Review: AG & "Artfully Inspired" by Maplelea

Character development of Z is taking a whole new direction and it includes our first outfit from Maplelea!

The Artfully Inspired outfit comes with a pink asymmetrical top, purple leggings and a yellow infinity scarf in a light waffle weave fabric. The top has a velcro back closing and the infinity scarf also has a velcro closure. The outfit does not come with shoes, and considering the fit of Maplelea clothing and shoes on American Girl dolls is not always assured, I was happy to pair this outfit with AG shoes (see below).

The Maplelea top and leggings are a light stretch knit and fit snuggly but not too tight on our AG poppet. Maplelea dolls are a smidgen taller and a smidgen more slender, but this outfit works.

Very cute Inuit themed decals as a decorative trim.

Z paired this outfit with the hiking boots from a retired TM Hiking Outfit.

Overall, I really like the outfit. Terrific colors, darling Inuit details love the yellow stitching, soft fabric. I am not sure how sturdy the outfit would be for a lot of play, but for display dolls it is terrific.

Since Maplelea is a Canadian company, the downside is price can be expensive with shipping. Some Maplelea outfits are available from Amazon, which can save on shipping, but this outfit I bought straight from the Canadian site since it was not yet available at the time via Amazon. Plus, it does not come with shoes for the price.

Overall grade is B+ but with many hearts!

Can you guess where poppet Z's story is going? She will be receiving a whole new non-canon name, background, wardrobe and story.

Z Yang in Review

Z Yang is our first girl poppet to come home with the much maligned "perma-panties" with all the accompanying changes to the construction, the body shape, and materials. So before we can move on with celebrating all that we love about poppet Z, first a frank assessment of her face, wig, limbs, torso and overall construction.

Let me begin with some positives. We love Z! We love her face and wig combination, her cute freckle on her check, and her personality is terrific.

Her face mold--Ivy face with the notches--is adorable. She has dark brown pinwheel eyes and her mold seems reasonably even. Some have commented that Z's eyes seem smaller than similar recent offerings, such as TM 54 or 64, but I don't see it. Side by side with my own TM 54, the eye sizes between the dolls seem identical.

Z's face paint is subtle. No glossy lips ala Grace or bright berry lips ala Tenney. Not even the robust orange hued lips of the new BeForever Felicity. Perhaps this is because AG is taking a step back from such brightly painted faces, or perhaps it is merely because it fits Z's fresh and natural style. I think it looks perfect.

Also on the up side is her meet outfit is cute and the quality seems on par with what we can expect from casual wear. The tee is great.

The grey jeans skirt may be prone to snagging. Her shoes are terrific and pretty much identical to the TM version available last year.

However, once we look beyond Z's face and outfit, issues with the quality and construction of the doll itself brings up a long list of concerns.

Z comes with the zip-tie closure at the neck. While this is not a new development, what we see with most of AG's 2017 dolls is the combination of the zip-ties with the new thinner fabric. The combination creates deep gathers and puckers at the neckline.

Z's wig is passable, but just barely. The wig is somewhat sparse and it shows especially in the back of the wig when in the pigtails style. Yes, the short hairs are supposed to be there to help cover the wig cap, but there just isn't quite enough of short hairs or long hairs to make it work.

Additionally, once the hair is out of the ponytails, I discovered her wig is rather thin overall. I had to work a bit to make sure she did not appear to have bald patches on the back side of her head. I would rate Z's wig as somewhat thin. Adequate but not a hair to spare.

On the left is Z and on the right is a TM 54. The wig on Z is longer and is more or less one length. The wig on TM 54 is slightly shorter in length and has some long layers. Color wise their wigs are near identical, enough for me to believe the difference is primarily the quirks of different factory runs of the same product. Z's wig has a smidgen more of a brown tone to it, but I literally mean a smidgen.

And now for the torso.

From the front, the perma-panty does lay flat, but she does has the start of a slight muffin top. But the reverse side...

Oh my goodness. This poor doll has serious booty droop and perhaps the beginnings of a prehensile tail. Some camera angles make the droop look slightly less alarming and other angles make it look distinctly more obscene. I chose a happy (unhappy) medium shot.

