AG: Party Like it's 1999
Feb. 28th, 2023 02:31 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
impyOkay, after nearly a week, who wants to hear me ramble about the twins and their collection? Anyone? Btw, do not take a shot each time As If! appears in any of the images. You might die. If nothing else, this is historically accurate, so well played?
It's only taken me half of forever to get around to this. Look, I'm sick and that whole bed thing last week blah, blah, blah. Anyway, AG released the twins on 2/22 because... reasons. I dunno. Considering their journals start in 1999, these are just barely the 90's. This is a weird time frame for them, honestly, because you can't go too far in the future for their stories because you'll slam into 9/11 in no time. Given how many years some of the other historicals cover, it's not like it would be out of the question except they'd be the only ones to step out of their designated decade.
Nicki's fav music group is causing both younger!me and current!me to judge her, btw. Isabel, you win the musical taste here. Anyway, onward.
Isabel Hoffman Doll // $115
Item#HNR72
Isabel Hoffman is growing up in the late ‘90s in Seattle with her twin, Nicki, by her side—and they’re opposites in so many ways! Isabel loves dancing, pop music, glitter, and all things pink. She prefers pink and preppy fashions, even when they make her stand out from the crowd. Can Isabel stand up for her style and embrace her “girl power”?
Premium features:
An 18’’ Isabel™ doll with green eyes that open and close, and medium-length blonde hair with layers and platinum highlights. She has a soft cotton body, and her movable head and limbs are made of smooth vinyl.
Includes:
A cropped purple cable-knit sweater with an attached pink pinstripe collared shirt, a multicolored plaid skirt, white knee socks, pink platform shoes, and cotton underwear
An Isabel: My Journal paperback book
I would kill for those shoes in other colors, AG. Give me them. Hell, gimme all the platform 90's shoes, mmkay? I do wish AG hadn't taken the sewn together shirt shortcut, but I get whey they did since this particular look is very easy to make look very bulky in doll form. I want to love Isabel more than I think I do and more than I think I actually will in person. I know the eyes are kind of a nod to Felicity (AG's first online exclusive doll when they first tried to get rid of her) but this is the first time I've agreed with people thinking they're a bit intense. I absolutely do not agree with the thought that her IRL pics make her look sweeter. If anything, once the hairnet is off, she looks ready to cut a bitch at the slightest provocation. With the hairnet on, she looks dead on like Liz Wakefield only with laser green eyes. So... obviously I'll buy her at some point because these are all things I find myself drawn to. Why? Because I'm not right in the head. Obviously.
But Lori's right. This outfit in another color would be perfection. Probably because it's been shown in lots of other color options back in the 90's. :P
Isabel's Accessories $36
Item#HNR74
Isabel is on top of ’90s trends and shows off her interest in fashion with these accessories.
Includes:
A felt beret with faux mini American Girl Today™ Grin Pins attached, pink sunglasses with pink lenses, and a multicolored beaded flower necklace
A transparent mini backpack with flower artwork on the flap
A bound scrapbook Isabel uses to document her life—includes a sticker sheet plus images and photos inside
I cannot stress to you how much I hate Isabel's necklace. I hate it so much because the beads look so, so cheap. This is one of those sets I don't love as a whole but fully acknowledge that it finishes the Meet look, if that makes sense.
Isabel's Floral Dreams PJs $34
Item#HNR86
From late-night bedroom dance parties to sleeping in on Saturday mornings, Isabel feels cozy in this flowery PJ set.
Includes:
A cotton multicolored floral-print button-down pajama top and pants
Pink plush bunny slippers
When I was a kid, I thought Felicity's Meet gown looked like wallpaper. Isabel's PJs here are giving me very busy wallpaper flashbacks. As much as I dislike them, I love those stupid slipers. DAMMIT. I wonder if these are very soft? If they felt like Emily's, I'd consider it worth it.
Isabel's Bed and Floral Dreams Bedding Set $150
Item#HNR81
Isabel loves pink, and there’s PLENTY of it in her side of the bedroom that she shares with Nicki. Isabel is determined to have her side of the bedroom reflect her new personal style. She even surprises Nicki with a bedroom redesign that incorporates their two styles!
Includes:
A white-painted wooden bedframe with a pink tufted mattress
A pink gingham pillow and a reversible comforter with a pink gingham print on one side and a multicolored daisy-and-butterfly print on the other
A doll-sized version of the Miss AG Bear, a popular American Girl® plush teddy bear from the 1990s. The cuddly plush bear features embroidered eyes, nose, and mouth, and comes dressed in a blue nightgown with embroidered buttons.
Let's be real. The selling point for this set is mini Miss AG bear, and I already have the original mini Miss AG who is much cuter. If the bedding (and Miss AG) was available separately, I'd buy it. As it is, this costs more than my bedframe did. :P
Isabel's Bedroom Accessories $50
Item#HNR83
Isabel marks her side of the room with her accessories that reflect her personality and favorite trends.
