*FEATURE* A 60s Summer - AG Dolls Dos Curly Ponytails

American girl sells the Dolls Dos Curly Ponytails and other hair styling sets.  Usually these sets are not always featured on the dolls, but I bought a few just to see how they worked.

Many famous women in the 60s wore hair extensions like Barbara Steisand, Diana Ross, Cher and Elizabeth Taylor just to name a few. However, with Melody and her Aunt Tish, they may have a few looks that involve these AG curly ponytails. 

 

Here is a look at the set called Adorable Accents for Your Doll. I also used my Truly Me 46 for this review as she looks like Melody without bangs and her hair is curly underneath.  Although I have to say that the ponytail still works well with her wig.

 

Set comes with instructions for braiding, 2 pink and 2 red mesh material  scrunchies, 2 purple star clips with ribbon, 2 pink star clips with ribbon, 4 red ouch less hair elastics, a small bag of purple rubber bands for styling, and a variety of pink, red and purple star hair clips. You get a lot with this set and it tends to be overlooked in stores as it is a store exclusive.

This set would be perfect in recreating Tish's hair salon with Melody as her best client before solo practice. 

My Truly Me 46 is modeling two curly ponytail hair extensions with the hair accessories. The hair on the curly ponytails are better quality I feel than the one I bought two years ago Cyber Monday, so AG may be using a different type of manufacturer this time around. The hair feels a bit more silky and easier to manage with less tangles and flyaways.

- Ticia

*FEATURE* A 60s Summer - Hairstyle (Short Curls/Afro)

 Short Tight Curls
For people and dolls with short hair, tight curls were all the rage in the 1960s. Natural hair was embraced and people no longer felt the need to straighten their hair. If your doll has short tight curls, you may want to try brushing it out to create an afro like Melody's older sister did. My 58 has tight curls so add a bow for an added touch. Here is a fun one for the summer.

*REVIEW* OG Deluxe Retro - Ready to Get Preppy Outfit

How cute is she? Includes: 1 cardigan, 1 blouse, 1 skirt, 1 belt, 1 scarf, 1 pair of shoes, 1 handbag.

Soft pink neck tie is a versatile piece.

Soft pink in skirt.

Skirt may need ironing, but I recommend this also.

Belt threads through buckle.

Adorable and ready for school.

-Madelon 

*FEATURE* A 60s Summer - 1969

Cost of Living 1969

Average Cost of new house $15,550.00  Average Income per year $8,550.00  
Average Monthly Rent $135.00  
Average Cost New Car $3,270.00  
Toyota Corona $1,950.00  
Gas per Gallon 35 cents  
Alarm Clock from Westclox $9.98
 
1969 On July 20th one of mans crowning achievements occurred when American Astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the Moon and uttered the immortal words "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." . 

The opposition to the war continued to increase with more and more attending anti war demonstrations and demanding that the US withdrew from Vietnam. 

The music came from groups including the Doors, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin and the Beatles and the most famous music festival of modern times "WOODSTOCK" took place on a New York Farm on August 15th to August 17th with more than 400,000 avid music fans attending to see the Who, Jimi Hendrix, Crosby Stills Nash and Young and others perform live. 

Fashions reflected the anti war sentiment with military jackets adorned with peace signs, and other trends including long unkempt wild hair and headbands showed the feelings of anti establishment felt by the youth. 
 Ref: the People History

*FEATURE* A 60's Summer - Melody Hairstyles!

So excited. My Melody doll came and she is so cute. Here she is in a pigtail hairstyle.

-Ticia

*REVIEW* OG Retro - Red Letter Day Outfit

Retro back to school look. So adorable on.

Includes:1 jumper dress, 1 turtleneck sweater, 1 belt, 1 pair of socks, 1 pair of shoes, 1 pair of sunglasses. 

Not sure about the glasses with it.

Corduroy jumper.

Shoes are a bit snug.

I recommend this.

Going back to school with my no. 31 doll.

-Madelon

*FEATURE* A 60s Summer - 1968

Cost of Living 1968

Average Cost of new house $14,950.00  Average Income per year $7,850.00  
Average Monthly Rent $130.00  
Gas per Gallon 34 cents 
Average Cost of a new car $2,822.00 
 Movie Ticket $1.50 
The Federal Hourly Minimum Wage is $1.60 an hour

1968 In both Europe and America Japanese imported cars and other goods were continuing to rise and trouble the governments of UK and USA as they worried about industries in their own countries being effected and jobs lost. 

In the spring of 1968 on 4th April The Rev Martin Luther King was assassinated and Robert Kennedy was mortally wounded when he is shot by Sirhan Sirhan. 

The peace movement had continued to grow and more and more Americans were against the war in Vietnam, and once again more riots occurred throughout cities in America. 

The music scene was once again set by the "Beatles" and the "Rolling Stones" , and fashion flirted with see through blouses and midis and maxis skirts joined the Mini Skirt as part of the fashion trends. 

