Welcome to a brand new column of this blog: Shark's Free Thoughts1. Here I will talk about...literally anything. While this blog has been mostly dolls, with the title of the blog, it could morph into anything fandom related and it would be fine. To kick this off, I'm gonna talk about AG, but I'll probably diverge into other stuff soon enough.
The American Girl of Today/Just Like You/My American Girl/Truly Me/Line of a Thousand Names line has been around for 21 years. In the fandom they're sometimes called moddies, so we don't have to delve into all the names. The pattern of meet outfits for the most part is every 2 years getting a new outfit, to keep up with trends.2
This is an overview of all the meet outfits, plus some commentary on the trends they reflect. I thought of this post while in the shower.
(All images taken from
here.)
Mix and Match Outfit (1995) (American Girl of Today)
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| Shown on #6. |
This outfit is pretty 90s: vest, scrunchie, overshirt, undershirt, leggings, velvet flats. It's in my top three moddie meets, although I wasn't alive then.
3 It was the first outfit that kicked off the line, so it was never available separately. If you had the doll, you had the outfit. The dolls also came with 6 blank books meant to be filled in like the historical books with the aim of "You're a part of history too!"
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| Girl of Today Accessories. |
The 90s meet accessories followed a pattern: hat, purse, money, library card, lunch tickets, AG magazine, necklace. This set has Mini Grin Pins: stick on "pins" for dolls, shown here on the
Blossom hat.
First Day Outfit (1996) (American Girl Today)
The next year the moddies got a new outfit again, one of the only breaks in the two year pattern. It's described as early 90s on the wiki even though '96 is late 90s. Felt jacket, shirt, scrunchie, leggings, socks, the same velvet shoes from the year before. It was the first outfit to be available separately.
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| First Day Accessories. |
The associated accessories follow the same pattern as the set before, only with things updated to match the outfit. And a more recent magazine issue.
Red Vinyl Jumper Outfit (1998)
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| Shown on #3. |
Jumper, shirt, tights, and boots. Not as many things in this one, but still cute nonetheless. In my top 3.
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| Red Vinyl Accessories? |
The accessories are strangely not named on the wiki. They follow the same pattern, with the same types of changes as the First Day ones. This is the last accessory set with a hat for a while.
Urban Outfit (2000)
Whoo, the new century! Hoodie, vest, cargo skirt, mary janes, tights. The vest reminds me of Marty McFly, and...I really don't understand the point of cargo skirts. Whatevah.
As we move out of the 90s, the pattern of accessories changes. Same purse, magazine, money and library card, but instead of a hat, lunch tickets, and necklace, we get a watch, a keychain, and hair chopsticks
4.
Go Anywhere Outfit (2002)5
I don't know how she's supposed to go
anywhere in that hotmess. Jacket, shirt, skirt, tights, and booties. I really don't like this one. It's my least favorite.
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| Go Anywhere Accessories. |
At least the accessories are better than the outfit. Purse, magazine, money, bracelet, the same library card that all the accessories have had so far, compact, ponytail holder, and gum. The gum is a unique touch, and I like it a lot.
Ready for Fun Outfit (2004)
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| Shown on #6. |
One of my favorites, though not in the top three. The hoodie is cute, the shirt is nice, the pants are just like several pairs of pants I had then, sneakers are sneakers. Also the hairstyle in the stock photo reminds me of early 2000s Disney Channel. Which I grew up with.
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| Ready for Fun Accessories. |
Magazine, money, purse, keys, updated library card, bracelet. That purse is super Hannah Montana.
I Like Your Style6 (2006)
Top, cheerleader skirt, and boots. Very 2006, which is when I really figured out the world and stuff. It's right on par from what I remember.
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| I Like Your Style Accessories? |
Like the Red Vinyl Jumper accessories, the I Like Your Style accessories aren't listed as such on the wiki. I'll call them that anyway. Purse, as usual, magazine, hair ties, money, keys and library card. This is the last accessory set with a magazine.
Star Hoodie Outfit (2008) (Just Like You)
This outfit is iconic for me. It was the moddie meet outfit when I first got into AG. It looks like something I would've worn back then. I was just barely target age at the tail end of this outfit, 2010. It was the only one available when the line was called Just Like You. In my top 3.
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| Phone and Charms Set. |
There weren't a proper set of accessories, but the Phone and Charms Set could be bundled with a doll, similar to the other accessory sets. It's a flip phone
8, the latest hotness in 2008, although why anyone in the target age would have a cell phone I dunno. I wasn't allowed to have a phone until I was 13. The set has a bag for the phone and a bunch of stuff to decorate it with.
Real Me Outfit (2010) (My American Girl)
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| Shown on #46. |
Now renamed (again) My American Girl, AG was pushing the whole Innerstar U
9 thing with all these doodle motifs on a lot of their stuff. Here it's on the tunic. The doodles were also on the charms that came with outfits, making them available on Innerstar U. The charms were meant to be put on a necklace that came with this meet, not pictured. I think 2010 was the start of the great ballet flat uprising.
10 I don't remember what I wore during 2010/2011, but it wasn't that. It was never available separately from the doll because of IU.
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| Everyday Accessories. |
Although it's not official, the Everyday Accessories would make good meet accessories with this outfit. Beanie, binder, notebook, money, messenger bag, and library card.
True Spirit Outfit (2012)
Yep, that shirt is sewn like a baby onsie. Why? Nobody knows. If it weren't like that, it would be a good outfit, on par with trends, I think. It did last a bit longer than normal so it's pushing it, but it's okay.
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| True Spirit Accessories. |
Back on track with meet accessories! White denim jacket, knitted beret, purse, library card, and the usual three dollars.
Lilac Dress (2015) (Truly Me)
Goddamn it's the most boring one. I don't see how it's reflecting little girls' fashion trends all that well. It took them three years to come up with...this? At least it's available separately? A dress and shoes. That's it. It's barely even an outfit. It even has a boring name. The only reason I have it is because I wanted 46 before she was retired.
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| Love to Layer Accessories. How do I know that? Not from the wiki. |
The accessories are okay, but not useful for everyday life, ya'know? A vest with applique "pins" on it (a callback to the first meet?) a tutu skirt, a headband, 6 hohos (ponytail holders) and 3 hair clips. You're supposed to layer them over the dress, which is probably why the original meet is so sparse. To encourage you to spend more monies.
--Shark
1. My name is Samuel Seabury, and I present Free Thought on the Proceedings of the Continental Congress. [/hamilton]
2. Note the first outfit and the most recent one diverge from this pattern.
3. I was born 7 years later. Quote from a friend: "I'm an 80s kid, I was just born two decades too late!" Yeah it's a 90s outfit, but I'm an 80s kid.
4. White people putting chopsticks in their hair reminds me of Ariel combing her hair with a fork.
5. The year I was born!
6. There's a song and everything.
7. Why are all these on her?
8. *7th grade me voice* Delainey has an iPhone 9!!
9. Now defunct. I never had a MyAG during that time so I never played.
10. Most of the outfits released this year had ballet flats, including PJ's.
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