Includes:
Pretend butterfly string lights—a Christmas gift from Nicki—that can attach to Isabel’s bedframe
A cat poster, a mini version of the American Girl magazine from 1999, a pink journal with a printed graphic on the front, and a pink pom-pom pen
A plush daisy-shaped pillow with an embroidered center and a plush pink backrest pillow
A miniature pretend Tamagotchi®, a handheld digital pet toy. Includes a chain so the doll can hold it and a lenticular display screen that changes when viewed at different angles
I seriously debated buying this yesterday but $50 is just too much for me right now given that the lights don't work and the Tamagotchi is also only pretend. I get why both are but it's the little things that are selling points, y'know? Plus side, I don't have to feel bad about killing the damn thing. :P
Isabel's Tennis Outfit $40
Item#HNR78
At first, Isabel tries tennis just to prove that she’s coordinated—but she quickly comes to love-love it.
Includes:
A dress with an attached argyle sweater vest with a cotton collar, a pleated white tennis skirt, white ankle socks with multicolored stripes, cotton briefs, and white tennis shoes
A tennis racket and a tennis ball
When I tell you one of my favorite random bits of wank from this release is people arguing over whether tennis was popular enough for a 90's girl to play and also in Seattle, that should tell you how weird fandom currently is. I dunno how popular tennis was as I didn't play beyond going to the neighborhood court and slamming balls because I enjoyed that aspect... but lacked the coordination to reliably hit something flying at me. *shrug* It's a tennis outfit. I actually love the socks. I've managed to resist all other AG tennis outfits (and they make one every few years or so) but I might cave on this one at some point.
Nicki Hoffman Doll $115
Item#HNR73
Growing up in Seattle in the late ’90s, Nicki Hoffman loves alternative rock music, skateboarding, and making zines, which are like homemade magazines. She couldn’t be more different from her twin sister, Isabel, but they’re still best friends. Nicki feels shy about making new friends and is worried about what will happen when the year 1999 turns to 2000. Will she be able to conquer her fears and achieve her “girl power” goal before the new millennium?
Premium features:
An 18’’ Nicki™ doll with blue eyes that open and close, and long straight brown hair with two blonde face-framing highlights. She has a soft cotton body, and her movable head and limbs are made of smooth vinyl.
Includes:
A gray heather-knit T-shirt with purple binding at the sleeves and neckline, a navy knit T-shirt dress with a star graphic on the front, a purple plaid flannel shirt, white ankle socks, platform sneakers with white soles, and cotton underwear
A Nicki: My Journal paperback book
Were kids genuinely worried about Y2K? Nicki here definitely got the better end of the clothing deal in terms of more actual pieces. I'm glad they went the Kira route for her flannel shirt and I still do have a soft spot for this whole look because it's very similar to what a friend of mine wore as basically her nice outfit if she didn't have to get too dressed up. I cannot believe how quickly I flipped on her, though. Remind me of a horror movie I love and I'll throw my money your way, I guess. I shall get Nicki and braid her hair til it goes wavy and then BAM. Ginger! Also, serious Alex Mack vibes.
...shit. Nicki makes a friend named Ari. Had I read this excerpt yesterday, Kavi would've been backburnered. As it is, guess I need her.
Nicki's Accessories $36
Item#HNR75
Nicki can head to her skate spot or school with her cool skater-style accessories.
Includes:
A twill baseball hat with faux mini American Girl Today™ Grin Pins attached, black oval-shaped sunglasses with transparent lenses, and a ribbon necklace with a yin-yang pendant
A shiny messenger bag with a skate graphic on the front
A composition-style notebook with artwork on the front and a pack of American Girl Today™ Grin Pin stickers
I believe we've established that I need that choker and that bag, right? That hasn't changed.
Nicki's Skater Dreams Sleep Shirt $28
Item#HNR87
From late-night bedroom dance parties to lounging in her room writing zines (homemade magazines), Nicki stays comfy in her skate-inspired PJ set.
Includes:
A heathered cotton night shirt with striped raglan sleeves and a graphic on the front
Plush monkey slippers
...those slippers are going to give me nightmares, Nicki. I don't mind the style of her PJs but those slippers throw the whole thing off for me. I do appreciate that this set is cheaper than Isabel's, though I do feel like Nicki should've just had something small as an extra (hair thingie?) to make up the difference. I'm not sure I'd feel the same way if they had her hair just in a ponytail or something, though.
Nicki's Bedroom Accessories $50
Item#HNR84
Nicki’s side of the bedroom shows off her favorite color—purple!—and her love of music.
Includes:
A bright-purple inflatable chair
A pretend personal CD player that opens and closes, two pretend CDs that fit inside, two CD cases, and headphones that attach to the CD player that Nicki can wear
A Grin Pin banner with printed art of real ’90s American Girl Today™ Grin Pins
A pretend alarm clock-radio with buttons and dials and a pretend digital screen
A printed paper zine—like a homemade magazine—that is a doll-sized version of the one Nicki creates in her story
...don't judge me, but younger!me desperately wanted one of those stupid inflatable chairs. I think my brother had one for a bit but if so, I'm sure it didn't last long because Tiggy would've been a kitten at the time. Anyway. I'm a bit disappointed that the CDs don't 'work' like Courtney's tapes do. That being said, this set screams 90's for me. Ironically, I think it's the Grin Pins poster that dates this the most. :P And yes, that includes the homemade CD cover with 1999 right there on the cover.
