Mattel Colors vs. Pleasant Company Colors

[doobiedots]

Hi. I just wanted to point out something that I've noticed. It seems to me that the new Mattel American Girl clothing for both the historical characters and the AGoT dolls has either a pastel, Barbie feel to it, or a bright, eye-popping color scheme of orange, turquoise, etc. For example, Jess' outfit/Molly's Roller-Skating outfit. In my opinion, the Pleasant Company clothing was much more subdued and easier on the eyes.

[cami713]

Welcome to the board!

Are you saying they use too much pastel now? or too much color? It looks like you're saying both. What is it you'd like to see more of?

I like the color schemes they use now, for the most part. I think it looks more lively, Sam has some outfits that aren't pink, but are bold, solid colors, that look prettier on her, and command more attention. Most of the PM stuff was lighter or darker depending on the girl (Molly had almost all red and blue, Sam mostly pink and white, etc), and I think there's a nicer balance now.

I don't think Barbie when I see any of the outfits (although Princess Elizabeth in her meet outfit is *almost* there for me). Especially with the AGT items, they're using colors and patterns that are popular right now, whereas PC was going for a more classic look (yet most of the outfits are still horribly outdated now), and I think both have their good points. I think I actually prefer the newer AGT items for style and cuteness. However, I like the older ones better as I do think some had better quality (not all, mind).

As far as the Historical items go, I really think there's a nice balance. They release some lighter colored items, and then some darker ones, and some inbetween.

The jewel tones, and more "out there" colors, like Jess's meet outfit, and the butterfly brocade look gorgeous on the dolls, (especially those with darker hair and skin). Jess's meet outfit looks more bright than it is. I think the shirt has a sort of "dirty orange" look to it.

[mypinkmermaid]

We're all going to have our own personal preferences for clothing colors, but I think there is something to be said about the Barbie-like colors, and more particularly, the quality of the newer outfits. I like a mix of colors, but there seems to be an awful lot of pink/purple "Barbie" colored outfits available, and the trend toward fewer details and more velcro seriously makes me wonder about the future of AG. [img]graemlins/wonder.gif[/img]

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ February 21, 2006 03:32 PM: Message edited by: mypinkmermaid ]</font>

[Skittl1321]

Honestly, I'm confused by the phrase "Barbie" colored. Barbie comes in a pink box, but if I remember my Barbies correctly, their outfits came in a range of colors and styles.

So how do you determine something is Barbie? And why is it negative to be Barbie? Barbie is a really broad brand and has dolls and accessories at both ends of the price/quality spectrum. I think "cheap" would be a better word than 'Barbie'.

As for the colors- I don't have complaints. My complaints are the uneven collections, the dropping standards of quality in the dresses, and the inflitration of plastic in the collections, especially since the collection was once described as "not plastic playthings"

[mypinkmermaid]

Nothing negative about Barbie, she is awesome in her own right. But, there are a ton of Barbie items other than her and her clothes, and the signature color is pink and purple. Mattel has created this image and for people who dont collect Barbie, the perception is that all her stuff is bright pink/purple, which is exactly what Mattel marketing intends. Not a bad thing for Barbie, but does AG really benefit from the same treatment?

[doobiedots]

When I look at many of the AG outfits right now, I notice the colors pink and purple. I like both those colors, but I feel that AG is using them in excess. So, as for the question ?Are you saying they use too much pastel now??, I would have to say yes.

As for the ?Barbie? issue, it was not my intent to use Barbie in a derogatory manner. I myself loved playing w/ them when I was a little girl. I just was referring to how the color pink has become synonymous with Barbie.

Overall, I just miss the old Pleasant Company quality, because I had such fond memories playing w/ my American girl doll as a child.

[cami713]

I'm not going to defend the quality, I really think it depends on the item, and the exact garment, and I don't happen to find the quality to be bad. It's still well above the average item you could pick up at Toys R Us, or elsewhere.

