Our Generation Dolls vs American Girl Dolls
If you read my previous post about Mattel's trademark policies, you'll know that I decided to purchase non-American Girl (AG) dolls to safely showcase my products on Etsy. I decided to go with Our Generation (OG) dolls from Target, as they appealed to me more than the My Life dolls from Walmart. I'm excited to share that my new dolls, Ellory and Clara, arrived! I got a good deal on them, too - 15% off with a coupon, plus an additional 5% off for using my Target card, free shipping, and no tax. To put that in perspective, I found used nakie dolls on eBay for the same price. First up is Ellory, with her long blonde hair and blue eyes. She came with faux-diamond drop earrings and sparkly shoes that will pair perfectly with my upcoming Crystal Barbie-inspired ensemble. I absolutely LOVE the shoes! My adult daughter immediately saw her and said, "I haven't seen these dolls before! Oooh, I love her! She's so pretty!"
Next is Clara, with her long wavy brown hair and blue eyes. She even came with a miniature nutcracker!
In terms of quality, AG dolls far surpass OG dolls. Initially, I was thrilled to unbox the OG dolls, but my enthusiasm waned upon closer inspection. The dolls' eyes appear sunken, and the fabric bodies are made of low-quality polyester material. Given the significant price difference, this isn't surprising. AG dolls are roughly five times the cost of OG dolls. Nevertheless, they are beautiful dolls.
As a side note, AG doll limbs move out away from the body, as well as straight forward and back, whereas OG doll limbs can only move straight forward and back. There was concern of OG dolls not being able to stand by themselves, but I had no trouble getting them to stand for my photos.
I've decided to give Ellory and Clara a subtle face-up, a technique I've used on some of my other dolls. With the addition of blush, shading, and lashes, their features are now slightly more enhanced and detailed. I may add a little more later.
I've taken some photos to demonstrate how OG dolls fit into AG doll clothes, and vice versa. Interestingly, I found that they fit identically. Previously, there were concerns that OG dolls might not fit AG clothes perfectly, which led some to consider using AG bodies with OG heads. However, based on my observations, it seems that the current OG dolls fit AG clothes just as well, eliminating the need for modifications.
In conclusion, my experience with the OG dolls has been a positive one. While they may not match the quality of AG dolls, they are a more affordable alternative that can still help me showcase my products on Etsy without worrying about trademark issues.