AG: BeForever books and some outfits
May. 9th, 2014 05:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
impyI think it's time to play "distract the M!" so without further ado, may I present the book covers for Ag's BeForever revamp. Also, pics of two of the outfits have been found on eBay so I'm including those, with commentary, with their respective characters.
Needless to say, this is going to be super pic heavy and I ain't resizing jack. I will, however, separate them according to character because I'm nice like that.
Also: you'll note there is nothing for the NOLA girls because, and I cannot say this enough, they're doomed. Odds are quite good they're going to be axed this month when the new catalog finally hits.
Book covers can be found here on Ag's website. I would suggest ordering via Amazon or something but they don't come out until August 28, 2014. Which should also answer the question of when BF launches.
**BeForever, for those who are unaware, is the rebranding of the Historical line from American Girl. They've been keeping it pretty hush hush but word gets out, man. Word gets out.
In general I'm all for the historicals getting a revamp as they clearly need some love. I worry about what they'll do and at the cuts they'll be making, but at the same time I'm glad they're trying to revive interest in the line. So it's a fine line for me at this point, but mostly I try to lean towards optimistic.
However some of these possibilities are making that very difficult. o_O
Kaya:
Hold. Up. AG, you spent forever working with experts and made a WHOLE NEW DOLL MOLD due to the issue of showing teeth and suddenly, nope, it's cool? I don't friggin' think so. No. Bad, AG. Bad. No cookie for you.
Otherwise Kaya seems to have the absolute least changes possible while still getting a three book deal. She's cute, they're cute, and I can't spot any new stuff lurking but I am also not terribly well versed in Kaya's stuff so there's also that.
Bottom line: If you're wanting Kaya, it looks like the only difference between now and later (at this time and clearly I don't knowanything everything) will likely be her pricetag. I wants you, precious, but I cannot spend money all crazy-like until after the move.
Caroline
It's sad that upon seeing Caroline's dad, all I can think of is that chick on PT who has a bit of a thing for him and how I'm pretty sure, though I haven't looked yet, that she will not have a thing for this version. Dude is a downgrade. Very sad. Caroline looks vastly older than she probably should and I'm not fond of the second cover. It should look dynamic and hey, we're fighting a damn war here and instead we get... that. I don't have words for it, really, other than not well executed?
Caroline seems to be another whose meet outfit will not change and I can't really see any differences cropping up. Her birthday blue dress and her table/chairs/dishes are all allegedly on the chopping block, though, so do with that what you will.
This was found labelled as Caroline's Party dress:
Some people have pointed out that it's more in style for Rebecca's time. I say they've done so well with Caroline, why funk it up now? I'm kind of looking forward to seeing this on a doll so I can tell whether it's completely awful or not. I like the color scheme but I've never been a big fan of the overly satin-y looking fabrics.
Josefina
Josefina only gets two books so that's the basis being used to determine that she's likely the next to go, probably next year. If nothing else, the second cover makes it pretty likely that dress is safe as is her goat. And by safe, I mean for another few months anyway. Her books are also not listed with the others on the website, so that's a bit disconcerting as well.
Addy
People have pointed out that the reason I so love Addy's new blue dress there is because it is a recolour of Cecile's red dress, and dammit, it's pretty true. (Addy's looks to have bows and possibly an apron but still.) But still, I really like this dress and Addy needs something to get some interest and she looks stunning in blue so here's hoping the doll version is just as lovely.
Also, I am super duper hoping the Meet dress will be sold seperately for a little while because I waaaaaaaaant.
Or maybe I want a little less. Can't tell. *muse*
Samantha
Well, Miss Samantha Parkington, it has been awhile since we last saw one another. I see you've ditched your hairbows (sadness) and assaulted Rebecca for her coat. That's... nice. Is it from the Cruella line?
^-New coat found on eBay.
I'm not sure how I feel about any of this aside from the title The Lilac Tunnel and that's just hilarious to me. Also, I'm pretty sure it's got to be a lesbian euphenism and I've been told I am not the only one to think that so clearly it must be. :P Seriously, I snort each time I see the title. That is probably not wise due to my throat being shredded but hey.
I was never super fond of Samantha's Meet dress so I was all for them re-doing that. I think I'll withhold judgement on anything else until pictures surface, preferably of them on a doll. I am glad that her first book there shows her up a tree because I hate when people forget that Sam isn't all that frilly and overly girlie and unable to get her hands dirty. When we first meet her she's tumbling out of a tree right before threatening to kick the neighborhood jerk's arse. Seriously, Sam is bad ass and you would do well to remember this.