Nicki's Bed and Animal Print Bedding Set $150
Item#HNR
When Nicki’s twin, Isabel, redecorates their entire room in pink, Nicki uses tape to mark her side of the room off-limits. Isabel later surprises Nicki with a bedroom redesign that suits her style—including this bedding set with no pink in sight!
Includes:
A white-painted wooden bedframe with a purple tufted mattress
A zebra-print pillow and a reversible comforter with a zebra print on one side and a purple leopard print on the other
A yellow smiley-face faux-fur pillow, a green alien faux-fur pillow, and a square zebra-print throw pillow
Gonna guess with that "no pink in sight!" comment that Nicki hates pink. And my 90's self agrees with you, Nickster. I don't really love animal print (bad memories) but Nicki's pillows are fab. I think Isabel wins just for Mini Miss AG, but I can look at Nicki's stuff and feel the 90's of it all. Younger!me would've chosen this for sure and found a way to get the mini somehow.
I do wish AG had gone the Felicity/Elizabeth route and made it so you could get the bedding without having to get the bed because AG beds are big enough that two will take up a LOT of room. I suppose it's not quite as much as Felicity's bed, but still. Given it's the exact same actual bed... let me give you my money, AG, even if it's not $300.
Nicki's Skateboarding Outfit $40
Item#HNR79
Nicki builds confidence in her skateboarding skills and tries new tricks as she practices in her signature skater gear.
Includes:
A knit T-shirt, wide-leg overalls with silver buckles, a multicolored puffer vest with a collar, and cotton slip-on sneakers
A skateboard with a graphic on the bottom and movable wheels
Please note:
Doll sold separately.
Helmet and safety gear sold separately with Isabel™ & Nicki's™ 2-in-1 Tennis Court & Skate Spot.
I cannot stress how much I want to bet this particular outfit is going to get the poor CS reps having to answer the question of "where's the helmet/safety gear?" I get showing how they look with the outfit but having most of the pictures on the product page include them? Yeah. That's asking for trouble, AG. Godspeed, AG reps.
As to the outfit itself- I don't like the denim. It looks like the denim colored fabric companies tend to use on smaller dolls but at least then it makes sense from a practical standpoint. AG dolls are large enough to use actual denim, y'know? And they have and hell, I think this actually is as well, but it looks like the cheaper stuff and it vexes me because Nicki's gonna need the extra padding if she's out there skateboarding. I wish we could just see the outfit sans the protective gear on the doll because even with my complaint about the fabric, I find myself liking it. Overalls will always make me think of Cass and her quest to find a pair that worked and my knowledge that I *never* would. The vest is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in the nostalgic vibes of the outfit. Honestly, this is on my to buy list but I keep not thinking that because of the safety gear.
Isabel and Nicki's 2-in-1 Tennis Court and Skate Spot $175
Item#HNR77
Isabel and Nicki love heading to the park where they each can pursue their favorite sports. Isabel wants to learn to play tennis and show off her sportiness, and Nicki is determined to do tricks on her skateboard to impress the local skaters. Both twins can perfect their skills with this 2-in-1 tennis court and skate-spot set.
Premium features:
A foldable park “ground” with tennis-court art on one side and skate-spot art on the other. The tennis court net snaps onto round bases.
A tennis-ball launcher that can shoot the six included tennis balls over the net so Isabel can practice her forehands and backhands
A large ramp with a built-in rail, a small ramp, three rectangle skate platforms, stairs with a built-in rail, and a separate rail that can be configured into a custom skating setup for Nicki
Includes:
A tennis racket that Isabel can hold and a basket to hold tennis balls
A skateboard with artwork on the bottom and loops to hold Nicki’s feet
A helmet with art on one side, two elbow pads, and two knee pads that Nicki can wear
An extra-large sticker sheet to decorate the ground and skate park platforms
I have a nit to pick. Those aren't tennis balls. Tennis balls have flocking. These do not. This. Is. An. OUTRAGE. :P No, but seriously, I'd love itty bitty tennis balls and the fact that these aren't is going to bug me for far longer than it should. Granted that'll only be for like the next five minutes, but then it will crop up each time I see them so...
But I love the fact that the launcher actually works. LOVE IT. Honestly, gimme the balls, the racket, and the launcher and I'd lose a couple of hours... or at least until the balls were all lost or stolen by the cat. Ultimately this is a set that I fully get why it exists and I hope it does well for them, but I won't be buying.
Isabel and Nicki's Pet Set $ 34
Item#HNR76
Isabel and Nicki are so excited when their parents let them each pick out a pet from the animal shelter as a gift for the first night of Hanukkah. Just like the twins themselves, the pets they choose are very different!
Includes:
Isabel’s plush calico kitten, named Buffy
Nicki’s plush chocolate lab puppy, named Blossom
AG's cats almost always look so pissed off. Do you think it's because they know AG puts out way more dogs than they do cats? Also, do we think they got a puppy and a kitten because this way they could make the stuffed animals smaller? Also also, I remember getting Tiggy about the same time and my dad and brother had to go on a wait list/raffle kind of thing for him because what do you know, around the holidays kittens and puppies are very popular gifts. :P AG, how many chocolate labs do you need? Gimme a black lab, I'm dying here!
Anyway. I want Buffy and her little grumpy face.
