We had the chance to run some errands yesterday (second car still in the shop), so Mom, Sis and I were able to pop into the AG Columbus store. I needed to get a doll’s ears pierced for a friend, and we had a Rewards Certificate about to expire. Weekend shopping at the AG store is something we’ve only done once before (homeschooled, you know), but I’m really glad we did. This was one of the best visits to the Easton American Girl Place in Columbus that we’ve ever had! I opted not to take a camera, because we were running a number of errands in other stores, and ended up wishing I had taken one. Oh, well. Next time for sure. Anyway, we had a blast!
There were quite a few people in the store, mostly families, and it got busier as lunchtime passed. Hardly any real “buyers”, though. Kids were usually allowed to pick one item, and it generally wasn’t a doll. The favorite dolls of all the girls there (even the ones who weren’t allowed to have one) were definitely #116 (pink/purple MG mold) and #119 (blue Nanea mold).
The displays throughout the store had been redone since we were there on the new TM-doll release day. This time, the no-longer-available dolls had been removed and replaced with only the new TMs and Street Chics. The display team had done a beautiful job, and it made such a difference to our experience to have clean, new display dolls. Outfits and dolls were really shown to their best, and the amount of fabulous hair styles on the displays was inspiring. There were a lot of dolls in open displays, too, which made it oh-so-much easier to look at (and admire) them. (Never buy a doll without removing the box lid. Dolls are very different when not viewed through plastic.) Personally, I would nix the two large TM displays in the middle of the store. There are no longer enough dolls to warrant two cases, so they look empty and a bit tired looking, giving a bit of an out-of-stock-come-back-later feel. And parents kept telling their kids to “come over here and look at the nice dolls” that were in the smaller displays around the store. I can’t say it enough. It really made a big difference to see all those new dolls in some cleverly crafted scenes (they should sell that London phone box to me), rather than standing at attention with their hair hanging down straight and flat (think mug shot). The Columbus store could use the extra space, too. Just a suggestion, in case someone down there is reading this.
Of all the new girls, the one that consistently never appealed to any of the three of us was #124. It took Sis and me the whole time to figure out what seemed wrong, because we like Corinne. It’s the amount of dark painted lashes all around the eye. It makes her look like she doesn’t fit in with the others. But that would be easily removed, if that’s easier for someone than rewigging Corinne. Even #109 looked very cute and appealing in several displays, and we never thought we’d say that! And I did not think she looked good in the case. Her wig is VERY long and straight, but it looks less overwhelming when styled away from her face. She looked really great in the Paris travel outfit with the beret! I didn’t even realize it was her right away!
#101 and #110 were used a lot, in a variety of outfits, hair-styles and poses. They looked cute every time. The stripes on #101’s wig looked very nice in a wide variety. The stripes on #110 are not very well done. Her wig could have been better in the way the colors were blended, but she was still a cute doll each time. People were liking her in the displays. #107 was interesting. I know she has redone face paint, but she honestly looked like #68. So, if you missed 68 and wanted her, this is a good option.
The three Marie Grace-mold dolls were well represented and looked great all over the store. #116 was definitely the favorite of families there. From the amazing hair styles put on her, I would think that #117 should appeal to a lot, too. She looked great in everything from the basic meet with an accessory set to the Love Shack Fancy. A high “waterfall” type of hairstyle really suited her and showed that wig off to its full beauty. Wow!
The three Nanea-mold TMs were shown off all over the store. And it’s no wonder! I’ll say that #118 looked a thousand times cuter in the smaller displays than just the large case (where you could only see her on release day). In fact, she was so cute in all the spots they had her (which had to be about eight different displays or so) that Sis and I often discussed bringing one home. But as I’d already gotten the blue-eyed one and have rewigged it, I don’t have a character/need in mind for another. But she was absolutely adorable! Her wig looked great in everything from the waterfall style to French braids. I think the most appealing one was modelling the new blue and white cheerleader outfit with her hair in a waterfall and a big bow. Wow! I could have brought that cutie home. There were quite a few Nanea dolls to pick from in boxes, and I would say some sort of eye issue appeared on about fifty percent. But there were a LOT of cute ones, so if you can get a PS to hand-pick one for you, you should have no problem.
#120 is also adorable! I’d have to rate her my favorite of the colored-hair dolls “as they come”. I could own her, except that she looks exactly like my Nanea with a different wig. If you don’t already have a modernized Nanea, she’s a great option. Her wig is very nice and looks more like real hair with hair extensions than the fully colored options on some other dolls. It also looked amazing in a “pony tail” like Maryellen and two normal braids. It was one cute doll!
There were three of the new Sapphire Holiday (peacock) dolls there in boxes for purchase, one in a glass case just above the boxes, and one on display behind the check-out counter. I asked an employee, and they contacted someone to find out exactly what her skin tone is. It’s the classic-medium #20. The eyes don’t look quite as purple in real life as I expected. They are sort of a grey with a lavender hint. Her colors (hair, dress, makeup, etc.) are a lot brighter and more vibrant in real life, with no gradient or visual blurring of the color changes. There is no “mermaid” feel to her at all. The tulle on her outfit is bright, bright green and blue. The bodice color made her skin look green in every display. Her wig was also very bright, with little blending of the color changes. I think that #119 is a more pleasing combination, personally, so if you put her in a fancy dress . . .
We were only in the Historical section very briefly. There was almost no traffic there (including WBU and GOTY), despite the rest of the store being pretty packed.
It was an absolutely wonderful time, and the staff members were completely different faces than during the week. All of them were very happy, friendly and helpful. We’ll probably go on weekends from now on, if we can work it out! (By the way, the store has a new ear-piercing gal named Bailey, and she did a great job on the doll I took!)