Today, when you started your day, you might have thrown off your PJs and thrown on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt before running out the door, quick and easy. But it wasn’t like that in the late eighteenth century when Felicity Merriman was a girl. Back then, girls wore a sort of white dress called a shift. This shift was worn both day and night, instead of underpants! This shift was then covered during the day with a dress like the one that she wears as her first outfit called the Rose Garden Gown.
Girls like Felicity were required to put on a dress with both a long skirt and long sleeves. Back then, it was considered vulgar for a young lady to show too much skin, or even wear pants! She couldn’t move around that much, and she certainly couldn’t run or skip around in it very well. This was just as well, for it was deemed improper for a girl to be running or skipping at her age. While these dresses were likely uncomfortable, they were at least pretty.
The beautiful Rose Garden Gown Felicity wears as her first outfit is a lovely shade of cream. It is patterned with stripes of tan and light blue, with era accurate blurred red roses and olive green leaves. The neckline and sleeves are trimmed with white ruffles. The waistline and skirt are knife-pleated into her bodice. The skirt is also equipped with historically accurate slits so that she has pockets to carry her things in. This dress has been retired since 2005.
Luckily you can purchase the original Rose Garden Gown on sale on our e-Shop here! You can also find Felicity’s dress on sale at the Girl AGain Boutique in White Plains, NY. 914-358-1460 or girlagainboutique@gmail.com to learn more.
Other Fun Facts:
- Because of the low cut on Felicity’s outfits, the body fabric of the first three American Girl Dolls (Molly, Kirsten and Samantha) were changed from white to skin-colored to match her.
- Felicity was the first Historical Character to have two different Meet Outfits (before the launch of BeForever). The first version, the Rose Garden Gown was from her debut in 1991 until 2005. She is the only character to be released in a total of three distinct Meet outfits!
By Colleen O.
Yes She Can Trainee
Girl AGain opened in February 2014 to rave reviews from American Girl doll fans, their moms and especially their grandmas. You’ll find authentic gently used AG dolls, clothing, furniture, accessories and books that have been cleaned and prepared for sale at good prices in an easy-access store.