Isabel and Nicki's Computer and Desk Set $145
Item#HNR85
Isabel and Nicki each get 30 minutes of Internet time each day. Isabel likes to play games and chat with her friend Kat, while Nicki likes to browse fan sites for her favorite bands and pro skateboarders. Both twins enjoy playing games and learning more about their favorite characters on the American Girl® website.
Premium features:
A white wooden desk with CD towers and space for the computer, plus a desk chair that Isabel or Nicki can sit on
A ’90s-style computer with four screens to alternate that can play sounds with the press of a button. It also illuminates! Plus, it includes pretend CD and floppy disk drives, an attached keyboard, a mouse that makes a clicking sound, and a mouse pad.
Includes:
Two sticker sheets that match each twin’s personality and can be used to decorate individual sides of the desk—there are even glow-in-the-dark stickers that really work!
Two floppy disks that can be inserted into the pretend floppy drive of the CPU, two pretend CDs that can be inserted into the pretend CD drive of CPU, and two CD cases
A cordless phone that Isabel and Nicki can share, and a phone base station
An alien-head-shaped mug, a marker Isabel and Nicki can hold, and a picture frame with a printed photo of the twins
A fabric rug with a yin-yang pattern—a gift from Mom and Dad for Christmas to represent balance between the twins
I am cackling at AG pricing this at $5 less than free shipping's threshold. Cackling. I am also rolling my eyes at the "glow in the dark stickers that really work!" AG, if you were out here trying to peddle non-working GitD stickers, I'd be super embarrassed for you. That shit's been cheap for years, don't pretend this was a hardship for you. And yes, this was my way to point out that you can do the glow in the dark stars on the doll ceiling if you've got one/the inclination. I personally didn't have stars on my ceiling, but Ari and Cass did. I swear this page mentioned the computer makes the dial-up sound but now it doesn't. But fear not, you press one of the buttons on the computer and bam. Dial-up.
I don't buy much AG furniture in general. I could probably list all the pieces I have and most are beds, but I honestly have every intention of buying this. I suspect that there's a nostalgic piece in every collection for someone of that time and for me, this is that one. No, the computer itself doesn't resemble any of the ones I ever used but as someone who's been online basically since 95 or 96... Yeah. This will be mine when money and sales converge.
Pizza Hut Book It Set $32
Item#HNR80
Like many kids in the’90s, Isabel and Nicki participate in Pizza Hut’s® BOOK IT!™ Program by reading books to earn a free one-topping personal pan pizza.
Includes:
A personal pan pizza, and a paper pizza box with authentic ’90s Pizza Hut® logo and graphics
A red transparent cup with a white Pizza Hut® logo, a pretend parmesan shaker and a pretend red pepper shaker
A doll-sized purple ’90s BOOK IT!™ pin replica from the ’90s that can clip onto clothing, and a doll-sized “free pizza” certificate for reading books in the BOOK IT!™ program
A doll-sized version of Super Slumber Parties, an American Girl® book for girls released in 1997
Yes, I already bought this and yes, my favorite thing about this set is how I can fucking smell/taste the memories it brings back. My second favorite thing is how fandom tried to twist this into a "ugh, how could AG cheap out and make it only one glass, AGAIN?" Like these people never did Book It or had their kids do it... it's not a pizza for the group, nor is it a set for a group. It's a frickin' personal pan pizza and drink. If the other twin needs a glass, get two sets. It's one of the few times AG's perfectly justified in their one glass thing. Annnnnnnnd now I desperately want pizza. But yeah, this was an automatic buy and I won't rule out wanting a second one later when there's a sale.
Obligatory memory about how I tortured the poor Pizza Hut employees at our local 'Hut anytime it was time for me to redeem my certificate. I'd run to the jukebox and play "We Didn't Start The Fire" until I ran out of quarters. Part of me feels very bad about this now as someone who has to hear songs she definitely did not choose to hear on a loop and part of me would do it again in a heartbeat. :P
I hate that AG's doing weird shit with the character's books. I don't mind the journals being included with the dolls but I do mind them not being available separately. A big part of AG was that even if you couldn't afford the dolls you could still read the books. It's not like I haven't willingly purchased a book before buying a doll and winding up with an extra copy. I admit I'd prefer an e-book version for cases where I'm pretty sure I'll buy the doll anyway but still. Work with me, AG. So while I'd normally not share these as well, have some book excerpts:
Ultimately, I think this is much more of a mixed bag than I really expected when I heard they were doing 90's twins. Part of that is simply because AG desperately wanted to straddle the line between 90's and the 00's and this was their quickest way to do it, and part of it is probably due to this apparently being a hail mary play to keep the company afloat. The problem with doing more recent 'historical' characters is that for every one person who feels the collection was made JUST FOR THEM, you've got like ten more going "uh, my experience in that time was NOTHING like this." In the fandom, that is. Outside fandom? People tend to just ride the nostalgia rollercoaster and bemoan the fact that if AG's done a doll from your time, you're now ~old~!
Gimme the books and make me fall in love with the characters, AG. It's much easier to get my money that way.
March apparently brings us a collab with Jeni's Ice Cream, which is out in stores now aside from the ice cream truck. There's also a saaaaaaale/code coming for the month of March and yes, I'm putting this here so I don't forget. I am vexed that I finally got an AG catalog (yay!) but it's not one for the twins or with the code. It's Kavi's January catalog. It's damn near March, AG.
