American Girl Wiki
Advertisement
Addy-DLYD

A Dress Like Your Doll version of Addy's Dress and Sewing Set.

Dress Like Your Doll is the fandom and official term from American Girl for doll outfits and accessories that have a matching child- or (infrequently) adult-sized outfit or accessory. This encourages targeted purchasers to seek complementing outfits and items.

Historical Characters[]

At launch, child sized nightgowns for Samantha, Molly and Kirsten were available in order to match the doll in sizes 6-12. Around 1987, Pleasant Company released child-sized replicas of outfits matching the first three books for the three characters, which included shoes, proper undergarments for Kirsten's clothing, and accessories, called Name's Pretty Clothes. In 1988, the name was changed to The American Girls Wardrobe. As new Historical characters were released, matching outfits were released; the size range became roughly Girls' 7 to 16X. Accessories also included stockings, petticoats, hats and headwear, jewelry, specialty shoes or boots, underwear both historical and semi-modern, and other accessories.

Samantha Parkington, Felicity Merriman, and Kirsten Larson received clothing that resembled each of their Central Series book outfits as well as sleepwear. Since Molly McIntire's summer book outfit was a camp uniform, the Tap Dance Costume was released instead. Felicity's dresses were generally shortened to ankle length; Kirsten's Saint Lucia Gown was made calf-length. Child-sized patterns were briefly available as well for select items for Kirsten, Samantha, Felicity, and one of Molly's sets.

Addy Walker received outfits based on her first four books and her nightgown. Josefina Montoya received her Meet outfit, Christmas Dress, Riding Dress and night shirt. Kit Kittredge received her meet outfit, Christmas dress, and pajamas. For all characters after Kaya[1], only sleepwear was made available which were generally released as characters were released.

Directly matching items were phased out for the most part in the late 1990s and early 2000s. A re-release of Kit's Meet Outfit was offered after the release of her movie, as well as a coat based on Samantha's Holiday Coat from the movie.

Prior to the BeForever launch, the only outfits that were still available and directly imitated Historical outfits were nightgowns, robes, or pajamas for the available characters.

BeForever and Post-BeForever Collections[]

With the launch of BeForever, outfits inspired by--but not precisely resembling--the currently available Historical characters' meet outfits were released, as well as Samantha's redesigned nightgown. These outfits were designed more as modern reinterpretations or variations on meet outfits. For example, Caroline's outfit was interpreted into a white shirt with a ribbon like her waistband, pink jeggings to match the color of her dress, and a peacoat with nautical accents to allude to her love of sailing. Outfits based on limited edition outfits and revamped sleepwear for all the BeForever characters were also made available.[2] Items continued to be released based on character outfits, including shirts and jackets, until the end of BeForever.

There are currently few Historical Dress Like Your Doll items. As of 2024 the only actively available ones are all pajamas; they are child-sized versions of Rebecca's Nightgown, Julie's Pajamas and Robe (pajamas only), and Courtney's Strawberry Shortcake Pajamas. However in 2023 the American Girl Today Tee was released as part of Isabel and Nicki's Collection and came in children's and adult sizes, up to an adult large that was later expanded to a XXL.

Modern Dolls[]

Before the launch of the modern line, outfits were sold under the label American Girl Gear; these were later both tied to the modern line and a line all their own. Items could match doll outfits available or be items uniquely designed for the line, such as suitcases, other outfits, jewelry, and accessories. Items in the AG Gear line often included ten free Grin Pins as a bonus unless they could not be packaged and could match Miss AG Bear clothing. Some items were available in a wider variety than dolls' items; for example the two versions of the Slumber Shirt for children was available in additional gold and purple colors.

The modern line frequently releases matching outfits to some of the offered clothes in Girls' sizes 6 to 16. Outfits have been offered since the start of the line and generally focus on casual wear, beachwear, sleepwear, some costumes, and special occasion clothing. They are generally sold in separate components and, while tights are or were often offered, most generalized hair decorations are not, and no shoes other than bedroom/night slippers.

The Black Logo Tee was offered in an adult's medium, sized as XXL. Starting with the Holiday Dreams Pajamas in 2018, holiday pajamas became available in adult sizes as well briefly. The LoveShackFancy collaboration included unique branded adult sized outfits to match the doll and children's clothing; they were, however, only available through LoveShackFancy.

Souvenir shirts and hats from American Girl Place are almost always offered in matching children's sizes.

Bitty Baby, Our New Baby, and Bitty Twins[]

Bitty Baby (and Bitty Twins when active) frequently releases matching outfits for children in sizes from Young Girls' 3 to 7. They are generally modified to be less infantile (e.g. turning the design of an infant sleeper into a pajama top and pants). Outfits styled after Bitty Twin boy outfits were never released.

With Our New Baby, some of the clothes designed for the dolls were offered in infant sizes for young babies.

Girls of the Year, Contemporary Characters, and World by Us[]

Starting with Kailey's Wet Suit and Bikini, one or two outfits were made available from each Girl of the Year's collection, and this was continued with the release of Contemporary Characters. This is generally the meet outfit (modified if needed), sleepwear, purses or bags, and another outfit.[3] This does not have to be the whole outfit e.g. only the shirt from Nicki's Ranch Outfit was offered, only the sweater from Saige's Sweater Outfit, and a modified apron based on Grace's Baking Outfit.

With Joss Kendrick, items were limited to bags, pajamas, and her meet hoodie. Kira Bailey only had her pajamas without slippers; her bag is instead a reusable tote. Every character from Corinne on has only had matching pajamas released, often without slippers.

A shirt based on Suzie Yang from the Z.Crew was released, the Z.Crew Tee Shirt, before the character was released as a doll; Tenney received a matching meet outfit with hat and necklace, and pajamas, in children's sizes. Outfits resembling or inspired by the meet outfits of the first three characters of the World by Us collection were also released.

WellieWishers[]

Matching outfits for children was made available with the line's debut, similar to the outfits worn as meet outfits for the dolls. The boots were modified into socks sold as a five-pair set, the WellieWishers Sock Set; a pair of see-through wellies, the Peek-A-Boo Wellies, were sold alongside. Outfits and items continue to be made for the line, including unique items.

Other[]

American Girl Place exclusive items such as shirts and hats are often available in children' sizes.

There are also outfits, accessories, and items released for children that are not associated with any doll's clothing or accessories.

See Also[]

References[]

  1. Likely due to cultural sensitivity, no outfits directly based on Kaya's specific clothing was ever available.
  2. Caroline is the exception as her archival had been announced prior to the BeForever line getting revamped bedtime collections.
  3. For Isabelle Palmer, a majority of her separates--with leotards modified to tanks--were made available.
Advertisement