A final issue to note is vinyl quality. Z has very squishy vinyl arms and her face is also squishy. My Z is on the fast track to getting a full-body transplant swap with a classic (pre-2017) body.

The report card for the construction of the doll known as Z is quite mixed.

Z's face--her eyes, face paint, symmetry: A

Z's wig: C-

Z's torso and limbs: D

Sure, the new Z is still heads and shoulders above many other 18" doll lines. But for $115, the quality has taken a sharp nose dive since the calendar flipped over into 2017. What bothered me the most, surprisingly enough, was the extra thin wig quality. Yes, the perma-panties are an abomination, but I know I can take the time and expense as an adult collector to swap out her body at a later time. But a borderline thin wig is something that feels like an unfair compromise in quality.

Overall grade for Z's construction is a meh-filled C. 

Get her if you love her. But I will say this is the first time in 20 years of loving AG that I had to push back my disappointment in the quality of a brand new AG doll.

PWP Summer Hoodie Set

The Summer Hoodie Set is bright and light and makes me smile! Beautiful tropical colors and themes including teal and fuchsia hibiscus flowers and the bursting lemon-yellow rays of the sun.

As with most PWP ("purchase with purchase") outfits, the Summer Hoodie Set does not come with shoes, but the set still seems complete with its hoodie pullover, light cotton skirt, and a coordinating bead bracelet.

My favorite surprise while examining the outfit on one of the model poppets at AGPSF was that the hoodie itself was lined with the yellow and lime polka dotted fabric of the skirt.

The skirt is incredibly simple, but appropriate to the outfit's casual feel.

The bead bracelet is constructed on a simple elastic string.

The Summer Hoodie Set is an absolutely terrific deal for just $14 dollars with any $50 purchase.

Holiday Store Exclusive: Frosted Violet Gown

I was able to take a closer look at the the Frosted Violet Gown before it completely disappears from the shelves this holiday season. The dress did not come home with me--though I am still quite tempted!

I love the combination of silver and lavender (my wedding colors!) for this holiday ensemble.

The Frosted Violet Gown comes with a long gown, headband, purse, shrug and sandals. The sleeveless bodice features sequined design and the ensembles features ruffles, sequins and purple faux-gems throughout.

The tiers are ruffled and quite puffed!

I am not a fan headbands because they never seem to sit well on the head and I am also not very excited by the oversized purple faux-gems--but this is a minor issue for me.

Love this tiny purse!

The sandals are well constructed but I would probably search my poppet's closet for an alternative shoe to finish this ensemble. 

The holiday exclusive box is absolutely divine! What is it about a nicely designed and sturdy box like this to send me over the moon? I want a bunch of just these boxes!

The sequined shrug is very cute and takes the holiday bling to the next level.

Compared to the store exclusive holiday gowns of the past two years 2015 Frosted Violet Gown wins in terms of initial pricing ($58 before the 20% savings through December 12th). These dresses seem to be moving fast so take a look soon if your poppet needs a bit of holiday glitz and bling!

Storage Wars II: Bon Voyage Stationery Set vs Travel Case

The Bon Voyage Stationery Set for Girls offers another storage option for Grace's clothes and accessories as the stationery set is packaged in a bright red paperboard "suitcase."

The paperboard exterior of the red stationery case is sturdy and the front is embossed with an Eiffel Tower. The pebble texture of the suitcase mimics a fine leather. The suitcase also features a sturdy carry handle and the hinges of the handle and the clasp itself are made of metal. Overall, the paperboard suitcase seems as if it should hold up to gentle play and storage.

The most significant difference between the Bon Voyage Stationery Set suitcase and the Travel Case for Girls besides the materials (paperboard vs faux-leather) is their sizes. While the BVSS suitcase is as wide as the Travel Case, it is significantly narrower.

So the question of storage--how much will the paperboard suitcase hold? Below is Grace's City Outfit and Pajamas set inside of the BVSS suitcase. There is plenty of room for the two outfits and potentially room for two additional outfits.

In comparison, the zippered top compartment of the Travel Case for Girls (pictured below) also easily carries the two Grace outfits, but maxes out with three outfits in the top compartment. However, the Travel Case has a second zippered compartment which easily could fit an additional 4 - 5 outfits, which makes the Travel Case the roomier option by far.

