1985-87 Heart Family Dad Outfits

Between 1985 and 1990 Mattel released a Barbie & Ken spin-off series called The Heart Family. This is a vast series, presumably produced for very young children. It is mostly quite tacky and even a little creepy: Mom & Dad are rather dwarfed by their massive, cartoon-like offspring. It is worth mentioning however, as ‘Dad’ is basically Ken under a different name, and he does have a few interesting outfits, as illustrated below.


THE DADS

Mattel produced eight differently-themed dads in total, each with their own outfit/accessories/child. There are Canadian (La Famille Boncoeur) and European versions (Famille Doucoeur, Die Familie mit Herz, Famiglia Cuore), some with variations. Mattel Mexico (La Familia Heart), Estrela Brazil (Familia Coração) and Rotoplast in Venezuela (Familia Corazón) also produced slight variations of many sets. Mattel Spain produced their own Familia Corazón versions. Their dads have slightly different looks, variation fabric outfits, and most of them have the straight-arm body mold. All dads keep the same head-molds throughout the entire series, with the exception of the black Disneyland dad from 1990.

Heart Family Dads as sold in US/Europe (left), Brazil (middle) and Spain (right)
Heart Family Dads left to right: North American/European Dad in original outfit, Brazilian Dad in Animal Lovin’ outfit, Spanish Dad in Surprise Party.

THE OUTFITS

Four Dad & Baby outfits were released between 1985 and 1986. I have found regular US, Canadian, and European versions, plus Mattel Spain versions of the first three outfits.

DAD AND BABY FASHIONS #9597

1985 #9597 Dad & Baby Fashions
1985 #9597 Dad & Baby Fashions
1985 #9597 Dad & Baby Fashions
1985 #9597 Dad & Baby Fashions
1985 #9597 Dad & Baby Fashions accessories
1985 #9597 Dad & Baby Fashions accessories
1985 #9597 Dad & Baby Fashions
US, European, Canadian & Spanish versions

FAMILY FASHIONS JOGGING OUTFIT #2620

1986 #2620 Jogging Outfit
1986 #2620 Jogging Outfit
1986 #2620 Jogging Outfit
1986 #2620 Jogging Outfit
1986 #2620 Jogging Outfit
1986 #2620 Jogging Outfit accessories
1986 #2620 Jogging Outfit
US, European, Canadian & Spanish versions

FAMILY FASHIONS HIKING OUTFIT #2622

1986 #2622 Hiking Outfit
1986 #2622 Hiking Outfit
1986 #2622 Hiking Outfit
1986 #2622 Hiking Outfit
1986 #2622 Hiking Outfit
1986 #2622 Hiking Outfit accessories
1986 #2622 Hiking Outfit
US, European, Canadian & Spanish versions

FAMILY FASHIONS BEACH OUTFIT #2624

1986 #2624 Beach Outfit
1986 #2624 Beach Outfit
1986 #2624 Beach Outfit
1986 #2624 Beach Outfit
1986 #2624 Beach Outfit
1986 #2624 Beach Outfit accessories
1986 #2624 Beach Outfit
US, European & Canadian versions

These last two fashion sets appear to be European exclusives, though the Nautical Outfit did also appear with a dressed doll family set in Mexico.

FAMILY FASHIONS NAUTICAL OUTFIT #5267 and #5274 ROBES

1987-88 #5267 Nautical Outfit
1987-88 #5267 Nautical Outfit
1987-88 #5267 Nautical Outfit
1987-88 #5267 Nautical Outfit
1987 #5267 Nautical Outfit (European version)
1987-88 #5267 Nautical Outfit (European)
1987-88 #5274 Robes
1987-88 #5274 Robes (European)

THE BOX SETS

Three FUN! box sets were released in 1987 and all contain outfits for dad. There were at least three versions produced of each set: the regular US, European, and a separate version by Mattel Spain. I have discovered a Mattel Mexico version of Water Fun!, so presumably they also produced all three sets.

CAMPING FUN! #3146

From 1987 #3146 Camping Fun
From 1987 #3146 Camping Fun!
From 1987 #3146 Camping Fun
From 1987 #3146 Camping Fun!
From 1987 #3146 Camping Fun
From 1987 #3146 Camping Fun!
1987 #3146 Camping Fun!
US, European & Spanish versions

SNOW FUN! #3147
The Snow Fun! box photo shows a different fabric for the pullovers etc. to the one actually used, i.e. the tackier ‘heart’ fabric, shown here. This heart fabric was used in all versions of this set.

From 1987 #3147 Snow Fun!
From 1987 #3147 Snow Fun!
From 1987 #3147 Snow Fun!
From 1987 #3147 Snow Fun!
From 1987 #3147 Snow Fun!
From 1987 #3147 Snow Fun!
1987 #3147 Snow Fun!
European & Spanish versions

WATER FUN! #3148

The Water Fun! set contains a pair of swim trunks for dad.

1987 #3148 Water Fun!
US, European, Spanish & Mexican versions

BOOKLETS & CATALOGUES

From 1985 Mattel Toys catalogue
From 1985 Mattel Toys catalogue
From 1986 Mattel Toys catalogue
From 1986 Mattel Toys catalogue
From 1987 Mattel Toys catalogue
From 1987 Mattel Toys catalogue

The Christmas catalogues offered their own brand Dad and Baby outfits.

From 1985 Sears Wish Book
From 1985 Sears Wish Book
From 1986 Sears Wish Book
From 1986 Sears Wish Book
From 1986 JCPenney Christmas catalogue
From 1986 JCPenney Christmas catalogue
From 1987 Sears Wish Book For Kids
From 1987 Sears Wish Book For Kids
From 1987 JCPenney Christmas catalogue
From 1987 JCPenney Christmas catalogue
From 1987 Canadian Sears Wish Book
From 1987 Canadian Sears Wish Book