NEW American Girl Doll Claudie Outfits Review + Discussing Racism in the Doll Industry (No Unboxing)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ก.ย. 2024
- Talking about some important issues in the doll industry like racism and colorism. Also reviewing American Girl Doll Claudie's newest additions to her collection!
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So glad you did a video on this. My childhood has been all about this topic unfortunately. Addy was introduced off of the 1980s popularity of TV shows like A Different World, The Cosby Show and Fresh Prince 1989 and movies that featured diversity like School Daze, Glory, and The Color Purple. I remember Addy being advertised heavily in Black magazines that featured Black actors and actresses on the covers. So Addy came out when Americans were excited for diversity and it was embraced as something positive. For whatever reason Claudie seems to be coming at a time where diversity is being replaced with whatever these days...people forget that everyone has a cultural experience that they are proud of. Harlem Renaissance is a great theme. Not sure why it is not being given star treatment since it was the rise of jazz music and who doesn't like great music and joy! I hear you 100% My only son loves seeing Barbie and even though he loves Hot wheels and Marvel, he still loves embracing his Mama's doll collection. He also has several African American dolls of his own that he can add to his family one day. I WILL BE SUPPORTING CLAUDIE JUST AS MY PARENTS DID WITH ADDY FOR ME.😊
I feel ya - it sucks feeling invisible. I would love to dig up those original ads for Addy some day. We only had a few catalogs which were my only Pleasant Company experience other than the books. I remember when she was released, and I got so excited even though I knew I nobody would get her for me hehe.
There’s no way American Girl hasn’t heard about all of our feedback regarding Claudie’s promotion. Regardless of the reason for her not having a cover and more promotion, it’s their responsibility to understand what kind of message that sent.
American Girl seems to have a decent history when it comes to inclusivity (not perfect obvi), and I think it’s part of the brand’s mission. It’s just so weird to me that they dropped the ball on this when it really counted. Bigots have gotten louder again in recent years, and companies need to understand why everything they're doing is being looked at under a microscope.
That said, I really do think the brand is doing a good job with the actual doll/collection. Claudie is definitely loved there - I can just tell. I really think the problem is their marketing department.
I love that your son loves/respects your dolls. That is so nice! Especially knowing you’re going to keep everything in the family. Your kids will really appreciate that one day. My mom got rid of everything except my Beanie Babies and I was so mad haha
Well said!! ❤️❤️
Addy was also introduced with a video tape that showed the entire collection.
Yes, I nearly cried seeing her new accessories! I had the exact same reaction - aside from the plastic suitcase, this feels like a Pleasant Co release and it’s so nice to see!
Same reaction 🥹 I thought yes someone is actually listening! There may be even collectors on design team too! Wouldn’t that be something? 😏 Claudie deserves all the love! I bought her double quick but waited until Christmas 😅 to take her out of box and enjoy her! Btw she looks great in the Orange You Glad 🍊 outfit AG released this year 🥰
You make a lot of good points about the care and consideration that went into designing Claudie and her collection. I do hope she gets a catalog cover. Poor girl, she really has gotten the short end of the stick from a marketing standpoint. I don't have her, but if I did, I would definitely buy the new dress. The Velveteen Rabbit set is so sweet, but I wouldn't pay $34 for something that will just sit around. I'd rather spend that money on doll clothes. Thanks for sharing all of this!
Thanks so much! I definitely wish they weren't so expensive, but what isn't these days. Inflation is so crazy, I can't believe these sets aren't $75 honestly. Doll collecting has gotten so much more expensive over the last few years!
I absolutely adore the new items in Claudie’s Collection! I hope to get them all as soon as possible, it’s one of the few recent releases I am actually impressed with.
Yeah, they did an awesome job on this collection! It looks more historical than a lot of the other stuff from her previous release.
