American Girl Dolls

Seasonal/former American Girl employee here!

It's currently taking around 2-3 months for a create your own doll. You can still order her even though she's backordered if you really want, they'll just put you in the queue. (The same as for the backordered character dolls.) The wait scares a lot of kids but in this hobby? I will say that face won't look quite the same in person though. The create your own game is terrible about that, judging by the number of returns we got of those dolls over Christmas. (There are similar Truly Me dolls to that one--55 and 69. One has freckles and hazel eyes, one has brown eyes. Also check out Nanea.)

I've customized 5 of my AG dolls--repainted faces, new wigs, put limbs back on, that kind of thing. And I, um, kind of have 8. I had three growing up -- Samantha, Kaya, and one of the girl of today ("truly me") dolls. I'll post some pictures when I take 'em; oddly, I don't actually have very many.

 

Oh! I've seen that error before. You do HAVE to add a customised label to the box, it's WEIRD, but should fix the problem. (Seriously, I don't know why they make you do that.) You can also order by phone with her design ID, which might also be helpful if you don't mind talking to somebody.

Spoiler

Yep, 55 and 69 do both have the original face mold and Nanea has a unique face mold. It has some features in common with face mold C though. The eye detailing for example. Number 75 has the "boy" (aka "closed mouth") version of face mold C too.

I haven't done any eye changes (Beautifully Custom sells some eyes, but I haven't wanted to deal with the hassle!) but I'd be very...surprised if you actually manage to permanently damage one of these dolls. I guess anything is possible though.

As for repainting their faces, Winsor-Newton brush cleaner took the factory paint off (I washed the vinyl afterwards) but mostly the dolls I've been working on have been so old, I just painted over the top because it wears off after about twenty years. They only have minimal paint to start with, goodness knows. I didn't bother to seal the vinyl before hand and just used unthinned artist quality acrylics. I don't really care if the vinyl gets stained. I did gloss over the top like you would for a faceup, though.

Sadly, I don't have many pictures of my AG dolls at all. I've got one of Samantha and one of Kaya, but all of my customised dolls are actually two and a half hours away -- the only two in my dorm are actually brand new (Luciana and Tenney)

Spoiler

Lucy and Tenney with Momonita in my dorm room


Samantha (with custom wig that doesn't have her trademark bangs and repainted eyebrows)


Kaya (with custom wig, since her hair is invariably a disaster if someone tries to unbraid it)

 

The custom dolls are so new that not many of the bugs are really known. They gave the sales associates a powerpoint on them last summer, but mostly we try to pretend like they don't exist in the store. (I worked in one of the smaller stores in Charlotte, NC.) They're not really part of the main site, either. I hope your doll comes soon!

Beautifully Custom Dolls makes the best wigs. Like, I've tried some other brands, theirs are the best. Samantha is wearing their essentials line chocolate truffle one, I think. Compared to Tenney, who comes with a similar hair style, there's no contest: Sam's is higher quality. It's silkier, it's smoother...there's almost too much hair, but I'm not sure that's really much of a down side. They do sell out quickly, though. I'm on their mailing list.

I have Lucy's accessories too! I was a space camper growing up (I actually made my OWN flight suit! It was teeeeeerible by comparison, because I was only barely learning how to sew) so I got her the day she came out. They swore us to secrecy the day before christmas so the anticipation was real.

Spoiler

Lucy's version, left, my version, right. Right is one of the truly me dolls with face C, by the way.

I haven't painted the accessories. I don't have many of them, actually. I'm not sure I'd want to, I think I'd just make them look worse.

 

American Girl Dolls have the best THINGS - I first saw them when my kids were young, & longed for the money to buy each of my girls one, plus of course ALL the things LOL I did get my oldest a Goetz doll (similar, & normally equally pricey, but this one really drastically on sale) - Biv has left it w/me now to 'store' LOL I've got lots of AG doll stuff of course!

 

I have 4, want to get Lucianna Vega, her space suit is the best!

 

Lucy is, hands down, my favourite doll American Girl has created! Where was she when I was eleven?? Her Mars Habitat just blows me away!

 

I almost scored a Samantha signed by Pleasant Rowland. I ordered three days to late.