It's only taken me half of forever to get around to this. Look, I'm sick and that whole bed thing last week blah, blah, blah. Anyway, AG released the twins on 2/22 because... reasons. I dunno. Considering their journals start in 1999, these are just barely the 90's. This is a weird time frame for them, honestly, because you can't go too far in the future for their stories because you'll slam into 9/11 in no time. Given how many years some of the other historicals cover, it's not like it would be out of the question except they'd be the only ones to step out of their designated decade.
Nicki's fav music group is causing both younger!me and current!me to judge her, btw. Isabel, you win the musical taste here. Anyway, onward.
Isabel Hoffman Doll // $115
Item#HNR72
Isabel Hoffman is growing up in the late ‘90s in Seattle with her twin, Nicki, by her side—and they’re opposites in so many ways! Isabel loves dancing, pop music, glitter, and all things pink. She prefers pink and preppy fashions, even when they make her stand out from the crowd. Can Isabel stand up for her style and embrace her “girl power”?
Premium features:
An 18’’ Isabel™ doll with green eyes that open and close, and medium-length blonde hair with layers and platinum highlights. She has a soft cotton body, and her movable head and limbs are made of smooth vinyl.
Includes:
A cropped purple cable-knit sweater with an attached pink pinstripe collared shirt, a multicolored plaid skirt, white knee socks, pink platform shoes, and cotton underwear
An Isabel: My Journal paperback book
I would kill for those shoes in other colors, AG. Give me them. Hell, gimme all the platform 90's shoes, mmkay? I do wish AG hadn't taken the sewn together shirt shortcut, but I get whey they did since this particular look is very easy to make look very bulky in doll form. I want to love Isabel more than I think I do and more than I think I actually will in person. I know the eyes are kind of a nod to Felicity (AG's first online exclusive doll when they first tried to get rid of her) but this is the first time I've agreed with people thinking they're a bit intense. I absolutely do not agree with the thought that her IRL pics make her look sweeter. If anything, once the hairnet is off, she looks ready to cut a bitch at the slightest provocation. With the hairnet on, she looks dead on like Liz Wakefield only with laser green eyes. So... obviously I'll buy her at some point because these are all things I find myself drawn to. Why? Because I'm not right in the head. Obviously.
But Lori's right. This outfit in another color would be perfection. Probably because it's been shown in lots of other color options back in the 90's. :P
Isabel's Accessories $36
Item#HNR74
Isabel is on top of ’90s trends and shows off her interest in fashion with these accessories.
Includes:
A felt beret with faux mini American Girl Today™ Grin Pins attached, pink sunglasses with pink lenses, and a multicolored beaded flower necklace
A transparent mini backpack with flower artwork on the flap
A bound scrapbook Isabel uses to document her life—includes a sticker sheet plus images and photos inside
I cannot stress to you how much I hate Isabel's necklace. I hate it so much because the beads look so, so cheap. This is one of those sets I don't love as a whole but fully acknowledge that it finishes the Meet look, if that makes sense.
Isabel's Floral Dreams PJs $34
Item#HNR86
From late-night bedroom dance parties to sleeping in on Saturday mornings, Isabel feels cozy in this flowery PJ set.
Includes:
A cotton multicolored floral-print button-down pajama top and pants
Pink plush bunny slippers
When I was a kid, I thought Felicity's Meet gown looked like wallpaper. Isabel's PJs here are giving me very busy wallpaper flashbacks. As much as I dislike them, I love those stupid slipers. DAMMIT. I wonder if these are very soft? If they felt like Emily's, I'd consider it worth it.
Isabel's Bed and Floral Dreams Bedding Set $150
Item#HNR81
Isabel loves pink, and there’s PLENTY of it in her side of the bedroom that she shares with Nicki. Isabel is determined to have her side of the bedroom reflect her new personal style. She even surprises Nicki with a bedroom redesign that incorporates their two styles!
Includes:
A white-painted wooden bedframe with a pink tufted mattress
A pink gingham pillow and a reversible comforter with a pink gingham print on one side and a multicolored daisy-and-butterfly print on the other
A doll-sized version of the Miss AG Bear, a popular American Girl® plush teddy bear from the 1990s. The cuddly plush bear features embroidered eyes, nose, and mouth, and comes dressed in a blue nightgown with embroidered buttons.
Let's be real. The selling point for this set is mini Miss AG bear, and I already have the original mini Miss AG who is much cuter. If the bedding (and Miss AG) was available separately, I'd buy it. As it is, this costs more than my bedframe did. :P
Isabel's Bedroom Accessories $50
Item#HNR83
Isabel marks her side of the room with her accessories that reflect her personality and favorite trends.