While the Bon Voyage Stationery Set paperboard suitcase is sturdy and smart, it is limited to 3 - 4 outfits whereas the Travel Case for Girls accommodates upwards of 7 - 8 outfits. The exterior of Travel Case is made of a long lasting faux-leather vinyl which will withstand small spills and the case is much more rugged overall.

As a storage unit, I give the Bon Voyage Stationery Set a B+. The piece is well executed as a paperboard product and the handle and metal clasp are terrific. The storage capacity of the paperboard suitcase is still somewhat limited compared to the Travel Case for Girls, but the Bon Voyage case could be the perfect size for some poppet travelers.

Grace Thomas's Travel Case for Girls

A squee of delight for Grace Thomas's Travel Case for Girls. It is rare that I bring home items specifically made for girls, but this one was too wonderful to pass up. 

The case is made of a faux-leather, which is really just another way to say it is made of a nice and supple vinyl material. It sports two zippered compartments and a faux-leather carry handle. The teal satin bow is purely decorative and tied onto the handle.

I was drawn to the storage capabilities of the case for doll accessories rather than any use as an overnight bag for girl-sized toiletries or make-up. In fact, the case seems almost too small for heavy use as a girl-sized item and seems tailor made to accommodate items for the poppets.

The design of the case is exciting and fresh. I love the faux-leather patches.

The metal tag on the Eiffel Tower is classy and smart.

So the real question is how well does it store Grace's items!? Here is a sneak peak of that question: pictured above is the top section packed with her City Outfit and her Pajamas. The two outfits fit into the top section of the case with plenty of breathing room. In theory, a third outfit or a few small accessories could fit into this upper space as well.

Considering this top zippered section is about 1/3 of the total storage space, it seems reasonable that the bottom section could hold 4 - 5 outfits depending on how tightly one wishes to pack the clothing.

Overall, this gets a five-star cute-cute-cute-cute-cute rating! Well constructed, delightful design, and a perfect size for storing lots of doll items. A++

Summer Fun: Flamingo Beach Dress

More fun beach-and-summer wear from the Truly Me debut! 

The Flamingo Beach Dress consists of a cotton halter top dress, sandals and a bracelet. The fabric for the dress features a design with flamingos, shells, and starfish.

The fabric also has tiny gold flecks (like glitter) on the surface of the fabric that is noticeable only up close. In fact, I don't think I noticed the gold flecks when viewing the dress in the store. It was only after I was home and was able to handle the dress in my hands that I noticed this fabric detail.

The bracelet consists of plastic beads and a starfish strung simply on a band of elastic.

The sandals were simple enough to slip on, but I am not a fan of the white elastic. I imagine the white elastic could look dingy and dirty in short order. Additionally the dark bronze color of the plastic, non-functional side buckle seems cheap and out of place with this shoe.

The halter top fastens behind the neck with velcro tabs. This dress reveals a lot of the cloth portion of the doll's shoulders and torso which for some customers is a downside to realistically designed summer wear, but I enjoy the greater range of design options this allows.

Astrid is cool and casual in the Flamingo Beach Dress. The dress is smart and tilts toward sophisticated with the halter top design, but the sandals are a design miss. A-

Poppet Poses: Seaside Fun Outfit

The Seaside Fun outfit is a limited summer release, so if this casual beach outfit is your style, bring it home soon before it sells out.

My poppet Ingrid, one of my Isabelle twins, is modeling the Seaside Fun ensemble which consists of a striped pullover hoodie, shorts and sandals. The orange and peach of the sweater is a unique combination and the bright blue sandals a terrific contrast. However, the outfit is rather simple and yet still manages to be priced two dollars higher than the other two new Truly Me summertime outfits.

My first thought before dressing my poppet in the pullover hoodie was "Welp, there goes her original hair twists." But to my surprise, the neck opening was sufficiently large and the pullover slipped over her head easily. Additionally, the back of the pullover is a full neck-to-bottom velcro closure, so no awkward jamming of arms or dislocating of shoulders to get the arms into the sleeves, either!

A super cute detail from this Truly Me summertime release is the unifying detail of the flamingo, which shows up on several of the outfits and items released on May 21st. The flamingo on her pullover is a decal and not embroidered.