 

I don't really collect them, but I actually have a Molly, which I think was gotten for me a while after they came out. (definitely well before she was discontinued)
Sadly she's no longer in mint condition though since she wasn't stored properly for a while after my family had moved and rodents got to her and chewed up a bit of her bangs before I found out and put her in a better box.

 

I used to scour over the AG catalogs we got in the mail as a child and I would circle all the ones I wanted to give it back to my mom. Since they're expensive, I didn't get one and she started hiding the catalogs from me instead

But I own a Julie now! (No pictures at the moment since I'm on vacation and she's not with me). She was a gift from a girl I went on a date with who had many as a child, but isn't a doll collector herself.

 

Hello! When I was a kid I had two AG dolls. They were super well loved and played with. Since getting into the bjd hobby I decided to rescue them from the garage. I cleaned them up and they’re in pretty good condition now. I’m no longer a collector but I’ll be keeping my girls and all of their accessories. They are great dolls if they can survive 20+ years, many years of play, storage in a Florida garage for several years. I don’t have any before pictures but they look almost as good as new!

 

I love American Girl dolls! I own six: Felicity, Kirsten, Samantha, and Molly are all buddies from childhood, Denise is a modified Samantha that my sister and I rescued from a junk pile at school, and Z Yang is a recent acquisition. Z and Denise accompany me to work (I'm a librarian), and they've proven quite popular with the younger kids that visit the library. I like to change their clothes as the seasons progress. Right now they're wearing school garb, and soon it'll be time for Halloween costumes. I always look forward to that. But yeah, I like AG dolls quite a bit and I always get excited when I run into someone else who does!

 

I don't consider myself a collector, but I still have my Bitty Baby from 1995 and my American Girl of Today from 2000. Still keep my AG girl on display in my doll room and have loads of accessories that I can use with my MSD's. Poor girl needs to have her limbs tightened but is otherwise in fantastic condition considering she's 20+ years old.

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I find myself going back and forth between BJDs and "play line" dolls. I'm currently in an 18" doll phase and have been enjoying my AG's as well as other 18" dolls from My Life As, Tonner's My Imagination, Journey Girls, Disney's new ILY line and various off brand dolls that I've found and just like the way they look. Although I really wish I'd had the money to get the 2021 Winter Princess AG doll before she sold out and is now being "offered" on the second hand market for $100-200 more than original price which was like $265. AG came out way after I was an adult and I would love to get a mint Carolyn Abbott

 

I adore American Girls. I found that Craigslist can net you some great dolls for fairly cheap. I've always loved the historical girls series and used to read all the books and watch the movies as a kid. The Pleasant Co Molly was my first one but Kit was probably my favorite as a kid

 

I used to collect AG dolls, and recently I ordered Maritza. She hasn't shipped yet, but I cannot wait! I think AG has the coolest stuff. We also have an antique mall locally that has a booth for 18" dolls with a lot of cute handmade outfits. I plan to spoil this girl!

 

Maritza is on my want list for sure. The antique mall sounds like a dangerous place.

 

It IS! I was doing fine until I saw all the cute AG size stuff they had! It made me want one again, and later that day I ended up ordering online. I went back and forth between a few different dolls, but looking at all the videos and pictures, I had to get Maritza. She looks good in everything, and her teeth aren't as pronounced, which I feel gives her a different kind of look from most of the other AG dolls.

 

I was never an AG collector, but I have a few GOTY dolls (Lanie, Kanani, Saige) and one of the basic girls that were my 17 yr old daughter’s back when she was around 10. AG is what got me into making miniatures actually. I began making 1/3 doll food for my daughter and niece, and eventually opened an Etsy shop, also selling 1/6, 1/4, and 1/12 miniature doll food. Still do it today. I have been collecting fashion dolls (like Barbie, Tonner, Integrity) and dollhouses my entire adult life, and only actually got into BJD’s about 3 yrs ago. I also have lots of AG furniture here…some of it works great with my Feeple60, and some with my minifee’s.

