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SamanthaBFDollFull

Samantha Parkington in her BeForever meet outfit.

The Meet Outfit is the collection of clothes that a doll is wearing when purchased.

This term was coined from both the original titles of the historical books and the dolls themselves; the first Historical book was titled Meet [Name] and the Historical Characters were originally sold with their Meet Books.[1] While originally a fandom term, this has been made official through use by American Girl.

Historical Character Meet Outfits[]

See also: Meet Accessories
KirstenPrototype

Kirsten prototype sketch with "Arrival Outfit," the working name for meet outfits.

Initially, the meet outfit for Historical Characters on the purchased doll was the same outfit that they wore on the cover of the first book (her "Meet" book), making for a matched set of book and doll. Prototype sketches show that these were originally called "arrival outfits," but this name was never formally used.

Historical meet outfits show a general day outfit a girl of the era, class level, and culture would realistically wear.[2] For several characters, the meet outfit has specific significance in the meet stories--for example, Kirsten's are her first "American"-style clothes after immigrating, and Addy's are (in both versions) the first new outfit gifted to her during her escape to freedom.

Samantha's classic meet outfit was notably not illustrated in the books until the 1998 re-illustration; it was only on the cover. In 2004 with the revamp of the cover styles Molly was shown in her Halloween Hula Costume, the only time a character's meet outfit was not on the cover; she still came in her classic meet outfit. Felicity's cover outfit changed when her meet outfit changed from the Rose Garden Gown to her traveling gown; she is the only Historical Character who had her Meet Outfit changed completely before the BeForever launch. In 2014 with the launch of BeForever, the meet outfit was shown on the first volume.

Meet outfits can occasionally be purchased as replacement parts; however, they are sold in separate parts generally consisting of the dress/outfit, shoes and/or socks, and underwear if offered. Purchasing them in this manner almost always makes it more expensive than buying a new doll and removing the outfit. When a character is retired, so is her meet outfit.

With the launch of BeForever, the new outfits were originally available separately for $36; as well, for a brief period, the original Classic Outfits were made available for Addy, Julie, Rebecca, Josefina, and Kit for $36. The individual meet outfits do not come with any of the hair decorations, ribbons, or barrettes but are otherwise complete, including underwear and shoes. Outfits for Kaya and Caroline are/were not available separately as their outfits did not change; a Classic Outfit was not made available for Samantha (or later, Felicity) as they had previously been retired for some time. Molly's BeForever meet outfit was briefly available separately in May 2020 on the website.

Any characters who were either initially launched in the BeForever marketing or released after its termination have not have their meet outfits available separately, as they have not had any other available outfits.

Best Friends Meet Outfits[]

Like the Historical Characters, Best Friend Characters' meet outfits are intended to reflect the day-to-day outfits of the characters and illustrated on the cover of their books.[3] Like the Historicals, their meet outfits could be purchased separately as replacement parts and were retired with them.

American Girl of Today, Just Like You, My American Girl, and Truly Me Meet Outfits[]

Main Article: Modern Character Meet Outfits

Modern dolls have been available in varying outfits during their release. The outfit has updated regularly to reflect modern fashion trends for the target audience, roughly every two to three years.

Unlike Historical Meet Outfits, modern meet outfits were often sold separately from the dolls as complete outfits for standard prices. (The notable exception is the Mix and Match Outfit, as at the time it was assumed that a purchaser did not have a doll with a meet outfit already; it was later sold separately after the outfit was changed to the First Day Outfit.) The rationale for selling later outfits separate was that a person could probably already have a doll, but may not want to buy a whole new doll to get an outfit.

The Star Hoodie Outfit was the last meet outfit available as a separate purchase after the launch of Innerstar University, since codes were bundled with meet outfits and made wholly unavailable as a separate purchase. This returned briefly with the Lilac Dress, but subsequent outfits were not easily offered as separate purchases until 2022, with the option of buying any of the five meet outfits separate again was returned (with the exception of the boy's meet set.)

Modern dolls were originally advertised as "modern" historicals, and came with with blank books matching the Central Series pattern. Although the line is now marketed as a companion to the customer and thus no longer come with blank books (though starting in 2019 they started coming with a companion book), their outfits are still called Meet Outfits.

In 2021, three dolls--Just Like You 89, 90, and 91--each came with specifically unique meet outfits and a shared set of accessories. In 2022, Just Like You 92 also received a unique meet outfit, along with unique accessories.

In 2022, the girl dolls can come in one of five meet outfits, depending on the doll; individual outfits can also be purchased separately (with the exception of the boy's meet set). A sixth set for girl dolls was added in 2024.