The shorts are super cute lightweight denim with frayed hems and a front velcro closure. I love the doodle embroidery on these shorts and all the doodle flourishes on recent offerings in the TM line. The Seaside Fun shorts will endure gentle play, but with the frayed hems, any adventurous play would be sure to show. 

Cute shoes, standard sandals with velcro back heel strap. They slip on easily. Oddly fancy shoes for a day at the beach, though perfect for shopping at the boardwalk or lunch at a seaside cafe.

I was on the fence about purchasing this outfit because of its price for a simple, though sweet, ensemble. However, the pullover hoodie is so comfy and the outfit will be here and gone quickly (prediction only) so I decided to take the leap. I imagine this outfit being claimed by more than one of my poppets in due course. Overall grade: A-

"Meet" Truly Me: Unboxing Truly Me 21

Last Thursday I enjoyed the Truly Me launch at AGPSF, though I did not bring home any of the beautiful new dolls (TM #62, #63, #64 and revised #54). However, a few days later I returned to AGPSF and brought home a doll that I believe has been flying under the radar for many doll collectors. 

Welcome home, Truly Me 21! 

The new Truly Me packaging is a pretty and soothing lavender (my absolute favorite color--my bridesmaids wore this color!) with terrific doodle patterns on the front and sides of the box.

It should be noted that the new TM boxes are excessively difficult to pry open as the fit between the top piece and bottom is very snug. The sales assistant at the store was very helpful, but she struggled mightily to open up just two boxes for me to compare two dolls. I joked AG needs to invent a box-shoehorn for those extra snug boxes.

All of the Truly Me doll boxes, GOTY Grace doll boxes, and nearly all of the BeForever doll boxes now feature a round placard on the front of the box with the doll's image on it. I presume as BeForever doll stock turns over that the silhouette-and-name design that was part of the BeForever launch will be replaced with the above configuration. The image makes for quicker doll and outfit identification, but the previous box design with the silhouettes was truly lovely and I miss it already. 

The TM dolls come with a boxed set of activity cards. The activity box is packed/set in a plastic sleeve which slips over the bottom of the doll box (similar to the plastic sleeve that holds the Meet books), however I was surprised and a little dismayed that the plastic sleeve was secured to the cardboard doll box with clear packaging tape. Once I carefully stripped off the tape (if the tape is pulled with a very slow and patient hand it can be removed without any major damage to the doll box itself) the reason for the tape became obvious--the activity set is heavy!

Cute ideas on activities cards. I think it adds some value to the TM doll experience, especially for the 8-and-under crowd, but I will need to do a fuller review later. Super darling outfit pictured on the above card--a sneak peak at a fall outfit?

Finally, our first close view of TM 21. She was originally introduced in 2001 and features curly strawberry blonde hair with pin curls on either side of her face. Her eyes are hazel and she is one of the few dolls remaining in the TM line up with line eyebrows.

The new meet dress, which is currently available for separate purchase as the Lilac Dress, is a light raspberry cotton with silver mesh trim with sequins and with a silver threaded woven sash.

Oh, how I love examining a new doll in the box. Pristine and full of promise! The teal shoes from the meet outfit have glittery silver accents.

TM 21 out of box! I adore her pigtails right out of the box.

The back of her wig has short hairs to cover the wig cap.

Pin curls! It will be interesting to work with the pin curls to keep them neat and springy.

Another close up of her pin curls.

The bottom left of her dress has a metal American Girl tag sewn onto it, just like the dresses for girls.

Close up of the teal meet shoes. These slipped on and off like butter--clearly AG has been listening to customer complaints and requests about shoe fit. I do wonder what could be lost if AG only produces buttery slip-on shoes, though, since I love some of the boots of recent years that were a real challenge to get on, such as Saige's boots. So I hope AG doesn't sacrifice all smart and fashionable shoes and boots on the altar of butter.

Madly in love with this beauty. I'm glad I noticed her even in spite of (or perhaps because of!) a bevy of new and sparkly dolls.

It is difficult to predict when a doll from the modern line will be retired as we are not given as much advance notice as with the historical dolls. Considering that TM 21 is one of the older dolls in the modern line and she was not revised to the newer eyebrow style last fall, it does at have me pause to wonder if she may be one of the next dolls quietly retired sometime in the next calendar year.