and shoes and basically anywhere visible makes me doubt this logic. Sigh.
And now, Kit's Play Dress. Which you will get to see on Cecile and Molly because someone requested it on Molly and I figured what the hell.
I mean, Molly is pretty cute.
I still don't know how this ended up on Cecile when I bought it for Ruthie but these things happen.
Let's get this out of the way. Kit's Play Dress is damn near perfection. It's under $30 and you get a hat, dress, socks, and shoes. The trade off for this is the fact that the material is thinner than it probably should be. As someone who lives in Satan's armpit come summer, I can appreciate the fact that sometimes your clothes aren't going to be made of fabric strong enough to stand alone. On the other hand, it's so noticeable that everyone who buys this set comments on it, even if it's just to say it's not as bad as they thought it would be. You notice it is what I'm saying.
Seriously, how could you not love this?
I really like the print. I am also a sucker for blue and white color schemes so I may be completely biased.
The top has a little tie... thing. It's cute and it keeps the dress from being too simple.
The socks are pretty nice but the shoes are pretty meh. Not bad, not good, just... there.
Basically just repeat, "I love it" over and over. I wish I had more to say but it's easier to wax poetic about things I dislike.
Which brings us to the hat situation. Why, oh why, did AG think this was a great place for the tag? You can see the tiny strip of blue where the bow is which means the bow isn't in the back when worn because then all you'd see is that damned tag. Right there at the brim! WTF.
Lighting issues. Sorry. Also my hat has a tiny dent in it but it's something I didn't really notice until someone else mentioned that theirs did.
Dress Velcros up the back. Nothing complicated or fancy back here. I will say that the dress is pretty tight so I don't think poor Sam will ever be able to wear this, but I'm not sure about Kirsten. (She's thinner than Sam but not as tiny as the newer dolls.) Something to consider when buying.
Still cute.
Molly is here to show you the whole thing at once because somehow Cecile and I neglected to do that shot. Dunno how, but there you are and here we are. Molly looks adorable, no?
No hat. still cute. Also, it's strange how much Molly looks like a customer at work. So. Similar. Same eye color, hair color... it's a trip.
Overall I'd say this one is definitely worth buying if you're even considering it because it's lovely.
Now to the outfit that is probably the best in terms of no issues with the actual outfit but that I apparently took shit-tastic photos of so I'm so, so sorry in advance. Forgive me, Ivy.
Julie's new outfit was promptly snagged by Ivy because I don't own Julie and nope, still not transformed Grace 2 into Dawn so for now Ivy will do the honors. As it is, it's a simple little outfit that works without accessories (though they are obviously meant to go with this particular outfit). The embroidery on the shirt and shoes is pretty snazzy and the pocket stitching is adorable and helps make the outfit standout.
Seriously, love this. I think I had a shirt like this at some point when I was younger. In fact, the question isn't whether I had one, it's whether I had more than one. I have no memory of what happened to them, so it's possible I just 'borrowed' them from Mums or that they died and I preferred to remember them as they were: beautiful.
Cute pockets.
The shirt velcros up the back, the skirt just slides on.
The shoes have a heel and it actually kind of hooks onto the curve on my bed and kept Ivy standing even as Ozzie was investigating.
Overall, I really, really like Julie's new outfit. I don't have a lot to say because it's all love. Seriously, all love. There aren't any hidden quirks or oddities to explore like Rebecca's apron or Kit's thin fabric. For this particular outfit, the extra expense is due to the additional embroidery and the fact that it's not just an iron on thing. For me, it's worth it. Not sure if this is now available on Amazon like a lot of Julie's stuff now is, but if it is and you've got Prime and no desire to add to your AG Rewards, I'd go that route for the free shipping that doesn't take forever and a day.
Let's see. Oh, yes. The Penguin PJs which are on clearance for what, $9? Something like that. I recommend them if that's your thing because that price is pretty damn spiffy and I like so much about them but my photos are awful (seriously, why did I not re-take these before the sun went wonky?) so trust me when I say these are snuggly and awesome. Sorry, Lena. You and Ivy are going to kill me in my sleep and I deserve it.
In my limited defense, the day I took these my batteries were dead, my knees were shot, and I'm pretty sure I was unable to move my left ankle in any real direction. Basically I was a mess.
AG tag. Also penguin is cute. I really love this stupid shirt and I don't even know why other than it's really, really soft and very cute and somehow manages to make me overcome my dislike of pink and red and that particular shade of blue being thrown together. I don't know how or why this witchcraft works but it does and for clearance pricing I am happy.
Shirt velcros up the back. Leggings are, y'know, leggings and pull on.
Boots are boots and pull on easily enough.
Would I have paid full price? No. No I did not and no, I wouldn't. But for clearance prices? Uh, duh. Yes.
And now you get a mini review without the fun angles because someone requested Melody's PJs on Saige and Grace and hey, I have them.
Ooh. Ahh. Tried them on Saige first. Could hear someone wailing about Melody's stuff being on a non-Melody doll and meh. Damn near did not try them on Grace because these buttons are a bitch to work with.
Had an easier time putting them on Grace... but she's gonna be in them til someone else requests something or I get up the nerve because ohmyglob, my hands. My haaaaaaaands.