I don't think there's an overabundance of pink or purple. And if there is, it's because little girls like pink, hence why many Barbie things come in pink. Surely AG will benefit from the pink/purple treatment (a.k.a. boxes). Do they need it? No, I don?t think so, but I doubt it?ll hurt sales.

People tend to forget that AG is made for little girls, at about the same age as Barbie. It makes perfect sense for AG to use colors that little girls like. I can see being disappointed as it's not something you particularly like, but AG is made for little girls, the majority of whom like pink.

I agree with Skittl, I don't think there's much more pink than any other colors among my Barbie clothes.

Yes, they come in a pink box, to attract little girls and, I imagine, largely for tradition. Yes, the new AG boxes are pink and purple. It's something different; they've changed the boxes before. I thought the blue ones were very ugly, and these ones, although I'd have preferred them not change the historical boxes, are more stylistic.

and the trend toward fewer details and more velcro seriously makes me wonder about the future of AG.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">AG has ALWAYS had velcro. There isn't anymore of it now. In fact, they're using better (less snagging) velcro now. Some of the PC items had lesser amounts of detail. Look at most of the Christmas dresses, very minimal. And many of the current items have loads of details.

About the pastel items, I also think there's a few too many, but I think there's a nice amount of other colors as well. No one has to buy everything, and I think, given how big some (not all the historicals, of course) of the collections are, one can pick and chose, and not get the pink items, if they so please.

Editing to add that I do think there could be a bit more detail to accuracy on the historical items.

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ February 21, 2006 04:17 PM: Message edited by: cami713 ]</font>

[mypinkmermaid]

Re: detail and quality, I have found the reverse to be true Cami. And many of the older outfits had snaps or buttons, not just velcro straight across the board. And some of my older, retired items have very nice "garment quality" velcro, with tiny hooks that do not snag delicate fabrics. Molly's new roller skating outfit, however, has a regular old "snaggy" velcro closure, which is a shame because while the fabric is in no danger of damage from it, the blouse is supposed to be a button front and Pleasant Co would have made it so.

[cami713]

Molly's new roller skating outfit, however, has a regular old "snaggy" velcro closure, which is a shame because while the fabric is in no danger of damage from it, the blouse is supposed to be a button front and Pleasant Co would have made it so.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Again, I suppose the quality issue depends on your perspective, Nana. I have items dating from 1995 until, obviously, now, and I really don't see an overall decline. Perhaps it's good that you do, as it might have you buying less.

My Molly School outfit's blouse has velcro up the back, and it was bought in 1996, but was probably made a few years before, so it's really not just Mattel items. Yes, there are a larger number of PC items that don't use velcro than there are now, but most of them did use velcro. The only item I have with the softer velcro is Sam's meet outfit, and I'm pretty sure part of why it's like that is because it was un-velcro-ed more often than the others.

I also have many of the retired AGT outfits (mostly from 1995-1998), and, honestly, I can't think of a single one with the softer velcro. I can think of a few that have snaps, instead, but none with the soft velcro come to mind.

And, again, you're forgetting the items are made for children. Velcro is much easier to put together. I do have Molly's tennis outfit, and it always took too much time to put on my dolls when I was little. So, it hardly ever got put on my dolls back then, (and doesn't much now because I find it ugly).

I think AG should make an all new line of outfits, more like the Life of Faith outfits, with more detailing, and created for adults. Obviously, they would have to cost more, but I think many people would be willing to pay the difference for the much higher quality.

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ February 21, 2006 08:00 PM: Message edited by: cami713 ]</font>

[AvalonsBlueRose]

All of my stuff is Mattel, other then my Molly doll, and basically I am satisifed with my purchases thus far. Alot of the clothing I got in the early 90's for my Molly, my mother has ordered in the past year and so for her own Molly, so I've had a unique chance to see some of the changes. For the five outfits I can think of off the top of my head that I have seen pre and post mattel, there hasn't been a huge decline.

HOWEVER...from the things I've heard on this board, and the quality lacking on some of the newer products, I do think American Girl has to shape their acts up!