Happy New Year, everyone!!

Yesterday, GOTY 2017, Gabriela McBride and her collection, along with new Truly Me releases were made available online and in American Girl stores. Today I’m going to be sharing some of my thoughts on the new items. :)

First off, I want to say that I think AG ruined the hype about the GOTY by revealing everything early. Usually they only reveal the doll and the big ticket item on December 31st, the day before her release. But this year, she was revealed on the 29th, and her unboxing video was posted around that time as well. I feel as if (for me, at least) the peak of the hype actually rose and fell before she was available, which is not good for sales. People who went to the AG store yesterday early in the morning for Gabriela’s release said there was almost no line. That’s pretty concerning. :(

Gabriela Doll and Book – $115

I think many of you already know my thoughts on the doll itself. On her outfit, I don’t really care for it. I mean, it’s cute and I love the graphic, but it’s too plain and is lacking the “wow” factor. Her special item is a headband and hair elastics, and that doesn’t stand out to me. :| I’m interested to read her book though. ;)

Gabriela’s PJs – $24

These are underwhelming. It’s a shame – I absolutely love the shades of blue!! They aren’t very special and actually look like something I could make myself. Plus, the new packaging of Gabriela’s clothing hasn’t been getting good feedback. Several people have reported holes in the shirt after cutting the pieces out of the package. Definitely a pass for me.

Gabriela’s Rehearsal Outfit – $28

I’m a bit surprised that this outfit is only $28, but it doesn’t have many details so it makes sense. I’ve never seen any outfit (doll sized or human sized) that looks anything like this. I’m not sure what it is, but I’d be very interested in seeing AG’s inspiration for this outfit. The colors and pieces don’t work for me.

Gabriela’s Sparkling Sequins Outfit – $32

This is actually the only outfit in Gabriela’s collection that I like. The purple looks great on Gabriela’s dark skin and I love the ombre sequin look. The shoes are pretty basic, but they could be used for mixing and matching, as well as the pants. However, I’m still not a fan of the new packaging, and probably will not be purchasing this.

Gabriela’s Tap Shoes – $16

These are cute, and I think the tapping part on the bottom part of the shoes is metal, but I’m not sure. None of my dolls take tap, so I probably will not buy these.

Gabriela’s Accessories – $28

The last two years the GOTY accessories were $32. I think this set deserves the decrease in price. The set is really similar to Marisol’s accessories. Both included a water bottle, a duffel bag, band-aids, and a snack. I feel as if AG threw this set together without much thought. A cool notebook and pencil set for her poetry could easily replace the basic hair accessories.

Gabriela’s Cat – $22

Gabriela’s cat looks a bit spooked to me.. I think it’s the eyes. I’ll have to see this cat in person before I make a decision. Most likely I will not be buying it. I have several pets already. ;)

Gabriela’s Showtime Kit – $34

The pieces from this are really cute! I especially like the metallic doll nail polish – you get to brush it on and it washes off with water!! :D I’m not a big fan of the heart graphic on the bag though. Samanthalover is considering buying this set.

Gabriela’s Performance Case – $48

All the items are plastic, including the trunk itself. That is pretty disappointing.  It’s a shame.. the computer and headphones are adorable!! I would consider buying this if I had Gabriela but I feel as if having Gabriela’s name on the front of the trunk will reduce sales.

Gabriela’s Creative Studio Set – $58

The background is cool and would be great for setting up scenes, but it doesn’t really appeal to me. The dance bar is pretty simple and I don’t know why they included another water bottle in her collection.

Those are my thoughts on the pieces in Gabriela’s collection. Now for the Truly Me releases!

Spring Mix and Match Collection – $10-$14

I feel bad for saying so, but the pieces from this collection looks like something 5-year-olds would wear to preschool. My favorite two pieces are the geometric shorts and fringe vest, but I’m not completely sold. It’s a shame – the last mix and match collection did extremely well and I loved almost every piece! :(

Dream Pajamas – $24

These are pretty cute. I might buy these. The hot air balloon graphic is so pretty! :D

Fun & Games Sleepover Set – $34

This set is so fun! I love the mini Uno cards and sleep mask. The tray is adorable and the glass of milk.. 😍😍 The apples and cookies are stuck together in sets of 3 (I don’t care for that) but I might buy this. :D

Starry Sunglasses – $10

These are so cute!! I LOVE them. The star graphics are awesome. Definitely going on my list. ;)

Just Dotty Tank and Brief Set – $12

I really love the colors of this, and the pattern is super cute! I have a tank and brief set and I don’t use it much, so I’m not sure if I’ll buy this or not. 🤔

Flowers and Dots Tank and Brief Set – $12

This is pretty cute too! :D

Stripes and Dots Swimsuit – $14.00

This looks like a designer went to a fabric store and blindly picked out patterned fabric for this. Does AG have an obsession with zippers in the front of clothing? 😂 Since this swimsuit is immodest, I will not be buying it anyway. ;)

AG Swim Accessories – $18

This set is pretty cool. I love the doll-sized tumbler and sunscreen. The bag can turn inside out to be the towel, which is a neat feature.

V-Neck Hoodie – $14

This is my favorite thing out of all the releases. It’s adorable! And I love the thumb-holes. I love thumb-holes myself, so of course I love them for dolls! XD The pattern is very pretty and I hope to add this to my collection sometime soon. :D

Overall, I’m pretty disappointed with American Girl’s January 2017 releases. Most of it was underwhelming and I feel they didn’t really try. Hopefully they will step it up with Tenney, Logan, and Felicity’s upcoming releases. ;)

What are your favorite items from the release?

– American Girl Doll Artist