If you have your eye on Kit, she's a very good doll; her hair is very manageable. Don't worry about it getting dirty; lots of people on the board have washed their dolls' hair, so it's not that big of a deal. It's true, though; all the dolls are made for little girls, so they're MADE to be lugged around! (I think it's very sweet that you plan to lug yours. [img]biggrin.gif[/img] )
As Becnicjamsar said, once Emily comes out, you can actually call up American Girl and order her Meet Outfit as a "replacement part". You could then put it onto any doll, but if you're worried about historical accuracy, I think it would look best on Kit or Molly (or, of course, Emily). I know at least a couple people here plan to buy it for their Kit dolls. So if you JUST like the outfit, that's the way to go, although if you like Emily the doll, she's a good choice.
Anyway, welcome to the board! [img]biggrin.gif[/img]