A Modern Twist on a Traditional Kimono
The third doll that I am reviewing is Mikaella. Of all the Journey Girls in the Japan release, Mikaella has the outfit that looks the most Japanese.
Her outfit, a modern take on a traditional kimono, also comes with sandals, a purse and a flower hair clip. Although this outfit is simple it's a wonderful addition to the Japan line.
At first I thought that Mikaella was wearing a kimono. Upon a closer look I realized that it is more of a shorts outfit with a wrap around the back. The dress is fuchsia with yellow and aqua paintbrush swipes patterned throughout the outfit.
The sleeves go just passed Mikaella's elbows. There is a teal ribbon that wraps around the front of her waist, which is also where the dress part of the outfit begins.
About 1/2 inch on each side of the middle of the outfit the dress parts starts and goes down to Mikaella's ankles. Similar to a jumper, the top and bottom shorts are all one piece, with the dress/wrap starting at Mikaella's waist. The whole outfit is made with a very thin, light material.
There is Velcro up the back top half of the dress, making it simple to get on and off.
Mikaella's sandals aren't entirely new, but the design is a little different than we've seen before. They are a gold/silver color with a strap across the top of the foot and another strap that wraps around the back of her ankle.
That's it for the sandal. There really isn't much to them. No Velcro. No embellishments, just a plain simple sandal. The only bummer part is that Journey Girl used the plastic souls that are extremely slippery. The sandals are not the easiest things to get on to Mikaella's feet. You really have to slide the front part over her toes in first then you can flip the back on to her heel.
That's it for the sandal. There really isn't much to them. No Velcro. No embellishments, just a plain simple sandal. The only bummer part is that Journey Girl used the plastic souls that are extremely slippery. The sandals are not the easiest things to get on to Mikaella's feet. You really have to slide the front part over her toes in first then you can flip the back on to her heel.
Mikaella comes with a bobby pin that has a fuchsia colored flower on it. Nothing much and it's definitely not a new accessory but it does help the outfit have some continuity.
A small wrist purse is also included with this set. The light gold leather purse has a fuchsia flower on the top lip of it, exactly like the one on the bobby pin. Like most of the new purses, this one has Velcro on the inside to keep it closed.
There is a small gold rope loop so that Mikaella can put the purse around her wrist. A cute purse. I would have loved something other than a purse as an accessory. Maybe a smart phone, or a food item, as Mikaella is the foodie in the Journey Girls group. But this is okay.
Although this is very simple outfit it is a great modern take on a kimono. Mikaella has the same issues as Kyla as far as stiff joints. Her hair seems to be the same quality and her vinyl and body are the same also.
All ratings are out of 10
Value 6 – Although I love Mikaella's outfit, it is not the most versatile and since the doll itself still has the same issues as dolls of the last few years, the score is lower than some of the other dolls in this release. I would still buy her, but I think the issues also need to be noted.
Fitment 9 – The sandals are really the only thing that don't fit well. Of course this outfit only has the sandals and the dress. Sometimes the purse loop is tight, making it difficult to get on the dolls wrist, but this one is perfect.
Versatility 6 – All the accessories can be used with other outfits, but the outfit itself does not have much versatility. That being said, it is a very cute outfit.
Cuteness 9 – I love this outfit. It is such a wonderful take on a traditional kimono. The colors are beautiful, and the design is great. Very cute!
Overall 7 – With the same issues that Kyla had, Mikaella is a wonderful doll, but would be better if the joint issues were resolved. Mikaella's outfit is beautiful, but it is not as versatile as other Journey Girls outfits, since it is all one piece. It would be wonderful to have different accessories, but the purse and hair piece is cute. If you really like this outfit, then buying the doll is worth it. If you don't love the outfit, I would wait. Toys R Us or TRU kids will be releasing a new Mikaella at some point, just not sure when. As soon as information is out, I will try to let you know.
It would be nice if they had made the shorts separate or something so that the outfit had a bit more versatility. It also seems like this year (as in some previous years) some of the outfits have a lot more to them than others, which is kind of unfair. Like because the outfit is so simple, maybe they could have given her a fancier hair accessory or something to compensate. Still, I love that fabric. And your pictures are gorgeous as always.
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