Just because Alyson Hannigan did something as a professional actress does not mean she would feel it was appropriate for a given character she played.
More importantly, can you seriously tell me Joss would recognise in this Willow piece the character he created? Willow is not just another teenage girl trying to be sexy in a conventional manner, like Buffy or Cordelia. That is what made her character special. This piece disrespects that difference.
This piece is as accurate as doing Xander or Oz as muscle-bound jocks.
And whose to say Alyson or Joss wouldn't see it "fit" of the Willow name? We'll probably never know, so that's becoming a moot point.
I understand you don't like the piece. I respect that. If you don't see Willow, that's fine, but I do. I'm one of the biggest Buffy fans out there, still to this day, and I'm not afraid to "toot my own horn." The piece doesn't offend me in the slightest, nor do I see why it's atrociously inappropriate as some are trying to make this out to be. I understand and respect some of the opposition expressed about this piece, but not to the extent that I've read in this thread recently. Some of these comments (ie. labeling this as a "fail") are pushing the boundaries of disrespectful and starting to offend even me...and that's sad because that's hard to do. I've said it time and time again. If you don't like this piece, express yourself on sideshowtoy.com. They have a comments section for this piece. If you read the comments though, not many people are complaining. In fact, very few have. If people want change, then I suggest posting these opinions there as well and hopefully, you'll be heard.
There's more to this piece then just a skirt...among many other highlights, there's a base (and it's a pretty big selling point IMO), which despite all my efforts to bring to light, not many of the naysayers care to comment on. Why? Well, I have two theories:
1.) They never saw the episode "Fear, Itself." In which case, they can't comment because they have no idea what I'm talking about and don't appreciate it.
-or-
2.) They can't get over the skirt. But I can understand that. If I focused just on a skirt, that's all I would see too, but thankfully, I don't. I look at the WHOLE piece. And for that, I'm sorry because some people are really missing out here. Sideshow went the "extra mile" for us, their fans. In my eyes, it's the base that really makes this piece stand apart from the others and in many ways is the defining element that makes this Willow.
Willow was a girl who practiced witchcraft, unlike Buffy, Cordelia, etc. etc. In the earlier years, she was innocent and bubbly, yet had that "dark side" to her that always made you think twice. I look at this piece, and I see that. I see Willow, and that's why I bought it and will proudly display it once it arrives. Some people may not, and in that case, show your displeasure by not buying it, rather than labeling it a "fail" and resorting to name-calling, etc. focusing on all that is negative.