Meet Marie Simone! THIS is the doll that my Mom and I had waited and hoped for when we raced down to Columbus on the release day of American Girl’s new 1920s Historical doll, Claudie. When we got to the store, we found . . . Claudie. It wasn’t really what we wanted. We brought one home but, in spite of of our living with her for days, never warmed to her.
Fast forward eight days to the release of an entire new Truly Me line. As we raced to Columbus again (wanting to be there when they opened, of course), we were off Claudie and hopeful that the perfect Marie Simone was waiting for Mom. Oh, pardon me. You don’t know who Marie Simone is? Mom’s had this character and collection on the top of her list for years now. An orphan girl from one of the Caribbean islands, raised by nuns in a convent (who taught her to make lace), with a caring heart and a passion for beads. We even have beads and a bead stall waiting for her for the next street fete!
We had a lot to talk about on the long trip. From the minute I’d seen the leaked Harry Potter photo with the #112 doll (Sonali with short wig), I’d been convinced that she would be a perfect stand-in as a Claudie doll. It’d become an obsession with me. I was sure that we could take a few store photos and people would fall in love with her to use as their 1920s Claudie doll. Hmm. Once inside the store, my first glimpse of #112 and her wig dashed all my hopes of too many people wanting that doll for Claudie. The thought of finding a replacement blew right out of my mind, and we started making notes about the rest of the new release. Lots of dolls and hours later, when I bent over that 24th doll (the Makena-mold #123), I knew I’d found the Claudie stand-in. And I hadn’t even been looking for it!
I bent down to pick up the first box, and it happened. The doll spoke to me through the box. “Hi! My name is Marie Simone. Take me home! Please, oh, please! Take me home! This box is very small and stuffy! Please!” But I was only there for my light Nanea. And Mom didn’t like the Makena mold. “Please, take me home! I’ll be real good! I’m very quiet! Please, take me home!” Well, what’s a girl supposed to do when that happens? In the bag, of course. Mom took one look and said something like, “I hope that Makena doll isn’t for me.” (Mom likes the Makena mold even less than Marie Grace, and that’s something!) I assured her it was for me, but she still gave the box the withering glance.
We got home, and Mom said, “Well, let me look at her. No. All her features are in this tiny little circle in the middle of her head, and you can see the whites under her irises. Nope.” I said, “But, Mom, she’s so cute!” The withering glance. “Okay, if you end up not liking her, I’ll keep her. She speaks to me!” I know you’re wondering why I was asking Mom about her again. After all, I’d told Mom in the store that I was buying it for myself, but really. Mom’s the one with the most dark dolls, and she always says she just can’t have too many. (She must mean too many Addy molds.) And she needs a Marie Simone (we’ve been trying for years). I’m not one to give up easily, though. Especially when I know we just found Marie Simone. And it’s a talking doll! (Just kidding). “Why don’t we do wig photos with her? Maybe she’ll look like Marie Simone in a different wig.” Mom said that I was welcome to keep her around for myself. Then she went to bed.
That was yesterday. This morning over a hot drink, I unboxed the light Nanea in hopes of having found a Corinne stand-in for my Omera. (Instant approval from everyone. More later on that.) I looked at Mom and gave her my best smile. I pulled the #123 box out of the bag and smiled at her again. I waited for a response. She gave one. “Oh, that’s a good one to open today. Someone on the forum will probably want to see her out of the box. Yeah. She’s okay, if you really like her.”
I grabbed our loose Claudie wig (which my Maritza doll named Trudy is wearing) and put it on the #123. I couldn’t call Mom into the room fast enough! “Mom, it’s Marie Simone!” No withering glance. And Mom talked to her. (In our house, we have a steadfast rule. If a doll doesn’t have a name, they don’t talk, and no one’s allowed to address them.) Marie Simone had arrived!
She’s sitting on Mom’s desk right now. I only photographed her in Claudie’s wig, just to show what a fabulous replacement she’d make for the new historical doll. I need to do the gamut of wig photos, but Mom won’t give her back. Maybe later, when Mom’s distracted with hanging laundry or something. The problem is that wig photos take several hours and can only be done when the sunlight is coming in the one window. “Hey, Mom! I think Dad needs you!” Nope. Didn’t work. I’ll think of something before I lose my light.
Mom and I agree that this is the doll we wish AG had released as Claudie. She’s absolutely gorgeous! (We’re hoping they eventually make her in a 25 skintone.) For those of you who’d like to do this swap but don’t change wigs, don’t worry. The wig that #123 comes in would be just as perfect pulled back and tied up with a big bow. You could trim the curls if you want to try to recreate AG’s Claudie doll, but I think it’s just as nice the way it is. Besides, the wig they put on Claudie is anything but historically accurate . . .
Notice the difference in head shape between Claudie and Marie Simone (previously known as #123). That 35 skintone is so difficult to photograph, it plays tricks on the digital camera. I had to flash the shot so you could see the head shapes, but the eyes and skintones don’t look that harsh.
The wig on #123 was one of the hardest wigs I’ve ever had to get off. Worse than the #117, even, and I don’t recommend that you try to remove this doll’s wig unless you are very experienced and have an arsenal of removal products at your fingertips. I had to use nail-polish remover, which I avoid like the plague. The amount of glue on that doll’s head was a ridiculous waste of money for AG and time for me. I got the wig cap off without any damage, but it took a lot of time and effort. My thumb is still red and my arms hurt.
For those of you who indulge in wig play, we thought we’d show you how absolutely adorable Claudie’s wig is on #123 and Maritza!
Here’s #123 as she comes out of the box. In the first three smaller photos below the big face shot here, the doll’s hair is still netted. (The large picture at the top of her in Maritza’s pink Meet shirt show her eyes after they’ve been “nudged” a bit by my sister. You can see that, without heating the head, she was able to fix the white showing below the left iris enough that Mom’s very happy with it. If you’re not experienced with eye swapping in 18″ AG dolls, please do not attempt to do this on your own.)
If I can get the doll away from Mom, I’ll try to get more wig photos posted this week (smile). And light Nanea (#119), too. (Another one that won’t disappoint.)