Fashion Review: Monster High Generation 1

This blog is a specific request from my daughter. She loves watching the Monster High television series and movies and critiquing the characters' clothes (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, apparently), and asking me for my opinion. So when she sent me a series of pictures of various characters and asked me to comment on their looks, how could I say no? So here are some of the Monster High Generation 1 characters, and my critique of their fashions. 

Name: Frankie Stein
Monster Heritage: Daughter of Frankenstein's Monster (aka The Creature)
Notable Info: German
The Look: Teal and black plaid minidress with white yoke with Peter Pan collar, black mesh puffed short sleeves, a black and white polka dot necktie, and a flared skirt with black mesh crinoline, accessorized with a black and silver studded hip belt, black and white striped platform heels with an ankle strap, and a black and red short-handled purse. 

The Critique: The silhouette of the dress is very cute, and I love the teal and black color scheme. But the purse color is awful with the outfit, and the style is very matronly. A teal clutch or wristlet would be much more appropriate. The shoes are a little clunky, and I feel like a pair of high-top sneakers or black ankle boots would be more age-appropriate.

  

Name: Draculara
Monster Heritage: (Adopted) daughter of Dracula
Notable Info: Vegan, 1600 years old, Transylvanian
The Look: White pleated miniskirt with black mesh crinoline, electric pink corset-style vest, charcoal gray blouse with white ruffled collar and cuffs and pink neck trim, charcoal gray hose, and pink laceup boots with black straps. She also carries a black parasol with pink trim. 

The Critique: I actually really like this look. Its simple lines are youthful and flattering, as is the pink/black/white color palette. The demure lace collar contrasts nicely with the tailored silhouette and the bold boots. And I love that her pink and black hair matches her outfit!

 

Name: Clawdeen Wolf
Monster Heritage: Werewolf (older sister of Howleen, below)
Notable Info: Age 16, from Brooklyn
The Look: Purple pleated miniskirt with black mesh crinoline and studded belt, black and pink animal print cropped tee, purple cropped jacket with lavender trim and lavender fur collar, and black-and-purple strappy open-toed gladiator boots, accessorized with a pendant necklace and studded choker. 

The Critique: The purple and black color palette is great with her dark coloring, and I adore the fur-trimmed jacket, but the tee looks out of place in both style and color, and I don't love the combination of the low-cut skirt with the cropped top. A black and purple print leotard top would be a more flattering look. But the hair and boots are terrific!

Name: Lagoona Blue
Monster Heritage: Sea monster/sea nymph
Notable Info: Age 16, Australian
The Look: Pink sequin top with a wide black band at the top, under a cropped teal jacket with black sleeves and teal cuffs, black shorts with a wide teal waistband and teal trim, teal fishnet bike shorts,  black platform wedges with pink trim, and a pink floral headpiece. 

The Critique: I love the black and teal color scheme, and the pink top reminiscent of scales is a nice pop of contrast, tied in nicely to the hints of pink in the shoes and headpiece. But there are simply too many parts to this look which make it feel very busy. I could do without the fishnet shorts, and the jacket could be simpler. But it's not a terrible look. 

Name: Cleo DeNile
Monster Heritage: Daughter of Pharaoh Rameses
Notable Info: Over 5,000 years old, Egyptian
The Look: Gold wrapped cropped leggings, aqua criss-cross babydoll top with sheer split bottom and black trim, accessorized with gold gladiator wedges, a single gold wrapped elbow-length glove, gold chandelier earrings, and a gold headband studded with aqua gems.

The Critique: This is my favorite look so far. The leggings and glove are a nice nod to her "mummy" heritage while still being cute and stylish, and the sheer babydoll top is both sexy and demure. The long earrings add a touch of elegance. 

Name: Abbey Bominable
Monster Heritage: Yeti

Notable Info: Age 15, Nepalese
The Look: Off-the-shoulder black fitted minidress with colorful traditional embroidery wrapped with criss-crossing cord and white fur trim, with white fur gauntlets and thigh-high boots, accessorized with a short blue collar necklace, dangling snowflake earrings, and a white fur headband. 

The Critique: I love this look even more than the last. The white fur accents are a nice balance to the darker fabric and colorful embroidery, which is a lovely nod to her Nepali heritage. The blue necklace is too similar to her skin tone and might have been better if it picked up one of the other bright colors in the embroidery, but that's a minor nitpick in what otherwise is a lovely ensemble. I would absolutely wear this dress! 