I think Claudie was a response to the Healthy Roots Dolls coming out in 2020. They were the first company to center around curly-haired dolls that could be styled like natural hair and their first doll, Zoe, had dark skin and I think Claudie looks a lot like her. Just by existing the Healthy Roots company attention to how little diversity that AG had before and were making big waves in the community of POC doll lovers. If AG had continued to release their usual style of dolls without adding a doll representing the dark skinned, curly haired girls they would have looked really bad. I think Claudie hasn’t gotten a cover because AG doesn’t want to seem too “woke” however I think she absolutely deserves one, and I hope it’s in that green winter outfit because it’s absolutely adorable! 💚
There was a podcast interview with Addy’s author, Connie Porter. Before deciding to start their exploration of black history with the end of slavery, they discussed other time periods. Connie Porter discussed doing the Harlem Renaissance with Pleasant Rowland. The idea for creating a doll from the Harlem Renaissance is more than 30 years old. I find it especially disturbing that they overlooked the promotion of such a significant time period that was referred to over 30 years ago.
With their curly haired brown vinyl dolls, Truly Me 58 was also around for a long time. I learned to work with her hair from Doll Studio by Kris. They now also have 112.
I really appreciate you talking about "having the difficult conversations"...as long as there are done with respect and courtesy. Thank you.
I love Claudie’s coat
Me too! They did such a good job on this new release!
@@idreamofjonny Claudine is a beautiful doll and I agree her collection is pretty good
Totally!
I just ordered Claudie’s coat!
Yes to all! I even bought that Xmas accessories set despite it having no real place in my dollhouse but just because I was so excited for something that looked and felt HISTORICAL. More of this please AG!
I think these dresses are super cute. I would love to see the breakdown of what collectors buy vs. children. When I am in the AG store, I see parents buying Historical Dolls a lot. I do get advertisements from AG every so often and they only advertise the Create Your Own line. 🤷♀️
As a primarily a Barbie collector, I have a beef with faux leather, eventually it degrades/sheds. Since it’s Mattel I would bet they would use the same material.
That’s very true! Even American Girl items that are faux leather degrade over time which is soooo annoying. My Barbie winter holiday jacket is ROCK. HARD. There are waaaaay more adult collectors of Barbie than American Girl currently. American Girl is sort of a niche interest outside the USA
Claudie’s Christmas accessories are INCREDIBLE! It reminds me a lot of old pleasant company accessories with not only the outfits that made the dolls’ collections so great, but their matching accessories. It’s a shame those adorable little sets like Naneas radio and Melody’s bedroom accessories were retired and not good sellers, those sets are what really makes the historical collections for me
Absolutely love this review and agree 100% on all points. Pretty please on the less plastic front and yes…let’s get Claudie an catalog cover, AG! 😊
She will be my first America girl doll. I can’t wait to get her.
With Claudie's new outfits, I really want to get her now. I wasn't too crazy for the glittery flapper sets, but loved her meet outfit. Finally got to see her in person in NYC the other day and the FAO doll, both are beautiful, catalog pictures do not do them justice.
I've looked at SOOOO many pics of Claudie on Instagram. I've been thinking of making mine (when I finally get her, after moving) into an 80's character with textured hair so she can hang with Courtney. That way I don't need to buy a zillion new accessories and outfits LOL
Claudie's whole collection is absolutely top notch, it's just a pity they aren't promoting her as much as they should. I hope we'll see more for her in the future. I have my fingers crossed for a trunk!
Love her new outfits and accessories. This is the American Girl we all know!
I agree with your marketing points on Claudie. She is lovely, and is on my list.
There was a podcast interview with Addy’s author, Connie Porter. Before deciding to start their exploration of black history with the end of slavery, they discussed other time periods. Connie Porter discussed doing the Harlem Renaissance with Pleasant Rowland. The idea for creating a doll from the Harlem Renaissance is more than 30 years old. I find it especially disturbing that they overlooked the promotion of such a significant time period that was referred to over 30 years ago.
The end of slavery was a significant event in black history (Addy) So were the initial freedoms that the South rebelled against with Jim Crow laws (Adventures with Claudie), what really went on during the Harlem Renaissance (Meet Claudie), why black people moved to cities like New York, Philadelphia and Chicago, and the Civil Rights movement (Melody).