Rebecca
Soooo... I rather like Rebecca's new outfit. And by rather like, I mean AG will have to work to make me hate it. I still don't like her movie dress much (that's the pink one) but hey, I don't need to. It does look like she might be losing her grandmother's pin (funny since that's a big part of one of her mysteries) and gaining a necklace instead?
Kit
I'm torn. On the one hand, I think Kit's new outfit is very cute. The teal one, I mean. On the other, all that pink does not scream Kit and this doesn't exactly scream 30's to me. 30's by way of today though...
Presumably Kit's new "Meet" outfit. I... am not as big a fan as I thought I'd be? I don't think I enjoy the colors together. It is also possible that it will look better in it's real and finished state. But looking at it here? It looks very BT. Not a good idea for an older character.
Kit's second outfit and probably her shoes as well.
I saw this a few days ago and honestly thought it was a bitty outfit. Even scoffed when someone else asked if it was a Kit outfit. Yeah, I'm not laughing now. I thought part of the point of BF was to push the dolls on kids and generally speaking kids like their stuff to look a bit more adult (or full on baby if it's a baby doll) and this really does look like a todler outfit today.
Sigh. Kit, I am disappointed. You're losing your best friend and all you're getting out of this deal is some teal, some cute shoes, and... that? Ugh.
This is the part where I start to seriously fear BF, btw. I have some hope (Addy, Rebecca), some wait and see (Samantha) and then there's Kit who is a shining beacon of NO.
Julie
Birthday dress is safe, it appears. I'll miss her book covers where she looks like Dawn Schafer by way of Hayden Panettiere.
I have a few pictures of things that may be AG and may belong to Julie or they might not be AG or simply not be Julie's.
Again, not sure if it's actually AG or if it is, if it's for Julie but... it's there. I kinda dig the pants, not sold on the shirt.
This, however, I really like.
But I don't like it as much when the collar color is swapped. It's funny how one tiny detail alters things.
Your Guess is as good as mine
No idea whose it is. Might not be anyone's, but there is an AG tag sewn in so I thought I would include it.
Needless to say, this is going to be super pic heavy and I ain't resizing jack. I will, however, separate them according to character because I'm nice like that.
Also: you'll note there is nothing for the NOLA girls because, and I cannot say this enough, they're doomed. Odds are quite good they're going to be axed this month when the new catalog finally hits.
Book covers can be found here on Ag's website. I would suggest ordering via Amazon or something but they don't come out until August 28, 2014. Which should also answer the question of when BF launches.
**BeForever, for those who are unaware, is the rebranding of the Historical line from American Girl. They've been keeping it pretty hush hush but word gets out, man. Word gets out.
In general I'm all for the historicals getting a revamp as they clearly need some love. I worry about what they'll do and at the cuts they'll be making, but at the same time I'm glad they're trying to revive interest in the line. So it's a fine line for me at this point, but mostly I try to lean towards optimistic.
However some of these possibilities are making that very difficult. o_O
Kaya:
Hold. Up. AG, you spent forever working with experts and made a WHOLE NEW DOLL MOLD due to the issue of showing teeth and suddenly, nope, it's cool? I don't friggin' think so. No. Bad, AG. Bad. No cookie for you.
Otherwise Kaya seems to have the absolute least changes possible while still getting a three book deal. She's cute, they're cute, and I can't spot any new stuff lurking but I am also not terribly well versed in Kaya's stuff so there's also that.
Bottom line: If you're wanting Kaya, it looks like the only difference between now and later (at this time and clearly I don't know
Caroline
It's sad that upon seeing Caroline's dad, all I can think of is that chick on PT who has a bit of a thing for him and how I'm pretty sure, though I haven't looked yet, that she will not have a thing for this version. Dude is a downgrade. Very sad. Caroline looks vastly older than she probably should and I'm not fond of the second cover. It should look dynamic and hey, we're fighting a damn war here and instead we get... that. I don't have words for it, really, other than not well executed?
Caroline seems to be another whose meet outfit will not change and I can't really see any differences cropping up. Her birthday blue dress and her table/chairs/dishes are all allegedly on the chopping block, though, so do with that what you will.
This was found labelled as Caroline's Party dress:
Some people have pointed out that it's more in style for Rebecca's time. I say they've done so well with Caroline, why funk it up now? I'm kind of looking forward to seeing this on a doll so I can tell whether it's completely awful or not. I like the color scheme but I've never been a big fan of the overly satin-y looking fabrics.
Josefina
Josefina only gets two books so that's the basis being used to determine that she's likely the next to go, probably next year. If nothing else, the second cover makes it pretty likely that dress is safe as is her goat. And by safe, I mean for another few months anyway. Her books are also not listed with the others on the website, so that's a bit disconcerting as well.