 

I have three dolls still from when i was younger: Samantha, Julie, and a look alike doll i named Christina. In the future when i have more space and money maybe I'll get another. I still love my girls very much

 

American Girl Dolls were my favorite as a kid! Probably what started my love of insanely expensive dolls. I have five I believe (all in storage now), a look alike doll I named Chloe (which I just chose based on features I thought were cool because I'm a guy and back then they didn't offer boy dolls), Molly (I adored her and she's a total mess now- I undid her braids and broke her glasses), Marie Grace, Sage (Girl of the Year), and Emily. Emily was my favorite, and she and Marie Grace are the ones in the best condition now since I was a bit older when I received those two. I still have some American Girl Doll props, like a loft bed from a Doll of the Year (McKenna may have been her name?) that I may repaint to use as a BJD prop. I can't say that I love the AG style of doll as much as I did in my youth, but I still enjoy wandering around the stores when I'm in an area that has one.

 

I had Felicity, and some of her outfits/things, but I always wanted Samantha's things for her... (my sister found me Samantha's bed secondhand, recently, for my resin dolls to fight over)

 

I just ordered Corinne and her baby brother
The variety of dolls in my house is getting a bit out of hand

 

Oh, I'd like to get Corinne! Love her face. My doll collecting got out of hand a long time ago! Although over the past year it has been everything BUT bjds that have been getting purchased here! I seem to go in cycles of what I'm in to, play line vinyl dolls is currently reigning around here.

 

I want to collect AG dolls, but haven't gotten around to it. I especially want Corinne Tan and Kaya. I wanted Kaya for years. I like her smile doesn't show her teeth.

 

I got into AG last winter. I've got four now with one wig swapped and one I want to customize with new wig, faceup and eyes. So many dolls, so much to do , so little money, lol.

 

I've got four at the moment and I'm excited to try customizing. I find the AG girls are a great alternative to my BJDs for photographing because they're big and scale well with real life. They're also very hearty dolls built to survive child's play so I'm less worried about damage if I take them out. Lots of fashion and customization options available too online. Just sucks they aren't very posable.

 

I won't disclose how many I have, because I actually don't know...

I still have my Molly that I received for Christmas in 1995; and I rediscovered her when I was first learning how to sew back in 2006. I decided to fix her up, and my research led me to a dedicated forum of collectors. Which in turn led me to collecting. And customizing! Customizing is my favorite thing. My collection has grown over the years, but with my most recent additions (Nicki and Claudie) I think it's good where it is. (Watch me jinx myself lol)

Interest-wise, I waffle between AG and BJD. I'll focus on one collection for a duration of time with the other on the back burner, and then I'll switch. Right now, I've just come back to BJDs after stepping away from them for a bit over 5 years.

Here's Natalie, who is the second custom I ever made. I hand-picked her as a Julie from the Dallas boutique back in 2008. She got updates in 2017 (swapped from Samantha's brown decal eyes to Tenney's brown decal eyes), and 2021 (refreshed freckles, eyelash and eyebrow decals)


I have tons more photos of my collection plus my crafting shenanigans on my AG-related Instagram account @aeksy.dolls

 

I’ve wanted to get into AG dolls for a while, I went to the AG store when I was in NYC last summer and I loved it, I ended up getting some little accessories for my BJDs but I regretted not getting a doll whilst I was there

 

I loved AG as a kid! I would admire the catalogs and wanted the furniture and props. But it was and is expensive lol

My first was Emily (which I find funny cuz she's British not American ), then a "Just Like You" doll that didn't look like me at all, then Josefina, and my sister sold me her Molly. I sold all of them but Josefina cuz she was my fav and looked more like me than any of the look-a-like dolls.

But my fav was always Kit. Dunno why I didn't get her instead of Emily lol However I did get my grail girl a few weeks ago!! They brought back original outift Kit for her "100th b-day". Girlhood dream finally achieved!

 

We couldn't afford them when I was a little girl, but my best friend had Samantha and Kirsten and we would play with those at her house.
THese days I have customized two lookalikes for my Sister and her daughter, and I wonder if I should patch that little childhood sadness and get myself one that looks like me. It'd be hard to find- I have a less common phenotype but if I can get the right skin and eyes I can replace the hair with a wig.

 

Unless you specifically want an AG brand look at the knock offs at the box stores and some of the larger craft stores. You can get wigs and replacement eyes on Etsy.

I wonder if it's possible to repaint the vinyl parts like with reborn babies? Decent acrylic paint and patience is all you really need.