It isn’t about the doll. It is about history and what American Girl and many customers are no longer focusing on: history and education.
What I learned about the Harlem Renaissance because of the release of Claudie and not from the books on Claudie:
Harlem was bought out by black people in the late 1800’s. It grew in population through the 1920’s until the Great Depression.
It had a mixed population of people from those who had spent more time in north and had a higher level of education and those who escaped the absolute danger in the south who came from fields and servant work.
It was a liberal community of artists. It had an active night club scene with singers and musicians. It was also very lesbian, gay, queer, and nonbinary.
The outfits from the Harlem Fashion Row were their interpretation and reproduction of the type of outfits that would have been worn in nightclubs.
I would have liked to have seen more of the community and Harlem history in her first book.
Claudie is absolutely gorgeous!
Love all of her collection.
I have it all. This dress is super cute.
Oh congrats - that's awesome! Her collection is really great!
Ah! This is so exciting! I have a beautiful niece who loves dolls, and I’ve wondered if I should try to build an old Samantha collection for her, but I’m going to get her Claudie! I hope they write more books.
That’s awesome! I do think she’ll appreciate having something brand new! I hope they write more books too :)
I completely agree with all of your points. Thank you for using your voice to discuss this! I'm hopeful that she will receive her catalog cover one day. I remember seeing the email and being disappointed immediately that her new items weren't listed first on it. I'm off to go buy some of them now!
Her suitcase set is so precious, I’m not a historical collector but I may have to get it. Her collection exceeded my expectations of AG :)
I love everything about Claudie and her entire collection so far. Thank you for sharing such great reviews and detailed pictures and descriptions of her items. I agree that her suitcase would be so much nicer in a faux leather but understand about it being made for kids. Thanks for making all of this content for us in the middle of your move! I can’t wait to see your new dolls😃
Thank you for noticing! I’ve been working overtime trying to stay on top of things 😅
oh wow that christmas accessory set is so nostalgic to me! that plastic suitcase really made me cringe though.
The plastic suitcase is my only real complaint. These sets are so cute!
I really need to get her new items,so wonderful. ❤ I enjoyed your video, thank you. 😊
I don't consider the HFR part of her collection. AG was super misleading about it, but they do say that stuff is "inspired by" and I think they even called it Limited Edition or something like that at one point. We got all the HFR stuff because I like it, but I think it's only due to misleading marketing that so many ppl see those three outfits as part of her collection. The AG wiki includes it but as a subpoint "Inspired By clothing" to distinguish it. Very nice video!
Great video about Claudie! I ordered Claudie and her new dress last week, she should be arriving next week! Thank you for a great video! 😊
Thank you for honest and thoughtful review
I really like the new items for Claudie. I am planning on getting the dress. The blue dotted dress is the only new outfit on Claudie in the illustrations of her book “Adventures with Claudie”.
I love the historical reference with the travel set accessories. In the Christmas accessories, The Velveteen Rabbit was first published in 1922. It is a classic that also refers to practices regarding illnesses that we don’t do today.
I am glad that there is finally more to Claudie’s that I want for my 58 (who does Claudie/Addy).
The accessory sets really did have some good references! I love them so much!
I wish the velveteen rabbit book was a hard cover though…then it would look more book like. I love the little books that are so realistic likes kits Robin Hood book etc
Oh yeah, good note! I'm sure it was a cost-cutting decision, but a hardcover definitely would've been nicer!
I agree Claudie feels to me like they put a lot of love and effort into her creation, I honestly feel that she had way more love and attention to her than the twins, which is why its such a shame that they barely marketed her. Like her collection is so nice and the collab pieces are gorgeous, shes got a unique face mold all her own, shes really cute I love her
Wow, Claudie look so worth getting, haha. Great discussion!
Great review ❤ I had to pick up Claudie’s new clothes and accessories. I live in LA , so it was exciting to have them available there, first 😂. Good point on the suitcase 🧳. It would’ve been awesome to at least get a faux leather suitcase.
