girloftheisland - Tumblr blog

[girloftheisland]

Sometimes the basics are the classics. 🔴🟡🔵

[Featuring Samantha in the Blue Jean Basics outfit.]

[girloftheisland]

I feel like we all can agree that Kaya is one of the most underrated American Girls.

[girloftheisland]

New doll display shelf. I like dressing newer dolls in "vintage" outfits. My favorite is the Sk8ter Girl assemble, though it's probably the least fashionable one here. The double layered shirts and cargo pants were definitely a moment in the 2000s.

Featuring:

Truly Me's #67, #79, #44, #122, #30

Kimmi Dolls and one real kokeshi doll

Corolle doll with the one and only Coconut

Samantha (nude) in rehab next to my "mini me"

Girls of Many Lands

Boyds Bears at the bottom

[girloftheisland]

Addy’s school dress is a real classic! In Addy Learns a Lesson, Addy is going to school and making friends. One of the girls she tries to befriend is the snotty Harriet Davis, a light-skinned girl who was born free, has wealthy parents, and lives in the rich Black neighborhood called Society Hill. Harriet was the absolute fucking WORST, but she did teach a few important lessons! She showed that not only were not all African-Americans born enslaved, but that generational wealth for African-Americans existed in the 1860s.

In the original books, Harriet is explicitly lighter-skinned than Addy and her bff, Sarah. The sort story “High Hopes for Addy” introduced me to the concept of colorism and the discrimination that darker-skinned people face. In the newer, updated books, Harriet becomes darker while Addy becomes lighter.

Once again, AG is trying to soften its political edges and remove a very real lesson about privilege, class, and politics.

As far as the fashion goes, Addy has only her pink dress during her first few months of freedom. Harriett gives her a bunch of shit about it, because she’s the fucking worst. Addy receives her blue suit as a surprise so she can wear it to a spelling bee where she finally beats Harriet and puts her in her place.

The suit is a Zouave style, named after regiments of French troops who served in North Africa.

Both the Union and Confederate armies had Zouave units, and the style became very popular everywhere.

(The Victoria & Albert Museum, finding credit @in-pleasant-company​)

The jacket and skirt are decorated with soutache trim, which was also very popular, and could be made into very elaborate designs.

(The Met Museum)

The “Millions for Freedom, Not One Cent for Slavery” pin that Addy receives started out as a campaign slogan for Abraham Lincoln in Nebraska, where it was put on coins that were given out. Soon the saying began appearing on pins.

In 2014, Addy was given a BeForever school dress.

Honestly, it’s not bad. It’s just not nearly as cool as the original.

[girloftheisland]

This is the primary AG holiday decor in our house. Seemed unlikely that we could afford to collect all the historical holiday outfits, so this is the next best thing.

[girloftheisland]

Kirsten was my very first American Girl doll, I bought her when I was about 9 (approximately 1998), and I love her very much, but I never acquired Kirsten’s rag doll, Sari. Now that I’m collecting again, I want to give all my dolls their own toys as well, because they’re kids and they deserve to have toys! And naturally Kirsten must have Sari, but buying a Sari now could easily cost me around $50. Which I feel is a little silly for something I could make a reasonable replica of.

So I finally did!

My Sari is not meant to be an accurate duplicate of the original - obviously I don’t have the same fabrics used in her clothes, and I chose to give her face more detail because I have the skill to do it and I wanted to - also I made her hair too thick to actually turn into the classic braid loops - but because I made her I love her even more than I think I would if I’d bought her secondhand. Also she’s so teeny and soft and cute I just want to carry her around in my pocket forever.

For reference, this is an example of a Sari doll from Pleasant Company. Mine certainly is different but I feel like they are similar enough for my liking.

Also all her clothes are removable, so I could theoretically make her different outfits! How fun is that!

Kirsten has been mine for 25 years and she finally has a doll of her own. I’m so glad I finally got a chance to make Sari!

[girloftheisland]

yep, that's definitely Felicity

[girloftheisland]

Addy's Story Collection

I've been collecting the AG story collections from the early 2000s. Addy's is the last one to collect, but the books go for egregious prices on the second market. Other AG story collections go for $15-25 a pop, but Addy's goes for $45-100+. I'm assuming it's the ebay "supply + demand" creating this disproportionate pricing.

Anyone have any leads or a copy that they'd like to sell? I'm looking for an edition with the vellum dust jacket. ISBN: 9781584854449

[girloftheisland]

One thing that I always liked about American Girl dolls was the wide variety of hobbies the girls had. From sports to dance to music to baking, the dolls presented wide and varied interests that made it possible for a girl to share the same hobby with her doll, no matter what it was. They even had a doll trail bike (remember when mountain biking was the IT thing in the 90′s/00s?) Also, I adore the bowling outfit and remember those plastic bobble hair ties that real-live girls wore so much back then. I love these outfits and how interesting each one is, I always wanted that swan lake outfit, it’s just soooo pretty.

[girloftheisland]

[girloftheisland]

Claudie's Travel Accessories

Tin for Madam C.J. Walker's Wonderful Hair Grower, 1910s-1920s, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Madam C.J. Walker was one of many Black female self-made millionaires, though she is often described as the first. Another woman who shares the contested title of first Black female self-made millionaire was Annie Malone, who accused Walker of stealing her formula for a hair growth product in the early 1900s.

Before the manufacturing of commercial products, African Americans were forced to rely on ingredients which were inferior substitutions for the palm oil and herbal ingredients that had been used by their ancestors in Africa. These ingredients, which included axle grease, lye, butter, and kerosene caused hair and skin damage, and often led to hair loss.

Regardless of who first invented the formula, the impact that these hair products had on the lives of Black women was massive. Not only did the products improve the health of their hair, but the companies provided thousands of jobs as saleswomen and beauticians, and Walker had a program which taught financial literacy.

Additionally, both Malone and Walker used their millions to support charitable institutions which served African Americans.

By the time Claudie's story is set, Madam C.J. Walker had died, and her daughter A'Lelia was managing the business. If you're interested in another American Girl book with a brief appearance by A'Lelia Walker, I recommend Mystery of the Dark Tower by Evelyn Coleman.

(Please note that I am aware that Madam C.J. Walker was a name she adopted later in life and her birth name was Sarah Breedlove. For clarity's sake, I have chosen to refer to her by this later name.)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @in_pleasant_company

[girloftheisland]

The Original American Girl’s Hairstyle Guide

[girloftheisland]

Wow!! What a setup

Kit and Ruthie are having a little backyard party.

And telling secrets under the arbor.

It’s a delicious summer feast with treats and decorations.

[girloftheisland]

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Dressing these queers up for pride was a reminder that I don’t have a ton of AG clothes to fill a whole rainbow palette, but we’re making it work. Stay safe this pride season! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

[girloftheisland]

Kirsten and I had a fun time celebrating her birthday last night 💕