 

I dreamed of having an AG doll as a kid. We got the catalogs, and I would go through them over and over. Looking back, they were way too expensive for a toy just for me (I have two brothers so everything had to be shareable) but the heart wants what the heart wants.

I've thought about getting one now as an adult but I honestly don't like the look of them anymore, especially the Classic mold. It's a popular size so I've been tempted but I just haven't found an 18" play doll I like.

First world problems lol

 

Can I ask the name of the forum? I’ve recently gotten really into 18” dolls and would love to have of collectors to talk to about them!

 

I've been collecting AG dolls as an adult since 2005. I'm a huge history buff and these dolls just have something special. I have 12 dolls, all a different time period (plus my one lone Halloween doll, because I just gotta.)

I have 4 Pre-Mattels - Samantha (named Victoria), Molly, Josefina (named Fermina) and Felicity. These dolls have their intended time periods.

The rest consist of Lindsey twins (Aggie Mae and Eddie Mae - 1920s) 2 #21 (non twins, one has a 30's bob named Myrtle - 1930s, the other is Irmaline - 1980s), Julie (named Ginger - 1970s), #61 (Clara - 1950s), Sydney (Nicki Hoffman - Y2K) and Blaire - (Blaire Broom, Halloweentown.)

Unfortunately, I don't have much room to amass much of a collection or furniture for my dolls. I wish I did! I do have a small part of Josefina's collection and trunk, thanks to a generous family member. All of my other dolls only have a piece or 2 of their collections. I have many plans to make them polymer clay food and wardrobes. I used to sew a lot for AG dolls through commissions from other people, but that part of my sewing business has come to a self created halt . I want to just focus on my own dolls for a change, and hope to do so when life lets me.

I used to have a blog for Myrtle and write stories about my dolls and their silly antics, and have debated about starting it up again, but I haven't decided if its worth the effort.

I've enjoyed reading about everyone else's AG experiences!

 

I think I'm nearing somewhere around 3--40 AG dolls. Just saw the new 2024 GOTY, Lila, and I really like her, not so much her accessories but the doll itself I'm going to try and get (maybe it will be a Christmas gift for myself). I would also really like to get Molly and Kit to add to the older dolls collection. I think my favorite still remains as Caroline Abbot and I was so happy I was able to bring her home over the past year in near mint condition.

 

I used to be a big AG fan. I still have my historicals (a childhood Felicity, Kaya, Marie-Grace and Cecile) but gave my modern AG and all her stuff to my little cousin when she was 8.

 

I have quite a few of them, I have all the historical dolls except the two that came out this past year. I actually didn't buy any this year. So I don't have the girl of the year yet either.

My favourite, is Z-Yang and her dog Popcorn...

 

@RabbidBunnies Who is the white doll sitting on the couch?

 

Doll Leaves Laura. Although, I named her Lara. She is really tiny 10 cm. She makes a great sized doll for my other BJD's.

 

Thanks, she's adorable, I might be tempted now.

 

I love them as a kid, but now the line seems to have completely gone downhill. The dolls are thinner and look like they have permanent make up – they’re supposed to be nine years old; what the hell is up with that?! And don’t even get me started on the historical characters. Pink plastic everything, even when it’s not historically accurate, and just a general breakdown in research and product quality. Apparently they also changed the books to be short little digests, too? That’s ridiculous to me; a lot of girls who understandably couldn’t afford the dolls used to love reading the books nonetheless. That’s when they even care about the historical dolls anymore and aren’t so laser – focused on everything being hyper modern all the time. Which seems to be increasingly rare.

(is it just me, or are they simply not doing characters from before the 1920s anymore? Like. Your whole line is supposed to be about American history and you no longer have a Revolutionary War doll… But here’s a “historical“ character from 1999! Who doesn’t even look like a real child from 1999, but rather a Disney Channel star or a caricature! Make it make sense.)

unless they make some big changes, I will be sticking exclusively to the older secondhand dolls and pining for what once was.

 

I watched this long YouTube video about the decline of AG that talked about everything you mentioned! And it’s totally true. The historical characters are only a shell of what they once were. Almost all their accessories and furniture are gone. A lot of the outfits are gone. Even the whole dolls are gone! I really hope they start bringing back pre-1900’s characters or creating new ones. There’s so many avenues to explore with American history.