Name: Spectra Vondergeist
Monster Heritage: Ghost
Notable Info: Died in the 1800s at age 15, German
The Look: Sleeveless black chiffon fit-and-flare dress with a purple insert down the front of the bodice and silver military trim, with a modified handkerchief-style above-the-knee skirt with purple lining, accessorized with a silver chain belt and calf-length pink boots with silver chain trim. 

The Critique: The overall silhouette is great, and I love the way the trim on the bodice gives a 1980s, Michael Jackson vibe. The hint of silver on the skirt creates some lovely visual lines, and the touches of silver throughout provide a nice unifying detail. But as a ghost who levitates, she missed an opportunity for some gorgeously impossible-to-walk-in sleek stilettos instead of these clunky boots. But otherwise, a nice look. 

Name: Toralei Stripe
Monster Heritage: Werecat
Notable Info: Age 16, American (likely Californian)
The Look: Black and pink bias-cut plaid minidress over black ankle leggings with pink slashing, topped with a cropped black jacket with pink piping and accessorized with open-toe black and pink gladiator sandals, a black-and-pink plaid shoulder bag, a gold buckle hip belt, and a tan ascot-style scarf. 

The Critique: This is quite a cute look, and honestly the only change I would make is to switch the gold belt for either solid black or possibly tan to match the ascot. Otherwise, it's a great ensemble!

Name: Operetta
Monster Heritage: Daughter of the Phantom of the Opera
Notable Info: Age 15, ethnically French but very Southern American

The Look: Wide-cuffed cropped jeans, a white blouse with short puffed sleeves and a purple collar, topped with a purple corset belt and accessorized with white platform heels with metallic spiderweb and G clef detailing, a metallic beaded mask shaped like a musical note, a metallic belt, and a red coffin-shaped guitar case, also with spiderweb detailing. 

The Critique: The outfit feels very 1950s, and I definitely get a Southern vibe, but although I see the musical tie-ins, I'm missing any nods to her French heritage. Her look is also much more casual than the other girls, so I would love to have seen the pants in a dressier fabric or at least a more formal style, possibly even a denim ankle-length flared panel skirt, to add some drama and elegance. 

Name: Howleen Wolf
Monster Heritage: Werewolf (younger sister of Clawdeen, above)
Notable Info: Age 15, from Brooklyn
The Look: Belted black minidress with yellow ladder patterns and blue and pink flowers, topped with a deep purple jacket with 3/4-length sleeves, accessorized with knee-high laced black wedge boots, black fingerless biker gloves, red fishnet stockings, and a black beanie. 

The Critique: The print of the dress is busy and colorful enough that the accessories need to be simpler and more unified to avoid becoming distracting. Skip the fishnet stockings and make the jacket black instead of a contrasting color, so the accessories are all plain black, and this look would work much better. The black beanie on the vivid pink hair is adorable, especially with her ears peeking through!

Name: Twyla Boogeyman
Monster Heritage: Daughter of the Boogeyman
Notable Info: Age 15, Eastern European descent
The Look: Black and white three-tiered ruffled miniskirt with dark periwinkle edging, dark periwinkle jersey with vertical black pinstripes, bell sleeves, and a black velvet bow at the neck, accessorized with a silver belt and silver bangle bracelets, and black and purple ankle boots with silver laces and elaborate heel details. 

The Critique: The dark purple and black could have been drab, but the various textures created by ruffles and prints brought visual interest, and the silver accessories lightened the look somewhat. The shoes look a bit heavy and clunky, but they're balanced but the sweet bow at the neck and her pale green and lavender streaked long wavy hair. Proof that accessories can make or break a look!

Favorite look overall? I have to go with Abby Bominable, simply because it's a look that would work on so many people - including me! 

And if you'd love that look yourself, check out this great dress from Etsy for only $44 that has a similar style: 

Pick up a two-pack of feather boas from Amazon for $14 and you can add white trim around the shoulders and make a simple pair of gauntlets and a headband.

Then finish off your look with a cozy pair of tall white faux fur boots, like this pair from Amazon for $56.

You'll be the most stylish Yeti in town!