Includes:
Pretend butterfly string lights—a Christmas gift from Nicki—that can attach to Isabel’s bedframe
A cat poster, a mini version of the American Girl magazine from 1999, a pink journal with a printed graphic on the front, and a pink pom-pom pen
A plush daisy-shaped pillow with an embroidered center and a plush pink backrest pillow
A miniature pretend Tamagotchi®, a handheld digital pet toy. Includes a chain so the doll can hold it and a lenticular display screen that changes when viewed at different angles
I seriously debated buying this yesterday but $50 is just too much for me right now given that the lights don't work and the Tamagotchi is also only pretend. I get why both are but it's the little things that are selling points, y'know? Plus side, I don't have to feel bad about killing the damn thing. :P
Isabel's Tennis Outfit $40
Item#HNR78
At first, Isabel tries tennis just to prove that she’s coordinated—but she quickly comes to love-love it.
Includes:
A dress with an attached argyle sweater vest with a cotton collar, a pleated white tennis skirt, white ankle socks with multicolored stripes, cotton briefs, and white tennis shoes
A tennis racket and a tennis ball
When I tell you one of my favorite random bits of wank from this release is people arguing over whether tennis was popular enough for a 90's girl to play and also in Seattle, that should tell you how weird fandom currently is. I dunno how popular tennis was as I didn't play beyond going to the neighborhood court and slamming balls because I enjoyed that aspect... but lacked the coordination to reliably hit something flying at me. *shrug* It's a tennis outfit. I actually love the socks. I've managed to resist all other AG tennis outfits (and they make one every few years or so) but I might cave on this one at some point.
Nicki Hoffman Doll $115
Item#HNR73
Growing up in Seattle in the late ’90s, Nicki Hoffman loves alternative rock music, skateboarding, and making zines, which are like homemade magazines. She couldn’t be more different from her twin sister, Isabel, but they’re still best friends. Nicki feels shy about making new friends and is worried about what will happen when the year 1999 turns to 2000. Will she be able to conquer her fears and achieve her “girl power” goal before the new millennium?
Premium features:
An 18’’ Nicki™ doll with blue eyes that open and close, and long straight brown hair with two blonde face-framing highlights. She has a soft cotton body, and her movable head and limbs are made of smooth vinyl.
Includes:
A gray heather-knit T-shirt with purple binding at the sleeves and neckline, a navy knit T-shirt dress with a star graphic on the front, a purple plaid flannel shirt, white ankle socks, platform sneakers with white soles, and cotton underwear
A Nicki: My Journal paperback book
Were kids genuinely worried about Y2K? Nicki here definitely got the better end of the clothing deal in terms of more actual pieces. I'm glad they went the Kira route for her flannel shirt and I still do have a soft spot for this whole look because it's very similar to what a friend of mine wore as basically her nice outfit if she didn't have to get too dressed up. I cannot believe how quickly I flipped on her, though. Remind me of a horror movie I love and I'll throw my money your way, I guess. I shall get Nicki and braid her hair til it goes wavy and then BAM. Ginger! Also, serious Alex Mack vibes.
...shit. Nicki makes a friend named Ari. Had I read this excerpt yesterday, Kavi would've been backburnered. As it is, guess I need her.
Nicki's Accessories $36
Item#HNR75
Nicki can head to her skate spot or school with her cool skater-style accessories.
Includes:
A twill baseball hat with faux mini American Girl Today™ Grin Pins attached, black oval-shaped sunglasses with transparent lenses, and a ribbon necklace with a yin-yang pendant
A shiny messenger bag with a skate graphic on the front
A composition-style notebook with artwork on the front and a pack of American Girl Today™ Grin Pin stickers
I believe we've established that I need that choker and that bag, right? That hasn't changed.
Nicki's Skater Dreams Sleep Shirt $28
Item#HNR87
From late-night bedroom dance parties to lounging in her room writing zines (homemade magazines), Nicki stays comfy in her skate-inspired PJ set.
Includes:
A heathered cotton night shirt with striped raglan sleeves and a graphic on the front
Plush monkey slippers
...those slippers are going to give me nightmares, Nicki. I don't mind the style of her PJs but those slippers throw the whole thing off for me. I do appreciate that this set is cheaper than Isabel's, though I do feel like Nicki should've just had something small as an extra (hair thingie?) to make up the difference. I'm not sure I'd feel the same way if they had her hair just in a ponytail or something, though.
Nicki's Bedroom Accessories $50
Item#HNR84
Nicki’s side of the bedroom shows off her favorite color—purple!—and her love of music.
Includes:
A bright-purple inflatable chair
A pretend personal CD player that opens and closes, two pretend CDs that fit inside, two CD cases, and headphones that attach to the CD player that Nicki can wear
A Grin Pin banner with printed art of real ’90s American Girl Today™ Grin Pins
A pretend alarm clock-radio with buttons and dials and a pretend digital screen
A printed paper zine—like a homemade magazine—that is a doll-sized version of the one Nicki creates in her story
...don't judge me, but younger!me desperately wanted one of those stupid inflatable chairs. I think my brother had one for a bit but if so, I'm sure it didn't last long because Tiggy would've been a kitten at the time. Anyway. I'm a bit disappointed that the CDs don't 'work' like Courtney's tapes do. That being said, this set screams 90's for me. Ironically, I think it's the Grin Pins poster that dates this the most. :P And yes, that includes the homemade CD cover with 1999 right there on the cover.
Nicki's Bed and Animal Print Bedding Set $150
Item#HNR
When Nicki’s twin, Isabel, redecorates their entire room in pink, Nicki uses tape to mark her side of the room off-limits. Isabel later surprises Nicki with a bedroom redesign that suits her style—including this bedding set with no pink in sight!
