Kelsey's Japan Look

Kelsey Gets a Strange Hat, but Still Cute

Kelsey's Japan outfit is unique and familiar at the same time. With a lavender pleated jean skirt with suspenders, a multi colored plaid long sleeve shirt, black boots, gray socks, and a cute, but strange blue hat, her outfit melds old Journey Girls products with some new ones. Let's take a closer look at the outfit.

Although Kelsey's flannel shirt is different colors than we have seen before, the shirt itself is not different. With blue as it's main color, the nice soft flannel also has yellow, pink, purple and aqua stripes throughout it.  

Each sleeve ends in a cuff at Kelsey's wrists and there is a fold down collar around the neck. The shirt is velcroed up the front. On other Journey Girls shirt's there are buttons on the outside of the velcroed area, but on this one there are none. Inside the shirt there is a white liner to help prevent color transfer to the doll's vinyl. 

The shirt is a good heavy material and is well made.

Kelsey's skirt, like the shirt, is similar to other Journey Girls skirts. Made of a material similar to soft jeans, the lavender skirt has four pleats evenly spaced around the skirt.

Faux leather suspenders are attached to non-removable buttons on the front of the skirt at the waist. Unlike many suspenders, these ones do not cross in the back. 

They are sewn in on the back of the skirt, rather than having buttons. 

A small piece of Velcro on the back of the skirt makes it easier to get it around Kelsey's waist. Like the shirt, the skirt is made very well.

Accessories are always interesting with Journey Girls. Many times the accessory is a purse. With this outfit, Journey Girls decided to do a knit hat. The blue knit hat has "cat ear" or maybe they are "horns", I'm not quite sure. 

It is kind of cute, but also semi strange looking as they aren't really defined as anything other than bumps. In the back of the hat there is a piece of elastic that helps hold the hat on Kelsey's head. 

Mine is a little small, so the hat is tight on Kelsey's head and is a bit difficult to get on. I do like that we get a different accessory (rather than the standard purse), but I don't love the hat. Maybe it will go better with a different outfit.

Shoes are often times recycled with Journey Girls dolls. That is the case with this outfit. The boots that come with Kelsey are exactly the same as other years releases. 

The black plastic boots go just above the ankle, and have a slit up the back. Nothing new. It would be wonderful to see some really nice shoes on the release dolls.

The socks are very simple gray tubes: no heel or cuff. They go just above the boots. 

Even though the socks are simple, I love that they come with the outfit. No socks with big boots like this just doesn't make sense.

All ratings are out of 10

Value 7 – Kelsey has the same issue with her joints as the other Journey Girls in the Japan line.  Her head is very difficult to move, but that may not be the case with every doll.  Her outfit is adorable and has a good amount of pieces to it.  It would be nice to get different boots, but they are okay.

Fitment 8 – The hat is the only thing that is a challenge to get on.  My hat was a little tight, which was probably the reason for it being difficult to get on.  Kelsey's socks can also be a bit challenging to get on.  Mostly because they aren't made real well.  The top comes unsewn if you pull too hard.  The shirt and the skirt fit beautifully.

Versatility 9 – A great part of this outfit is that each piece can be used with so many other outfits.  I am especially excited to use the skirt with other outfits. I can see the shirt with jeans or a different skirt.  Not sure how many other outfits the hat will go with, but I'm sure I can find some.

Cuteness 8 - This was another outfit that I was excited for.  I like the colors of the shirt and the design of the skirt.  It would be even better with improved boots and a little different hat, but still super cute.  And I think it will be that way on many of the Journey Girls.

Overall 8 – I going to say basically the same thing I have said with most of the dolls in this release.  If you love this outfit, then paying the $35 for it and the doll are worth it.  If you just like the outfit and have a Kelsey doll from the Australia line, then you may want to skip the expensive price for basically a cute outfit.  Again, this Kelsey doll is the same as the Australian doll (she has the new freckled face), so if you already have that doll there is no difference in the doll (including the hard joints).  All of that being said, this outfit is cute and is well made, except for the socks.  Worth the cost in my opinion.   You can find Kelsey in her Japan release outfit on Amazon right now.  She may be available later directly from Toys R Us.  We'll have to see about that.