Waiting for Grace: Ooh La "La Mariniere"

Today for Waiting for Grace we are speculating about Grace Thomas and her wardrobe. Grace is visiting Paris in her first book, but will she also be wearing Parisian or French inspired clothing? There is always the beret, which is almost a given especially considering her book cover. But how about La Mariniere known more commonly as a French sailer shirt?

This classic striped shirt has its history with the French Navy when in 1858 it ordered all mariners wear a uniform top with these distinctively spaced stripes to better be able to spot a sailor who had fallen overboard! By the turn of the century the stripes had moved beyond the sailors and they could be found at the French beachside in items such as the canvas tents and chairs. The stripes stepped into fashion history in 1913 when Coco Chanel used the stripes in fashion for women. Later La Marinere would become associated with French actors and artists.

The stripes are still popular today. Below is a Me & You outfit (for a girl and her 18" doll) by Our Generation found on sale last week. The shirt is a definite nod to the French sailor motif with its blue and white stripes, the stylized sailor collar, and its small decorative tie which is reminiscent of a sailor's scarf.

Below is Mini Kendra wearing the same Me & You outfit. From this view, especially in light of the giant blue bow at the waistband of the skirt, one can not help but think of images of GOTY 2015 Grace and her skirt which sports a very similar giant bow.

Considering the French inspired elements of the Me & You outfit, the giant bow on the skirt, as well as OG Kendra's blue eyed and freckled face, one wonders exactly who is leading and who is following in the competition between AG and OG. Kendra has been around since mid-2013 (if anyone has an earlier sighting, please let me know!) but it seems like there are too many crossovers between OG Kendra and AG Grace to ignore.

Were sailor shirts were already on the fashion horizon for a comeback and OG got the first jump on a travel and Parisian theme? Did AG just join in late? Or did early AG product research and design for GOTY 2015 get scooped? Or is all of this a giant coincidence? 

I would love to see a classic La Mariniere appear in Grace's wardrobe on January 1st. As it is a classic wardrobe piece, its inclusion would go a long way to supporting another Mix & Match collection like we saw with GOTY 2014 Isabelle. 

What do you think? Would a beret and a mariniere be too much Parisian flair for one collection? Or do you want more of a good thing?

Waiting for Grace: Baking Outfits

In Grace Thomas’ third book, Grace Makes it Great, due to be released May 21, 2015, Grace learns that

her grandparents' bakery might close after thirty years and wonders how her own business, which they inspired, can survive if theirs cannot, but she and her friends use their talents and newly-acquired business skills to try to save the day.  (Library of Congress)

So today’s speculation will be on baking outfits!

As I imagine it, the broad options for AG’s design team were

*A traditional French baker uniform, complete with a white double-breasted jacket and a tall white toque (chef’s hat)

*An apron and cooking mitts combination, with or without a toque

*A more modern play outfit, perhaps a bright colored tshirt emblazoned with the name of her new business, La Petite Patisserie, paired with summery shorts and tennis shoes

A traditional French baker uniform would be unique and bring something new to AG’s offerings. I am certain the designers could add a few flairs to the white uniform, such as hints of color in the trim or embroidering Grace’s signature swirl or item (like Lanie’s dragonfly or Saige’s cactus flower) on the jacket.

In support of this option, I have recently seen doll sized chef’s jackets and toques offered on Taobao (non-AG) as well as by other non-AG doll lines. Additionally, with the success of the reality tv cooking show Masterchef Junior, the visual of children in traditional chef uniforms is no longer far-fetched and is arguably on trend.

The second option, an apron and cooking mitts, has been offered before by AG in other configurations. An apron and mitts would be cost effective in terms of sales (simple, therefore inexpensive to manufacture) and if well designed could have a lot of visual impact—though no new ground would be broken.

Lastly, a more casual tshirt and shorts outfit would offer plenty of playability and start a foundation for mix-and-match between outfits, something that seems to have been very effective for GOTY Isabelle’s mix-and-match dancewear items.

Personally, I’d love to see all three! But if I have to pick only one, I have my fingers crossed for a chef’s jacket and toque!

Waiting for Grace: A French Connection?

The countdown begins!

While we wait not-so-patiently for GOTY 2015 to arrive on January 1^st, I am going to post 31 days of speculation on Grace Thomas’ world as well as bring out all my girls to play with their Christmas and other seasonal clothing and accessories.

The speculation for today is question of whether or not Grace Thomas, whose first book describes her trip to Paris, will be learning any French and if her books will feature any lessons in the language. Will there be more than a “Bonjour” and “Au revoir” sprinkled among the pages?

Interestingly, a peek ahead at the new Samantha Mystery titled Danger in Paris by Sarah Masters Buckey could give us hint. Samantha’s book, due out February 28, 2015 also features a trip to Paris—and the book itself will include a glossary.

Samantha and Nellie are thrilled to visit Paris with Grandmary and the Admiral! But what could be behind the Admiral's secret government meetings? After a suspicious accident and a break-in at their hotel suite, the girls are worried. Is someone trying to harm their beloved grandfather and stop his secret mission? Includes a glossary of French words and an "Inside Samantha's World" essay about tourism and international tensions in Europe in the early 1900s. 215 pages.

Will Grace’s first book (titled simply Grace according to the Library of Congress) also have a glossary of French words? Or how about separate miniature/doll size French book? Or would those ideas potentially overlap too much with Samantha’s book? Either way, there is a decidedly French flavor to the early 2015 offerings!