I agree it’s a shame about the books. There was no reason to abridge them. Kids loved them as the whole set, why wouldn’t new kids also like them? I remember checking them out at the library and enjoying all the character’s stories I could get my hands on.

They’ve certainly deviated from the original Pleasant company idea of history through the lens of girls. Now it’s just Mattel trying to make a quick buck off weird collabs and nostalgia bait for anyone familiar with the 90’s.

 

Yeah, I was shopping around for a relative this Christmas and was struck by how strange they looked. I pined for them as a child and I think that if they looked then the way they look now, I probably wouldn't have liked them nearly as much.

And they changed the books?! Those were the only way I ever got to experience American Girl as a kid.

 

I loved poring over the catalogs as a kid in the late 80s/ early 90s, but we couldn't afford to buy any. I read the books at my school's library and always wanted a Samantha or Molly. Well, this February I found myself a Pleasant Company Molly at a local doll show and took her home with me. I'm fascinated by the detail in her meet outfit and accessories, I got a kick out of the "made in West Germany" tag on her skirt! I am a creature of obsession so of course I couldn't stop with one. I bought Courtney (yes I'm the one they're pandering to with the 80's and 90's nostalgia bombs) and now Molly is sharing her clothes I also picked up a Julie on Mercari for cheap and changed her wig and eyes to be my mini-me. Just last month I found a little Wellie Wisher at Goodwill for $5, cleaned her up and now she hangs out with the AG girls! I will always love my BJDs best but American Girl dolls have a special place in my doll collection at large.

 

That's awesome you found a Molly doll, congratulations! I still own my original Samantha doll, all the books, and her trunk and other accessories, although I need to figure out where everything is (too much has lived in storage for too long). But Samantha still has a place on a shelf with my other historical dolls, including some that are from the 1920s, and the childhood doll my mom had in the 40s. I've also got a Madame Alexander doll that my grandmother bought which shares my name and looks remarkably similar to me in coloring.

The original three AG dolls really were exceptional quality, and I reread the Samantha books over and over as a kid. It's a shame to hear how much of the original vision of the Pleasant Company has shifted in this hyper-corporatized world we live in now.

 

I still have my original Samantha doll. I had to save almost a year of allowance for her, so she’s always been special to me. I was steady at five dolls for a long time, but recently found a nice condition Kirsten (the other doll I really wanted at 9) and brought her home. So that gives me 6 dolls and I don’t have much desire to get another at the moment. I have been wanting to get some of the Wellie wishers, but I just bought a charm doll and a whole bunch of things to restore my BJDs, because they’ve been sitting forever.

I do agree that the company has gone “downhill” compared to pre-Mattel days, but as far as kids toys go, they are still pretty nice. I still pick up accessories and things for my dolls. I will probably end up with all of Courtney’s stuff!! I wish they would release more historical dolls from, history, not 1999, but maybe it’s the same way my mom felt when they released Julie And I’m still sad they retired Caroline before I could gather all her things. Currently, I’m saving for a new BJD, so that is going to slow me down on my EBay stalking…

 

Sorry to necro, but does anyone know if there are any DOA-style forums for AG? I've recently started collecting, and I appreciate our systems here, so a similar AG forum would be great.

 

It's been so long since I was part of that collectors community, I honestly don't know anymore. There was one forum I used to be active in 8 or so years ago, but I don't know if they're still around. That forum also wasn't as well moderated as DoA

 

I'm just so used to the moderation and trust our marketplace system, it would be nice to have it for them, too...thanks anyway!

 

Most of the active AG communities I know of are on Facebook (moderation varies widely) or Discord. The AmericanGirl subreddit is actually pretty active & people advertise other community groups there.

Though if you find an active forum in your search, do share! I prefer DoA-style forums too.

 

Home | American Girl Playthings!
Is the one I know of. It’s not as active as DoA, but it’s still chugging along. I don’t post, just lurk once in a while, and can’t vouch for the moderation, but it seems to be a decent bunch of people over there. All of the interactions I’ve seen have been pleasant.

@ohbumblebee @Sarako

 

Thanks, both of you! I have been on the subreddit, it's a nice little community. I'll check the other ones out!