Yesterday as part of the two week birthday bonanza for A (she's turning 8 tomorrow!) was a trip to the American Girl store in Chicago. We had never been there before, although we have our share of AG "stuff" (dolls, clothes, single shoes looking for a mate, etc.). We went to tea and I told each girl that they could buy one accessory or outfit.
The dining room was well decorated (black, white and hot pink), not crammed to capacity, with excellent service and ok food (in some cases tied to the stories of the girls). When you bring your doll it gets its own seat at the table and its own cup and saucer (they live the good life). The attention to detail throughout the store was really remarkable (to me anyway). The historical character dolls and dolls of the years have their own stories, books, dvds and computer games (not to mention clothing and accessories). The Just Like You Dolls (many varieties of hair color, eye color, skin color, etc.) have almost every theme imaginable available in clothing and accessories (sports, events, holidays, bedtime, etc., etc., etc.). They do have a roller skating package including helmet, pads, and rollerblades: Oh, so close!
I liked the hair salon with the little pink salon chairs with belts so the dolls don't fall out (although that was the most chaotic part of the whole store, although you do get a hair care card when you get a hairdo at the salon), the doll holders in the bathroom stalls so the dolls aren't rolling around on the floor, and all of the variety and quality of books (we got Mini Mysteries and each girl got a character book: Julie Saves the Eagle and Kit Kittredge and the Zoo Mystery (or something like that). I also really liked the little scenes they set up for the each of the historical girls using real items or good reproductions of things in the book that the girl would have had. Julie, the girl from the 1970s had a cassette tape player (I had one!!!!), a bean bag chair (I had one!!!), a Brady Bunch Christmas record (yes a "record") (I had one!!!), and other cool things I became too totally overwhelmed to remember. Oh you can get your doll's ears pierced, but they don't do tattooing, and they don't offer a mohawk in their hairstyles, G and I thought this would broaden the market considerably, but I doubt AG would agree...
It was in fact completely overwhelming, but for once, in a kind of good way. I like the quality and the depth of the storylines. But of course, it wouldn't be America without just having too much of a good thing. Who can make gazillions of dollars convincing a kid that they have enough and just to revel in the character? We will go back, but not for a while. And by then, who knows, they may have added roller derby to the sports outfits. Mini-derbyskinz anyone??
1 comment:
It's rather hard to figure out who liked this experience more - the girls or YOU! hahaha, thanks for sharing. That place kind of scares me. All those little eyes looking at you.
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