Ooh that’s exciting! I’m so jealous of people who get access to this stuff early!
Also, the auther of her books is a respected and award-winning author, Brit Bennet. I want to read the American Girl books and re-read the old ones, but for some reason my library doesn't carry them despite being a gigantic library system.
Oh yeah! I still need to read her books, but I’ve heard they’re great!!
@@idreamofjonnyI haven't read Claudie's books yet either, but spoiler alert (thanks to my Mom)...Meet Claudie is the 1st book in the historical line to not conclude at the end of the book...you have to keep reading into book 2. And we haven't got it yet. 😮
One more note, from what I've heard, I think because Britt Bennett grew up with the classic Addy collection, she's trying to bring back that feel with her character.
@@kyled4322 Yes, true, I remember reading that she has been an AG fan since she was a girl. I don't remember exactly, but I think she reached out to AG and said if they are planning another black historical, she wanted to write the books. I'll have to look that up, but I wanted to respond before I forgot lol.
Great video! You’ve convinced me…I’ll order her now! 😅
Haha maybe I need to apply for a job in the marketing dept at American Girl 🤣
Hello,I purchased my first American girl doll the year Addy premiered I still have her. I am disappointed that the company did not put Claudie on a magazine. I love that they pick the perfect author to write her story AndAfter all the beautiful research and beautiful clothing she deserves to be on the front of the magazine.
I have recently ranted against the marketing department of AG. They have made so many faux pas over the years but the treatment of Claudie takes the cake.
However, the department that decides the twins are about Y2K, the department that decides to skimp on eyes , size of dolls, and built-in panties to save money, not to mention using plastic as a shortcut for pretty much anything, theu are equally at fault. The attempt to cheapen their product at every turn while upping the prices, are at fault. They are competing with inferior products in the market rather than setting themselves apart as they once did. AG should never have been mass marketed for ages 6 and up. That's their excuse for the plastics, the perma-panties and so on. I wish a smaller company had purchased from Pleasant Rowland instead. A company that wouldn't skimp on packaging, quality fabrics, and the list goes on. Someone for whom a smaller market share would have been enough. Anyways, that is neither here nor there now. They are churning out too many inferior products - prime example is the birthstone collection and the coloured wigs. Don't compete with Rainbow High and the likes. Stand apart. Be exclusive. Less is more. The limited edition dolls are a prime example - $900 worth of dolls in one month? Three dolls at once? Come on. I do think they are beautiful but that is overkill. Children of today do not have tome to save up for a special doll or outfots/accessories with the accelerated speed of discontinuation. New and improved. That is what they are teaching kids. 😭😢😭
The unlimited availability of replacement items and returns have also taken a turn for the worse. Everything is tighter and tighter. That's what a company like Mattel demands with shareholders their only concern.
She’s very pretty 🤩
Agree!
I love my Claudie, I’ll be getting her new pieces, she is adorable!
She really is one of their best dolls!
YES. Our girl Claudie needs more respect from AG! Her story is beautiful. She’s beautiful. Her new items are BEAUTIFUL. Claudie is just a little icon in the making if they gave her a chance. She could be up there with Molly, Felicity, Samantha, and the other characters like that if AG have her a chance because I really think she has staying power and a character children could cherish forever
I'm just relieved that they are continuing to make new things for her. It means she's selling well, most likely. I truly think she's one of the best dolls American Girl have released since the 90's. They just did such an amazing job on her face sculpt. As much as I wanna see her face in the Truly Me line, I hope they hold off for a little longer so that it doesn't slow down sales of Claudie.
@@idreamofjonny great point about the face mold! That does make her unique compared to other dolls in the general lineup so I agree they should keep it separate from the others for a while. Claudie is special and deserves to have her specialty preserved for a bit longer. I plan on getting her sometime soon (either this year or next- I want to get Rebecca and Lindsey first) because I am just in love especially with her new items ♥️
Thanks for another great video!😃 I agree with everything you said!!😁I hope you have a great day!!❤️
Great minds think alike 😁 I hope you have a great day too!