Includes:
A white-painted wooden bedframe with a purple tufted mattress
A zebra-print pillow and a reversible comforter with a zebra print on one side and a purple leopard print on the other
A yellow smiley-face faux-fur pillow, a green alien faux-fur pillow, and a square zebra-print throw pillow
Gonna guess with that "no pink in sight!" comment that Nicki hates pink. And my 90's self agrees with you, Nickster. I don't really love animal print (bad memories) but Nicki's pillows are fab. I think Isabel wins just for Mini Miss AG, but I can look at Nicki's stuff and feel the 90's of it all. Younger!me would've chosen this for sure and found a way to get the mini somehow.
I do wish AG had gone the Felicity/Elizabeth route and made it so you could get the bedding without having to get the bed because AG beds are big enough that two will take up a LOT of room. I suppose it's not quite as much as Felicity's bed, but still. Given it's the exact same actual bed... let me give you my money, AG, even if it's not $300.
Nicki's Skateboarding Outfit $40
Item#HNR79
Nicki builds confidence in her skateboarding skills and tries new tricks as she practices in her signature skater gear.
Includes:
A knit T-shirt, wide-leg overalls with silver buckles, a multicolored puffer vest with a collar, and cotton slip-on sneakers
A skateboard with a graphic on the bottom and movable wheels
Please note:
Doll sold separately.
Helmet and safety gear sold separately with Isabel™ & Nicki's™ 2-in-1 Tennis Court & Skate Spot.
I cannot stress how much I want to bet this particular outfit is going to get the poor CS reps having to answer the question of "where's the helmet/safety gear?" I get showing how they look with the outfit but having most of the pictures on the product page include them? Yeah. That's asking for trouble, AG. Godspeed, AG reps.
As to the outfit itself- I don't like the denim. It looks like the denim colored fabric companies tend to use on smaller dolls but at least then it makes sense from a practical standpoint. AG dolls are large enough to use actual denim, y'know? And they have and hell, I think this actually is as well, but it looks like the cheaper stuff and it vexes me because Nicki's gonna need the extra padding if she's out there skateboarding. I wish we could just see the outfit sans the protective gear on the doll because even with my complaint about the fabric, I find myself liking it. Overalls will always make me think of Cass and her quest to find a pair that worked and my knowledge that I *never* would. The vest is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in the nostalgic vibes of the outfit. Honestly, this is on my to buy list but I keep not thinking that because of the safety gear.
Isabel and Nicki's 2-in-1 Tennis Court and Skate Spot $175
Item#HNR77
Isabel and Nicki love heading to the park where they each can pursue their favorite sports. Isabel wants to learn to play tennis and show off her sportiness, and Nicki is determined to do tricks on her skateboard to impress the local skaters. Both twins can perfect their skills with this 2-in-1 tennis court and skate-spot set.
Premium features:
A foldable park “ground” with tennis-court art on one side and skate-spot art on the other. The tennis court net snaps onto round bases.
A tennis-ball launcher that can shoot the six included tennis balls over the net so Isabel can practice her forehands and backhands
A large ramp with a built-in rail, a small ramp, three rectangle skate platforms, stairs with a built-in rail, and a separate rail that can be configured into a custom skating setup for Nicki
Includes:
A tennis racket that Isabel can hold and a basket to hold tennis balls
A skateboard with artwork on the bottom and loops to hold Nicki’s feet
A helmet with art on one side, two elbow pads, and two knee pads that Nicki can wear
An extra-large sticker sheet to decorate the ground and skate park platforms
I have a nit to pick. Those aren't tennis balls. Tennis balls have flocking. These do not. This. Is. An. OUTRAGE. :P No, but seriously, I'd love itty bitty tennis balls and the fact that these aren't is going to bug me for far longer than it should. Granted that'll only be for like the next five minutes, but then it will crop up each time I see them so...
But I love the fact that the launcher actually works. LOVE IT. Honestly, gimme the balls, the racket, and the launcher and I'd lose a couple of hours... or at least until the balls were all lost or stolen by the cat. Ultimately this is a set that I fully get why it exists and I hope it does well for them, but I won't be buying.
Isabel and Nicki's Pet Set $ 34
Item#HNR76
Isabel and Nicki are so excited when their parents let them each pick out a pet from the animal shelter as a gift for the first night of Hanukkah. Just like the twins themselves, the pets they choose are very different!
Includes:
Isabel’s plush calico kitten, named Buffy
Nicki’s plush chocolate lab puppy, named Blossom
AG's cats almost always look so pissed off. Do you think it's because they know AG puts out way more dogs than they do cats? Also, do we think they got a puppy and a kitten because this way they could make the stuffed animals smaller? Also also, I remember getting Tiggy about the same time and my dad and brother had to go on a wait list/raffle kind of thing for him because what do you know, around the holidays kittens and puppies are very popular gifts. :P AG, how many chocolate labs do you need? Gimme a black lab, I'm dying here!
Anyway. I want Buffy and her little grumpy face.
Isabel and Nicki's Computer and Desk Set $145
Item#HNR85
Isabel and Nicki each get 30 minutes of Internet time each day. Isabel likes to play games and chat with her friend Kat, while Nicki likes to browse fan sites for her favorite bands and pro skateboarders. Both twins enjoy playing games and learning more about their favorite characters on the American Girl® website.
