1962 The Outfits

In 1962 Mattel began to divide the clothing into Ensemble Paks; boxed like the outfits from 1961 and usually complete outfits with accessories, and Fashion Paks; smaller sets on card usually single fashion items or accessories. There are however several cross-overs and exceptions, like Rally Day below.

For more information and many more detailed photographs see THE ORIGINAL KEN® BOOK.


THE ENSEMBLE PAKS

RALLY DAY #788

The earliest versions of Rally Day (with the pink – and some with the light blue – booklet) were packaged in a larger box.

1962 #788 Rally Day
1962 #788 Rally Day (Shirt and slacks not included)
1962 #788 Rally Day in original packaging
1962 #788 Rally Day in original packaging (Larger-boxed early version)
1962 #788 Rally Day in original packaging
1962 #788 Rally Day in original packaging
1962 #788 Rally Day in original packaging
#788 Rally Day in original (1963) packaging

THE YACHTSMAN #789

In 1964 The Yachtsman was reissued with the addition of a cap (see section 1964 The Outfits).

1962 #789 The Yachtsman
1962 #789 The Yachtsman
1962 #789 The Yachtsman in original packaging
1962 #789 The Yachtsman in original packaging

TIME FOR TENNIS #790

The polo shirt below left has the regular deep neckline, but some versions have a polo shirt with a much shallower neck line. A NRFB example can be seen in THE ORIGINAL KEN® BOOK. Some out-of-box cardigans for sale online look as if they have a ‘variation’ grey trim, but this probably just the result of excessive washing.

This outfit has also been found packaged in Japan as a Fashion Pak. It can be seen in the section 1965 The Outfits.

1962 #790 Time For Tennis
1962 #790 Time For Tennis
#790 Time For Tennis in original packaging
#790 Time For Tennis in original (1963) packaging

THE FASHION PAKS

Some of these clothes were only ever available as single Fashion Pak items, and some also appeared in other Ensemble or Fashion Pak sets. There are several variations, but mostly very slight. These items were produced for a couple of years, so there could be slight fabric variations, but it could equally just be the effects of repeated washing and/or fading with time. See THE ORIGINAL KEN® BOOK for some examples. The original TV commercial for the Fashion Paks can be seen on Youtube. It is especially interesting as it uses prototypes.

The Fashion Paks shown below obviously only originally included the items shown in the MOC versions. Any extra items or accessories are merely to enhance the photos.

ACCESSORY PACK

1962 Accessory Pack
1962 Accessory Pack
1962 Accessory Pack in original packaging
1962 Accessory Pack in original packaging

BLAZER, BLUE

1962 Blue Blazer
1962 Blazer
1962 Blue Blazer
1962 Blazer
1962 Blazer in original packaging
1962 Blazer in original packaging

CORD SLACKS

The booklets and catalogues do not specify, but the Cord Slacks were presumably produced in the two ‘official’ colours beige and green, like the Corduroy Jacket. The beige slacks especially can vary in colour.

1962 Cord Slacks
1962 Cord Slacks
1962 Cord Slacks
1962 Cord Slacks
1962 Cord Slacks in original packaging
1962 Cord Slacks in original packaging
1962 Cord Slacks
1962 Cord Slacks
1962 Cord Slacks
1962 Cord Slacks
1962 Cord Slacks in original packaging
1962 Cord Slacks in original packaging

CORDUROY JACKET

The Corduroy Jacket was officially available in beige and green. As with the Cord Slacks, the beige Corduroy Jacket can vary in colour. I’ve even seen white versions, but the lining of those jackets was pink (rather than the regular red), suggesting that the jackets had been bleached.

