Why is Samantha AGs bestselling doll?

[rachie421]

Kelli_AG_Girly, got me thinking about this on her post about Felicity. Actually I have always wondered. I really like the character of Samantha and I think she is a pretty doll with some very pretty dresses and accesories, but I have no desire to ever get her. I think most people would agree that Samantha is AGs most popular historical doll, probably the most popular doll of all, and I have always wondered what it is that Im missing. Is it the extra girly dresses? The wavy hair? The Victorian era? To me this seems to be her biggest draw, especially to younger girls. However growing up I was never a girly girl and I am one of the few people I kno who doesnt care for the Victoria era, to restrictive and conservative imo. So I dont mean to insult anyone by asking, I really am just curious.

<font color="#33CCCC" size="1">[ February 10, 2007 01:32 AM: Message edited by: djsnjones ]</font>

[linzystar]

I found Samantha's stories the most interesting, even though I didn't think they would interest me as much as Kirsten or Molly's stories. I can't say exactly what it was about Samantha's stories that I liked so much though. As for the doll, I actually liked the others better [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[sailorangel59]

Samantha and I had a lot in common, she was an orphan I was adopted. She had similar features (All my teachers when they saw the first covers of the books thought she looked just like me). We both like to paint, and help others as much as possible.

That was my reason, that is why Samantha was my first.

I know it doesn't answer your question, to be honest, I don't know what makes her the most popular either... I would think (really honestly here) Felicity, just because of the time period and the amount of story she has to tell... who knows. The markets are odd.

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ April 05, 2005 04:27 AM: Message edited by: sailorangel59 ]</font>

[dolldreamer]

I have always wondered this myself. I have no connection with her and it wasn't till the movie that she even sparked an interest to me and it still wasn't much.
My neices are the same way, they are becoming more interested in her through liking Nellie then from liking samantha.

[lieu2]

I think because she is very girly girl. I was like that as a child. Even though I grew up in the 70s and 80s, I would love to have owned her clothing. I would still like to dress like that if I could get away with it. Although I would look pretty stupid in some of those outfits at the age of 34. But I think little girls like pretty and very feminine. I really love the character of Molly but do not like a lot of her wardrobe. But I find her character the most three diminsional. I love that she gets jealous and can be some what naughty at times. But we bought Samantha for Kaitlin's first AG. Because we wanted to give her the doll when she is still pretty young, 4 or 5 years old. So I think she will be at the height of pink and frills at that time. Also the movie has made her very well known. I would be curious how popular Felicity will become after this winter. Felicity is a more complex time period. It will nice to see her status being elevated after the next movie.

[gingerharp]

Samantha does have some major plus advantages that dolls such as Molly, Kit, and Addy do not have.
As a child I grew up with a mother obessed with Victorian things. So obsessed she restored a whole Victorian house. So having the Victorian thing exposed to me at a young age made me fall in love with it also. When I see Samantha and other Victorian things I feel like I'm a child again back in home. Reading a Samantha story brings me home in a way, and I also met my husband at a Victorian hotel so that means a lot to me.
She also has the pretty hair and tons of beautiful outfits. When I was a child collecting AG and playing with dolls even though I thought they were cool I didn't care too much for accessories. I wanted dresses. I liked to dress my dolls and my goal was to have as many dresses possible. Samantha seems to have the most dresses out of any of the girls.

Now some reasons why I idnetify with Samantha are
when I was a kid up until I read a Samantha book I always read stories about beautiful and rich girls but they were snobby, shallow, and bratty. Samantha was the first book I remember that had a wealthy, spoiled, and pretty character but she was still compassionate, sweet, and very kind. I came from a very comfortable well off family and I used to feel so guilty because rich girls were always portrayed as snots or selfish. I remember the Meet Molly where I think her name is Alison is resented because she is rich, but I don't recall her acting snobby like Harriet does in the Addy books. I used to even want to be poor because I thought that was the only way I felt I could be a good person. And for a child that thinking pattern is easy to understand. When I read Samantha I no longer felt guilty because she was a generous girl who really helped others out, so I was inspired to donate some of my old clothes and things for those in need because I wanted to be Samantha.
Also like Samantha I am an only child who hung around adults a lot. So I could identify always having to act grown up and mature when they were around.

[Lissiefan]

I'm just like you. I have no connection to Samantha. The only interest I have began with the movie, and really that only connected me to Nellie! My girls are the same way. But they are a redhead and a blonde. [img]graemlins/hmmm.gif[/img]

I think the thing that connects people to Samantha is two fold. First, she is brown haired and brown eyed. That alone connects her to a huge populus here. Second, her wardrobe, accessories, and stories give her a fairytale-like quality. Samantha is Cinderella for brunettes. Most people hate feeling ordinary...just one of the crowd. Samantha may look ordinary (brown hair/eyes are the most common), but her family's wealth gives her an identity that seperates her from the crowd. Every girl wants feel like a princess. For brunettes, orphans, or those who dream of having the courage to make a difference in their society, Samantha has that feeling.

If I keep on like this, I may even start to like her! [img]smile.gif[/img] Nah. [img]redface.gif[/img]

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ April 05, 2005 10:09 AM: Message edited by: Lissiefan ]</font>

[ponydreamer]

My daughter was six in 1993, when she saw her first American Girl catalog. She just loved Samantha. I really don't think it was her clothing, either. She used to sit and stare at the meet picture of Sam, and dream about owning her. She thought she was the most beautiful doll.

For me...it's the era. I was supposed to be born in that era, I swear. Gingerharp...I'm so jealous that you grew up in a restored Victorian! It's my dream to move an old Victorian to our farm, and restore it. I'd need a different husband, though, and I'm not willing to trade mine in. [img]wink.gif[/img]

I also think Samantha is pretty. She just is. We have two displayed at our house. DD's pre-mattel, and my post-mattel.

Her stores are great, too. I have always enjoyed them. They are in my top three, the others being Addy and Felicity.

[southern_belle]

I too, grew up in a restored Victorian. When choosing a doll I thought very carefully about her complete collection. Would a pioneer bed look right in my Victorian bedroom? No, but a Edwardian one would.

[Baylena]

I agree in part with Gingerharp..so many times, you read stories of rich spoiled girls who are terriably snobby..Samantha';s character is nothing like that.

Samantha was my first doll, I picked her out of the catalog, for her beauty and her clothes, so, as far as the target age group, YES, her clothes and "girly girl" beauty appeal to them.

The other girls(well, I will say in my time, which was Molly,Kirsten and JUST started with Felicity, along with Sam) Just didnt appeal to me..Im not into blonde dolls, mabey I was mentaly scarred from Barbie [img]tongue.gif[/img] I much prefer the red and Brunettes. Molly, I did not like her clothes. And Felicity, her collection was tiny at the time and so not as appealing to a young girl.

I also think Samantha got alot of expousure from her movie, many people did not know about the collection UNTIL the movie came out and whose the star? Samantha, therefore, when a girl says she wants a AG doll, shes going to go for the one that she knows and for all those people, its Samantha.

I HATE Samantha's bangs..othe then that, I like her. Although, I will say, I liked Felicity alot more..

Sarah