There is a Flu Pandemic in Hong Kong and the first Black power salute is seen on Television worldwide during an Olympics medal 
ceremony. 
 Ref: the People History

*FEATURE* A 60s Summer - Hairstyles (Pigtail Ringlets)

Pigtail ringlets. 

This is worn by doll 46. Her hair is naturally curly so it was easy to give her this hairstyle. If you have a curly haired doll then this 1960s look is for you!  Curls were in, unlike today where most people own flat irons. Baby doll curls were in and one way to wear it was two pigtails one on each side. Either use elastics and tie a bow around each one, or use a hair bow clip. (Think Cindy Brady) Either way this style will look great on Melody or any doll.

*REVIEW* OG Deluxe Retro - Pretty Groovy Outfit

I absolutely love this outfit. The vibrantly colored dress has a nice winter knit feel to it. Includes: 1 dress, 1 vest, 1 pair of tights, 1 pair of boots, 1 pair of sunglasses, 1 handbag.

Love the detail on these tights.

No pink in the dress, but pink sunglasses.

The fake fur knit vest comes sewn to the dress.

Cute yellow clutch.

The boots Velcro in the back but don't close up all the way on an AG doll.

Even cute without the vest.

-Madelon

*FEATURE* A 60s Summer - 1967

Cost of Living 1967

Average Cost of new house $14,250.00  Average Income per year $7,300.00 
Average Monthly Rent $125.00  
Gas per Gallon 33 cents  
Average Cost of a new car $2,750.00 
Movie Ticket $1.25 
Polaroid Camera History $50.00 
 Parker Pen Set $11.95  
The Federal Minimum Wage is increased to $1.40 an hour

1967 the continued presence of American troops increased further and a total of 475,000 were serving in Vietnam and the peace rallies were multiplying as the number of protesters against the war increased. 

The Boxer Muhammad Ali was stripped of his boxing world championship for refusing to be inducted into the US Army. 

In the middle east Israel also went to war with Syria, Egypt and Jordan in the six day war and when it was over Israel controlled and occupied a lot more territory than before the war. 

Once again in the summer cities throughout America exploded in rioting and looting the worst being in Detroit on July 23rd where 7000 national Guard were bought in to restore law and order on the streets. 

In England a new type of model became a fashion sensation by the name of Twiggy and mini skirts continued to get shorter and even more popular with a short lived fashion being paper clothing. 

Also during this year new Discotheques and singles bars appeared across cities around the world and the Beatles continued to reign supreme with the release of "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band" album, and this year was also coined the summer of love when young teenagers got friendly and grooved to the music of "The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and The Byrds". 

The movie industry moved with the times and produced movies that would appeal to this younger audience including "The Graduate" Bonnie and Clyde" and "Cool Hand Luke" . 

TV shows included "The Fugitive" and "The Monkees" and color television sets become popular as the price comes down and more programs are made in color.
 Ref: the People History

*FEATURE* A 60's Summer - Hairstyles (Bun)

Here is a look at #54 and the bun or hive if placed on top of her head correctly.

Melody will have shoulder length hair so these are some additional styles for her to sport with her 1960s glam.

  
Notice the uses of the double bows. Walmart has an excellent selection of ribbon and yarn for these styles. My two dolls Marnie and Jacee came with these adorable pink headbands. These are ribbon, therefore they will not be hard to replicate. 

Once you find the color ribbons that work best for Melody and her wardrobe, your doll will be all ready to come out of Tish's hair salon all dolled up and ready for her big day.

Since Melody will have a couple of hats in her collection, I could not resist adding this flowery hat. I saw this musical where two women had hats with flowery print on them.  

Ticia

*FEATURE* A 60s Summer - 1966

Cost of Living 1966

Average Cost of new house $14,200.00  
Average Income per year $6,900.00  
Gas per Gallon 32 cents  
Average Cost of a new car $2,650.00 
 Dishwasher$119.95 
 Parker Pen Set $11.95

1966 inflation grew as part of the effect to fund the war in Vietnam continued. 

Both the US and USSR continued in their space race to see who would be the first to land a man on the moon. 

Race riots continued to increase across cities in America and National Guards were needed to bring back law and order. 

The fashions in both America and UK came from a small well known street in London ( Carnaby Street ) part of the swinging London scene, both women and men wore patterned pants and flowered shirts and boots, shoes and even caps utilized the plastic and vinyl History of HiFi and Music Players and Media for a wet shiny look. 

The most popular groups included The "Beach Boys" with Pet Sounds, The "Rolling Stones" with Under my Thumb and The "Beatles" with Revolver, and Yesterday and Today. 
Ref: the People History

*FEATURE* A 60s Summer - Hairstyle (Bufante)

Here is Caroline modeling the big, long loose curls with a bufante at the crown with bows. One bow is more than enough, but the more the merrier.

I bought Caroline's hair accessories. It had an extra hair piece. But Caroline has such a full wig that you really do not need it for this look.