What Your Favorite American Girl Doll Would Shop for at Thrift Stores
I want to see Kirsten's shopping cart.
If modern girlhood is defined by Jellycats and Labubus, the girlhood of the 1980s and '90s was defined by American Girl dolls. These stylish, highly detailed dolls were—and still are—chock-full of family-friendly historic charm that made them a hit with kids and parents alike, which is exactly why American Girl relaunched its iconic historic collection this week. For the first time in years, the eight original dolls will be available for purchase to celebrate American Girl’s 40th anniversary. (Pause for screams of joy.)
In honor of their relaunch, we’re taking a walk down memory lane. Not only did these dolls help me navigate the highs and lows of growing up, they also showed me that the things we carry with us, both metaphorically and, well, literally, define who we are.
Let's be honest: there was nothing more exciting than opening presents on Christmas morning and seeing all the fun accessories your new doll came with. Kirsten, for example, came with her own miniature doll and a perfectly petite wooden spoon, while Addy had a beautiful cowrie shell necklace. Each of these items was a token of their story—a tangible connection to the past. So, it should be no surprise to any dedicated American Girl doll fan when I say that these girls were 100 percent antique-lovers. Known and loved for their resilience, ingenuity, and appetite for fun, these gals were definitely the first-in-line-for-the-estate-sale type.
If you're curious about my qualifications, rest assured I have them. I was the proud owner of seven American Girl dolls and ventured to both the Chicago and New York flagships growing up, and I've been back multiple times as an adult (with my adult money!). Below, I'm putting my admittedly almost encyclopedic knowledge of the extended AGDU (American Girl doll universe, obviously) and a lifelong love of antiques together to craft a definitive list of a few of the most popular American Girl dolls' thrift store must-haves.
Molly McIntire
Nobody quite loves camp like Molly McIntire. (Seriously, American Girl offers a whole camp outfit for her!) Though she'd be hard-pressed to find Camp Gowonagain merch at a real thrift store, other fun camp memorabilia such as these felt pennants would be an instant grab for her. Beloved for their bold graphic design, these flags range in price from $10 to $200 based on their rarity and design.
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Kit Kittredge
Kit Kittredge, known for her nose for news, would undoubtedly prefer a paper copy over anything digital, making these newspaper bags perfect for her Saturday stroll to the park with the local paper in tow. These over-the-shoulder satchels were commonplace amongst paperboys and girls who had more suburban routes they traversed on bike. Though popular since 1833, most of the pieces on the market today are from the 1960s, '70s, and '80s. Prices range from $20 to $250 depending on condition and design.
Felicity Merriman
One of two horse-owning American Girl dolls—the other being Kaya—Felicity's love for her thoroughbred mare, Penny, is evident in many of her books, which is exactly why she would collect these iconic horse brasses. Primarily crafted in the British Isles, these medallions were used to identify carriage horses and their owners. They were also used to commemorate special royal events. Prices for these start as low as $15.
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Josefina Montoya
An enduring piece of Josefina's story is the collection box she stores all her treasures in, making a wedding or hope chest a natural choice for her. These chests were popular in early America, thanks in part to the Amish, and were primarily used for young women to store items they would need when starting their own families, such as textiles and important family heirlooms. Beautifully hand-painted iterations such as this can fetch up to a few thousand dollars at auction.
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Samantha Parkington
Ever the artist, Samantha undoubtedly would make a beeline to these stunning preserved artist's palettes. While the handy tools date back to the 1400s, you're unlikely to find such old ones at an antique store. Instead, vintage pieces dating back to the 1950s tend to start around $50 and can go up to $300 depending on the colors used. Palettes belonging to famous artists can fetch much more; Picasso's palette went for over $70,000 at a 2020 auction.
Addy Walker
After Addy Walker escapes enslavement in North Carolina and travels to Philadelphia with her mother, she tries ice cream for the first time and is immediately in love. These ice cream tins, which held both the sweet treat and accompanying cones, were the preferred storage method of ice cream parlors in the 1930s and '40s. Today, smaller tins start at around $50 but can be sell for more than $150 depending on their condition.
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Kirsten Larson
As a frontier gal, Kirsten Larson was required to be handy both inside and outside the home. One of her favorite ways to spend time? Quilting. With an eye for color (I mean, have you seen her outfit??) and a somewhat impulsive disposition, it's not hard to imagine Kirsten dropping a few hundred dollars on a mint-condition hand-sewn quilt. But she also might be smart enough to search the thrift store for a better deal, as some quilts in fine condition can go for as low as $50.
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