Hi everyone. I've been meaning to do a photo shoot comparing the differences between a Mattel and pre-Mattel Felicity since I now have both in my house. With Felicity being retired (yep, it's official-on the AG website and everything), I thought now would be an appropriate time to do it. So without further ado, here we go!
I'm sure most of you know that the Mattel Felicity is the one in the lavender meet dress on the left, while the pre-Mattel Felicity is the one in what's called the "rose garden" meet dress on the right:
One of the first most obvious differences you notice is in the width of the face. You see it even more when you have the dolls there in front of you; the camera didn't pick it up as much as I'd hoped. The Mattel Felicity is much narrower in the face than the rounder pre-Mattel Felicity. You'll notice also the differences in the eyebrows. The Mattel Felicity's eyebrows are dark while the PM's are barely noticeable when photographed. Here are some individual pics:
Mattel Felicity
Pre-Mattel Felicity
The M Felicity is also just slightly taller than the PM (the difference is not as big as it looks in some of the pics, as they were on an uneven surface), and also narrower through the body (sorry, I forgot to get a pic of this). The vinyl is also slightly softer on the PM Felicity.
Another difference is their eyelashes.
The PM Felicity has soft, brown lashes, as seen below:
The M Felicity has stiff, black eyelashes.
I wish the camera had captured it more, but there is also a difference in their eye color. The PM Felicity has more of a soft, hazel green eye color. The M Felicity's eyes are more of a bright green. Sometimes, it looks more like a cat-eye green in photos. One thing the pics did pick up is the difference in the eye size on the two dolls, which I'd never noticed before. The M Felicity's eyes are much bigger.
So, after seeing both, what do you think? Which version do you prefer? I have to say I'm partial to the pre-Mattel version since she's the one I dreamed about as a girl. I love her copper colored hair, her softer eyelashes, and her more natural eye color. I must confess, though, that the Mattel Felicity is also stunning. She almost makes my PM Felicity look a little down-home and plain by comparison (not that I mind down-home and plain, mind you!). :) I think the Mattel Felicity is a doll that looks even better in real life than in the pics you see of her. I'm really glad we'll have both versions hanging around our house. :)
Goodbye, Felicity. We'll miss you!!
15 comments:
I have to say, I prefer the thinner faces and more vibrant facepaint of the Mattel dolls (my PM Felicity also looks mighty plain next to my #23). If it weren't for the browner hair and slightly freaky laser-green eyes, I'd be in serious danger of wanting a Mattel Felicity!
It's funny, I really had a problem with the Mattel Felicity's eyes, but in person they're not nearly as bad (maybe I shouldn't tell you that and make you want a Mattel Felicity after all). :) I really honestly like them both. Now I just have to keep myself from getting an Elizabeth just because she's retiring. Like you, I would rather have an "old school" brunette Elizabeth. But like you mentioned in your blog, the blonde Elizabeth is such a pretty doll! Btw, thanks for following my blog! :)
Thanks for the comparison. I knew that there were differences between the earlier dolls and the Mattel ones, but I didn't know exactly what they were. For some reason I thought the Mattel Felicity had the curls on the sides too. You didn't restyle her, did you?
No problem! :) The Mattel Felicity comes with curls, too. The one I have I found used, and her curls are lost in the rest of her hair. That seems to happen a lot with used Felicity dolls. :) Thanks for bringing that up...I hadn't thought to mention it.
I like the Old Felicity better im 25 now with two daughters and i always begged my mother for Felicity, every christmas her whole collection was on my christmas list. I grew up with the old Felicity and thats the one i fell in love with. Luckily I saw the news that she was being retired and my husband snagged her up for me very fast, but i got the Mattel one, which til now I thought i had the original because i never knew they switched :( but seeing the pictures of the old to the new and owning the new doll i still very much prefer the old one!! My Mattel one actually looks alot different then the one in your pictures, her hair is really red and her eyes are a pretty green. I hope that helps in that maybe they fixed the hair and eyes, but i still love her I finally got the one thing I always wanted!
I agree with you...the Pre-Mattel Felicity will always be my favorite, too. But that aside, the Mattel Felicity I got for my duaghter is still a beautiful doll. That was so sweet of your husband to get you one! :)
There's something very special about Felicity. I always thought so as a child, and even now she's still one of my favorite historical dolls. It's such a shame they're retiring her! :(
I like Pre-Mattel Felicity better.But I have the new Mattel version of Felicity from my mom.
Shh don't tell my Felicity that I said that. :<
~Caelen
I can keep a secret. :) Both are sweet dolls, but I just love the Pre-Mattel Felicity for the memories she brings me. :)
I just bought a Felicity doll off of Ebay and she looks like a blend between these two versions. The woman selling it said she is a First Edition Felicity doll. I'm a little confused by the appearance. Would you mind taking a look at a picture of it?
It can be pretty confusing, so I completely understand. I'd love to take a look at a picture for you. :) Why don't you email a copy to nevergrowup.beastsbelle@gmail.com and I'll tell you what I think. :)
Hello! I have a question... I got a brand new Molly doll for christmas back around 2005 or 2006. She was in her box just waiting for me. I still have her and she is sitting on my shelf. She is still in good condition aside from her braids came out. But you said that older AG dolls say Pleasent Company on the back and the new ones says American Girl. If Mattel bought them out in 98 why would mine say Pleaesent Company in her back neck? Just wondering cause I know she was new cause I was with my mom when she ordered her from the catalog
Hi Anonymous! I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to you...your comment ended up in my spam folder!
Every once in a while, you'll find a Mattel doll marked "Pleasant Company". I'm not sure why this happens. They may have extra doll heads from that Pre-Mattel stage that they use. That being said, all Mattel dolls should have the darker, stiffer eyelashes mentioned in this post, as well as the slightly thinner body (although the width of the body can vary, even among Mattel dolls).
I did a little research on AGPlaythings, and it sounds like another way to identify Mattel dolls versus Pleasant Company dolls is to check for a small star/asterisk symbol on the insides of their arms and legs. This was a mark used only by Mattel, apparently on the dolls Mattel made after the Pleasant Company stock was used up.
It would be interesting to see if your Mattel Molly had these marks.
Hope this helps at least a little! :)
We need you to compare BeForever Felicity for us now too! :-)
Hi Gardeness! That would be really fun. I'm not buying as many 18" dolls at the moment, due to limitations of space and budget, but I'll have to see what happens. :)
I'm curious to see the differences myself, though. ;)
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