Premium features:
A white wooden desk with CD towers and space for the computer, plus a desk chair that Isabel or Nicki can sit on
A ’90s-style computer with four screens to alternate that can play sounds with the press of a button. It also illuminates! Plus, it includes pretend CD and floppy disk drives, an attached keyboard, a mouse that makes a clicking sound, and a mouse pad.
Includes:
Two sticker sheets that match each twin’s personality and can be used to decorate individual sides of the desk—there are even glow-in-the-dark stickers that really work!
Two floppy disks that can be inserted into the pretend floppy drive of the CPU, two pretend CDs that can be inserted into the pretend CD drive of CPU, and two CD cases
A cordless phone that Isabel and Nicki can share, and a phone base station
An alien-head-shaped mug, a marker Isabel and Nicki can hold, and a picture frame with a printed photo of the twins
A fabric rug with a yin-yang pattern—a gift from Mom and Dad for Christmas to represent balance between the twins
I am cackling at AG pricing this at $5 less than free shipping's threshold. Cackling. I am also rolling my eyes at the "glow in the dark stickers that really work!" AG, if you were out here trying to peddle non-working GitD stickers, I'd be super embarrassed for you. That shit's been cheap for years, don't pretend this was a hardship for you. And yes, this was my way to point out that you can do the glow in the dark stars on the doll ceiling if you've got one/the inclination. I personally didn't have stars on my ceiling, but Ari and Cass did. I swear this page mentioned the computer makes the dial-up sound but now it doesn't. But fear not, you press one of the buttons on the computer and bam. Dial-up.
I don't buy much AG furniture in general. I could probably list all the pieces I have and most are beds, but I honestly have every intention of buying this. I suspect that there's a nostalgic piece in every collection for someone of that time and for me, this is that one. No, the computer itself doesn't resemble any of the ones I ever used but as someone who's been online basically since 95 or 96... Yeah. This will be mine when money and sales converge.
Pizza Hut Book It Set $32
Item#HNR80
Like many kids in the’90s, Isabel and Nicki participate in Pizza Hut’s® BOOK IT!™ Program by reading books to earn a free one-topping personal pan pizza.
Includes:
A personal pan pizza, and a paper pizza box with authentic ’90s Pizza Hut® logo and graphics
A red transparent cup with a white Pizza Hut® logo, a pretend parmesan shaker and a pretend red pepper shaker
A doll-sized purple ’90s BOOK IT!™ pin replica from the ’90s that can clip onto clothing, and a doll-sized “free pizza” certificate for reading books in the BOOK IT!™ program
A doll-sized version of Super Slumber Parties, an American Girl® book for girls released in 1997
Yes, I already bought this and yes, my favorite thing about this set is how I can fucking smell/taste the memories it brings back. My second favorite thing is how fandom tried to twist this into a "ugh, how could AG cheap out and make it only one glass, AGAIN?" Like these people never did Book It or had their kids do it... it's not a pizza for the group, nor is it a set for a group. It's a frickin' personal pan pizza and drink. If the other twin needs a glass, get two sets. It's one of the few times AG's perfectly justified in their one glass thing. Annnnnnnnd now I desperately want pizza. But yeah, this was an automatic buy and I won't rule out wanting a second one later when there's a sale.
Obligatory memory about how I tortured the poor Pizza Hut employees at our local 'Hut anytime it was time for me to redeem my certificate. I'd run to the jukebox and play "We Didn't Start The Fire" until I ran out of quarters. Part of me feels very bad about this now as someone who has to hear songs she definitely did not choose to hear on a loop and part of me would do it again in a heartbeat. :P
I hate that AG's doing weird shit with the character's books. I don't mind the journals being included with the dolls but I do mind them not being available separately. A big part of AG was that even if you couldn't afford the dolls you could still read the books. It's not like I haven't willingly purchased a book before buying a doll and winding up with an extra copy. I admit I'd prefer an e-book version for cases where I'm pretty sure I'll buy the doll anyway but still. Work with me, AG. So while I'd normally not share these as well, have some book excerpts:
Ultimately, I think this is much more of a mixed bag than I really expected when I heard they were doing 90's twins. Part of that is simply because AG desperately wanted to straddle the line between 90's and the 00's and this was their quickest way to do it, and part of it is probably due to this apparently being a hail mary play to keep the company afloat. The problem with doing more recent 'historical' characters is that for every one person who feels the collection was made JUST FOR THEM, you've got like ten more going "uh, my experience in that time was NOTHING like this." In the fandom, that is. Outside fandom? People tend to just ride the nostalgia rollercoaster and bemoan the fact that if AG's done a doll from your time, you're now ~old~!
Gimme the books and make me fall in love with the characters, AG. It's much easier to get my money that way.
March apparently brings us a collab with Jeni's Ice Cream, which is out in stores now aside from the ice cream truck. There's also a saaaaaaale/code coming for the month of March and yes, I'm putting this here so I don't forget. I am vexed that I finally got an AG catalog (yay!) but it's not one for the twins or with the code. It's Kavi's January catalog. It's damn near March, AG.