I just bought all her new outfits and accessory sets!!
Wow, that’s awesome! Congratulations - I hope you love them!
Love the dress with the boots. So cute!
Same! The boots are perfect I think!
I love the new outfits for Claudie!
Me too! They did a great job!
Great assessment, great video!
I have observed how the promotion of Claudie has looked a lot like the more subtle practices of racial discrimination. She has been overlooked and underwritten by Mattel.
It may also be a reflection of how they have left the focus on historical dolls and their stories. Black history is a very important of history for everyone and this is what has really been overlooked.
The doll lines for adults are the more expensive collector dolls, the historical dolls from more recent time periods we remember, and the dolls like Molly and Kit have been re-released.
I do believe Claudie has a group of collectors also wanting her to receive more attention and more to her collection.
It's definitely an issue that a lot of people care about! It's not like they heard from only a handful of people. Pretty much the entire adult-collector community have been wanting to know why she was so under-promoted, and we never really got a response. I think the marketing team needs a little bit of a refresher course on inclusivity, honestly.
That said, the doll and her collection are really beautiful, and I think they spent a ton of time and resources on her. I just wish they'd handled the release a little better.
Also a lot of companies don’t consider black people marketable. Especially minorities with darker skin tone. Why do you right kavi is so light skinned. They couldn’t make a darker skin Indian doll?
I love Claudie and plan to add her to my collection!
I didn't know you had a collection - that's really awesome! I'm getting her after I get moved. Mine's prob gonna be turned into an 80's character though 😆
@@idreamofjonny Although I’ve I’ve enjoyed the AG catalogs for many years, my own collection is quite new - beginning with my first and second AG dolls, Nicki and Isabel Hoffman! ♊️
I quickly got to see how awesome the AG doll community is and have added 4 more (pre-owned but in great condition). Rebecca and Blaire each represent different sides of my family tree. And Kanani and Caroline are now part of my new doll family also. Can’t wait for Claudie! I researched the Harlem Renaissance a while back and will keep her “there”.
(Can’t blame you for loving 80’s vibes - me too!)
@@jenniferroy6288That’s so awesome! I get jealous of people that had them as kids, but collecting as an adult is on a whole new level. You definitely enjoy and appreciate them more as an adult, I think. It’s also a slippery slope when you have adult money. You’ve done well not to let your house get taken over like mine did 🤣
*Me still sitting here waiting for a monoracial black GOTY that is not just a copy like Gabriella. Might be waiting another 10 years it looks like 😭. The closest they have to other black GOTYs are the World By Us dolls, which feels pretty insulting to give the poc dolls a little one time side line. I do think Claudie is a great doll and I love her accessories. I don't have her but I plan on getting her someday.
I know who’s unrelated, but I got kavi for my birthday!
I think that AG is only doing a catalog every 3 months or at least that is all that is posted as digital catalogs on the site. That could be why no catalog cover yet
Claudie might be the prettiest American girl I've ever seen!
But I'm too scared to mess up textured hair, since I'm a beginner collector.
I absolutely love the new releases and will be buying both outfits for my Rebecca as I don't have Claudie. I think they work pretty well for her time period too. The Christmas accessories can go to my 1930s character. Unfortunately, I won't be buying the travek accessories because the plastic suitcase really puts me off, even though I love everything else about them.
I love the coat... just not the color of it😊
Fair enough! I would prefer a more muted color, but they’re trying to keep things bright. I’m guessing they wanted a Christmas-y color
❤
So wait… you said at the beginning of the video your collection grew. How so????
Despite most of my possessions being in boxes right now, I'm still getting doll packages every other day. I just got a mint AGOT #15, so I'm back on that train haha. Plus random Barbie stuff. It's just...a lot. I need to control myself 🤣
Preach! Yep.@@idreamofjonny
🤗💙❤️💛🔥🎈😍🔥🎈🎉🎉🎉🎉
Lmao the slap... er... high five to american girl
Too rough? 🤪