In 2018, with the release of boy dolls, a male meet outfit was released; it is updated as the female outfit is updated.

Girls of the Year, Contemporary Characters, and World by Us Meet Outfits[]

Girls of the Year, Contemporary Characters, and World By Us Characters are sold in identifying character outfits. These outfits are shown on the cover of the accompanying book (or, with characters after Nicki Fleming, the first book).[9]

Meet outfits for Girls of the Year are traditionally not offered as replacement parts. Starting with Mia St. Clair, select outfit parts were available separate from the doll for a breif time. Some parts were made available after retirement in limited quantities or are resold as part of the My American Girl line with more generic names, but in recent years they have not been made available at all separate from the character; a noted exception is recent purchasers of Just Like You 46 were offered Gabriela's meet outfit separately, as the dolls were exceptionally similar.


AG x Disney[]

Dolls for the Disney line have meet outfits designed to evoke the frequently used image of the specific Disney Princess character (generally their "princess" look), moderately fitted and adapted for the doll's body shape and including shoes (including for Ariel and Rapunzel; the former has no feet as a mermaid and the latter goes barefoot). Cinderella, Belle, and Rapunzel come with stud earrings for their pierced ears; Jasmine's gold hoop earrings are not removable. With Ariel, her mermaid tail and seashell top are simulated in a purple gather-front bodice accent and slim-skirt dress with a flounce. Dolls made as American Girl Collector Series Dolls also have Swarovski crystal accents on various articles.

Bitty Baby and Our New Baby Meet Outfits[]

Our New Baby was sold in a white cotton sleeper with a light print, and Bitty Baby has always been sold in a footed sleeper. Like the My American Girl line prior to the Truly Me relaunch, the Bitty Baby sleepers were initially sold separately from the dolls as complete outfits; with the release of the Cuddly Star Sleeper, the outfit was not available separately. Meet outfits were made available again in 2015 but no longer separate for the most part by 2021.

Bitty Twins Meet Outfits[]

Meet outfits for Bitty Twins were sold on dolls and separately as complete outfits. With the revamp of the line into more mature clothing, older paired sleepers were discontinued.

WellieWishers Meet Outfits[]

The outfits for the WellieWishers are both their meet outfits and their dominant character outfits in book illustrations, animations, and logos. The first release of outfits are mostly the same from doll to doll with variances for character; they consist of a cap-sleeved tee, gathered skirt, simple panties, and wellies (rainboots); each also has a unique hair decoration, such as a headband, clip, or ponytail holders.

In 2021, the meet outfits were changed significantly to emphasize more fantastical designs. Every character's outfit now consists of a leotard, pull on skirt, and a plastic molded headband; Bryant comes in shorts and a t-shirt, with an additional felt tail. Kendall's and Bryant's sets include additional wings. Wellie boot designs did not change but are now unlined.

Create Your Own Meet Outfits[]

Every One Of A Kind Doll made in the Create Your Own line is outfitted in a full outfit at purchase, selected by the designer; these are analogous to standard meet outfits. They are also available separately, but only through the system.

References[]

  1. With BeForever, Historicals were sold with the first volume of their Classic Series, which includes the first three books; with the abridged volumes, the first book is still included.
  2. Elizabeth is the major exception, as she is wearing a fancy party dress instead.
  3. The exceptions are Ivy Ling who is pictured in her New Year's dress, and Emily Bennett who is wearing her recital dress.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 These outfits were not given an official name; the names used on this wiki are derived from the accessories they are paired with.
  5. Each outfit is unique to its specific doll and are not available separately.
  6. While each doll comes in one specific outfit, the outfits are also available separately.
  7. This outfit was also not given an official name; its name on this wiki is derived from the girl's meet outfit it complements.
  8. This outfit was not given an official name; its name on this wiki is derived from the two accessory sets it can be paired with.
  9. The exceptions are Kailey Hopkins who is wearing her wetsuit and Joss Kendrick who is wearing her surfing swimset. Luciana Vega is wearing an extra jacket, but is shown over her meet outfit. Kavi Sharma is wearing her performance outfit on the cover of It's Showtime, Kavi! but her meet outfit on the cover of Kavi's Journal.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 These outfits were released simultaneously in 2015 and customers were given a choice between the three outfits when purchasing a new Bitty Baby doll.
  11. The outfit was released in 2016 as another option to the prior three.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 These outfits were released simultaneously in 2019 and customers were given a choice between the three outfits when purchasing a new Bitty Baby doll.
  13. The outfit has no formal name and is not available separately.
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