Addy
People have pointed out that the reason I so love Addy's new blue dress there is because it is a recolour of Cecile's red dress, and dammit, it's pretty true. (Addy's looks to have bows and possibly an apron but still.) But still, I really like this dress and Addy needs something to get some interest and she looks stunning in blue so here's hoping the doll version is just as lovely.
Also, I am super duper hoping the Meet dress will be sold seperately for a little while because I waaaaaaaaant.
Or maybe I want a little less. Can't tell. *muse*
Samantha
Well, Miss Samantha Parkington, it has been awhile since we last saw one another. I see you've ditched your hairbows (sadness) and assaulted Rebecca for her coat. That's... nice. Is it from the Cruella line?
^-New coat found on eBay.
I'm not sure how I feel about any of this aside from the title The Lilac Tunnel and that's just hilarious to me. Also, I'm pretty sure it's got to be a lesbian euphenism and I've been told I am not the only one to think that so clearly it must be. :P Seriously, I snort each time I see the title. That is probably not wise due to my throat being shredded but hey.
I was never super fond of Samantha's Meet dress so I was all for them re-doing that. I think I'll withhold judgement on anything else until pictures surface, preferably of them on a doll. I am glad that her first book there shows her up a tree because I hate when people forget that Sam isn't all that frilly and overly girlie and unable to get her hands dirty. When we first meet her she's tumbling out of a tree right before threatening to kick the neighborhood jerk's arse. Seriously, Sam is bad ass and you would do well to remember this.
Rebecca
Soooo... I rather like Rebecca's new outfit. And by rather like, I mean AG will have to work to make me hate it. I still don't like her movie dress much (that's the pink one) but hey, I don't need to. It does look like she might be losing her grandmother's pin (funny since that's a big part of one of her mysteries) and gaining a necklace instead?
Kit
I'm torn. On the one hand, I think Kit's new outfit is very cute. The teal one, I mean. On the other, all that pink does not scream Kit and this doesn't exactly scream 30's to me. 30's by way of today though...
Presumably Kit's new "Meet" outfit. I... am not as big a fan as I thought I'd be? I don't think I enjoy the colors together. It is also possible that it will look better in it's real and finished state. But looking at it here? It looks very BT. Not a good idea for an older character.
Kit's second outfit and probably her shoes as well.
I saw this a few days ago and honestly thought it was a bitty outfit. Even scoffed when someone else asked if it was a Kit outfit. Yeah, I'm not laughing now. I thought part of the point of BF was to push the dolls on kids and generally speaking kids like their stuff to look a bit more adult (or full on baby if it's a baby doll) and this really does look like a todler outfit today.
Sigh. Kit, I am disappointed. You're losing your best friend and all you're getting out of this deal is some teal, some cute shoes, and... that? Ugh.
This is the part where I start to seriously fear BF, btw. I have some hope (Addy, Rebecca), some wait and see (Samantha) and then there's Kit who is a shining beacon of NO.
Julie
Birthday dress is safe, it appears. I'll miss her book covers where she looks like Dawn Schafer by way of Hayden Panettiere.
I have a few pictures of things that may be AG and may belong to Julie or they might not be AG or simply not be Julie's.
Again, not sure if it's actually AG or if it is, if it's for Julie but... it's there. I kinda dig the pants, not sold on the shirt.
This, however, I really like.
But I don't like it as much when the collar color is swapped. It's funny how one tiny detail alters things.
Your Guess is as good as mine
No idea whose it is. Might not be anyone's, but there is an AG tag sewn in so I thought I would include it.
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(no subject)
Date: 2014-05-10 06:42 pm (UTC)I think new!Sam is cute but I never warmed to the revamped drawings they did when Mattel took over and so it's been awhile since I saw *my* Sam on anything. Cute little girl, not really overly Sam. If someone had just shown me the artwork mixed with non-AG things I probably wouldn't have ID'd Sam on anything but the Nellie cover and that wouldn't be IDing Sam, it'd be IDing Nellie.
Hmm. That may be why Kit looks so much younger. Everyone else has been aged up (Sam a little less so) and Kit's there being nine. I loathe the second cover though, but I can't figure out if it's actually the cover or the fact that it has given birth to that outfit. o_O Found a picture of the turquoise dress so I'll be adding that in.
I love that the fandom reaction to Kaya's smile has been one of two things: "Eeeee, no!" or "but the current Kaya book is the same way and no one says boo." No one's saying boo because a) it's been that way for awhile so people have said their peace, b) no one reads Kaya's books because Teh Sad, and c) you can't see that she's smiling with teeth in a thumbnail shot of it. This one you see from space.
Hrmm. BSC!Sunny Dawn could work... plus it'll give me more time to buy that outfit for Ivy. (Don't leave me, Ivy!)