Madame Alexander

Madame Alexander is no newcomer to the doll market; this company has been in business since the 1920s when entrepreneur Beatrice Alexander launched her doll business and went on to create the first collectible dolls under the business pseudonym Madame Alexander.

In recent years, the Alexander doll company has found a new audience of admirers among collectors of their 18" fashion playdolls that are similar to American Girl.

Their 18" playdoll types expand across a number of different collections, including Favorite Friends, My Life, Dollie and Me, Girlz, Play Wonder, What a Doll, the Isaac Mizrahi Collection, or the do-it-yourself Doll Factory where you purchase the doll and hair separately for a semi-customized appearance. 


MADAME ALEXANDER FAVORITE FRIENDS, GIRLZ, AND MY LIFE DOLLS

There are also special MA character collections, such as Disney princesses and the Wizard of Oz.
 

ELSA AND DOROTHY DOLLS FROM MA'S DISNEY AND WIZARD OF OZ COLLECTIONS

Alexander playdolls are favorites in the 18" doll world due to their relatively high quality and affordable price tag--not to mention the sweet nature of the doll's faces with their distinctive wide eyes and wistful pout that many find endearing.



Madame Alexander actually offers many different face molds across their many collections.


SOME OF THE MANY DOLL TYPES AVAILABLE FROM MADAME ALEXANDER
 
Madame Alexander dolls differ from American Girls and other soft-bodied articulated dolls in that the upper part of the their torso is vinyl, while the lower part is cloth. This gives them a distinct advantage over American Girls in that they can wear sleeveless and summer clothes without the cloth torso showing through.

Madame Alexander's dolls' heads pivot on their necks and can tilt for more natural and appealing poses, and many doll enthusiasts prefer the more graceful proportions of Madame Alexander playdolls over American Girl's.

 
A VINYL UPPER BODY AND PIVOTING NECK JOINT ALLOW MA DOLLS AESTHETIC ADVANTAGES OVER AMERICAN GIRL
 
On the other hand, their much lower retail cost shows itself in the quality of the dolls' hair made of a synthetic mohair type, as opposed to the high quality kanekalon wigs used by American Girl. The hair's extremely fine texture feels soft and workable when new, but has a tendency to mat up, tangle, and frizz over time.

 

MY ALEXANDER GIRLZ DOLLS LILA and HALLIE BEFORE THEIR RESTORATION

For younger girls who might have trouble caring for their doll's hair, braiding pony-tailing might be a wise solution in order to keep the doll's hair from matting up into an unworkable mess.

Many Alexander dolls have a sweet, serene expression that calls to mind a more classic era of dollmaking. Most have innocent expressions that suggests a girl of about ten years. Others, such as the Play Wonder collection, have more mature features that suggest an older girl in her early or mid teens. Variety seems to be Madame Alexander's strength.


PLAY WONDER DOLLS LAYLA (left) AND LAUREN (right)
 
MA dolls stand about 18.5" (47cm) tall, just a smidgen taller than American Girls, and their heads are slightly rounder. On the other hand, their vinyl shoulders create slightly less bulk than their cloth-and-vinyl friends American Girls, so they are narrower below the neck.

Their waists and hips are comparable to AG dolls', though their arms and legs are marginally slimmer. Their hands and feet are comparable.  They can easily share clothing with American Girl dolls.
 

PLEASANT COMPANY AMERICAN GIRL SAMANTHA AND MADAME ALEXANDER GIRLZ DOLL
 
 Pleasant Company AGMattel AGMadame Alexander
height18" / 46cm18" / 46cm18 1/2" / 47cm
head12 1/4" / 32cm12" / 30.5cm12 1/2" / 32cm
chest11 1/2" / 29cm11 1/4" /28.5cm11" / 28cm
waist11 1/4" /28.5cm10 1/2" / 26.5cm10" / 26cm
hips12 1/2" / 32cm12" / 30.5cm11" /28cm

Measurements are approximate and may vary from doll to doll

Alexander dolls have fine, rooted hair with good coverage, though again the quality does not match that of American Girls. They come with a variety of eye colors, hair colors, and hairstyles, the latter usually being long and straight, though other styles are available, including bangs or fringe, curls, and ethnic styles.
 
Several Madame Alexander fashions are available from Madame Alexander site, though the list is not long and the cost isn't cheap. Still, the fashions are trendy, appealing, and include shoes and accessories.
 


Madame Alexander dolls can be found on either the primary or secondary market for anywhere from $15 to $79, averaging about $40 - $45 for a new doll.

[Prices quoted reflect the market at the time of this post; they may differ from the item's current value.]

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