1962 Corduroy Jacket
1962 Corduroy Jacket
1962 Corduroy Jacket
1962 Corduroy Jacket
1962 Corduroy Jacket in original packaging
1962 Corduroy Jacket in original packaging
1962 Corduroy Jacket
1962 Corduroy Jacket
1962 Corduroy Jacket
1962 Corduroy Jacket
1962 Corduroy Jacket in original packaging
1962 Corduroy Jacket in original packaging

PATTERN PRINT SHIRT

The Pattern Print Shirt came in green and red. Some versions vary slightly, but again are probably just the result of fading through washing or prolonged exposure to sunlight.

1962 Pattern Print Shirt
1962 Pattern Print Shirt
1962 Pattern Print Shirt
1962 Pattern Print Shirt
1962 Pattern Print Shirt in original packaging
1962 Pattern Print Shirt in original packaging
1962 Pattern Print Shirt
1962 Pattern Print Shirt
1962 Pattern Print Shirt
1962 Pattern Print Shirt
1962 Pattern Print Shirt in original packaging
1962 Pattern Print Shirt in original packaging

POLO SHIRT

The Polo Shirt came in three colours: yellow-gold, green and red. Again, all slight variations are probably just regular shirts which have faded over time.

1962 Polo Shirt
1962 Polo Shirt
1962 Polo Shirt
1962 Polo Shirt
1962 Polo Shirt in original packaging
1962 Polo Shirt in original packaging
1962 Polo Shirt
1962 Polo Shirt
1962 Polo Shirt
1962 Polo Shirt
1962 Polo Shirt in original packaging
1962 Polo Shirt in original packaging
1962 Polo Shirt
1962 Polo Shirt
1962 Polo Shirt
1962 Polo Shirt
1962 Polo Shirt in original packaging
1962 Polo Shirt in original packaging

Ken’s white polo shirt usually came without label (Time For Tennis, Fraternity Meeting), so it’s tempting to think the one below could have been sold as a Fashion Pak item. If so, it must have been extremely rare, as I’m yet to find a version MOC. It is more likely to have been a regular tennis shirt which was given a label by mistake.

1962 Polo Shirt
1962 Polo Shirt
1962 Polo Shirt (Rare labelled white version)
1962 Polo Shirt (Rare labelled white shirt possibly sold as Fashion Pak)

RED VEST

1962 Red Vest
1962 Red Vest
1962 Red Vest
1962 Red Vest
1962 Red Vest in original packaging
1962 Red Vest in original packaging

SEWN SWEATER, RED or PULLOVER SWEATER

1962 Sewn Sweater (or Pullover Sweater)
1962 Sewn Sweater (or Pullover Sweater)
1962 Sewn Sweater (or Pullover Sweater)
1962 Sewn Sweater (or Pullover Sweater)
1962 Sewn Sweater in original packaging
1962 Sewn Sweater in original packaging

SLACKS, BROWN

1962 Brown Slacks
1962 Brown Slacks
1962 Brown Slacks
1962 Brown Slacks
1962 Brown Slacks in original packaging
1962 Brown Slacks in original packaging

SLACKS, GREY

1962 Grey Slacks
1962 Grey Slacks
1962 Grey Slacks
1962 Grey Slacks
1962 Grey Slacks in original packaging
1962 Grey Slacks in original packaging

SOLID COLOR SPORT SHIRT

This shirt came in red and ivory. The ivory shirts usually yellow with age, so many slight fluctuations in colour can be found.

1962 Sport Shirt
1962 Sport Shirt
1962 Sport Shirt
1962 Sport Shirt
1962 Sport Shirt in original packaging
1962 Sport Shirt in original packaging
1962 Sport Shirt
1962 Sport Shirt
1962 Sport Shirt
1962 Sport Shirt
1962 Sport Shirt in original packaging
1962 Sport Shirt in original packaging

WHITE DRESS SHIRT

1962 White Dress Shirt
1962 White Dress Shirt
1962 White Dress Shirt
1962 White Dress Shirt
1962 White Dress Shirt in original packaging
1962 White Dress Shirt in original packaging

WINDBREAKER, BEIGE

This Windbreaker usually has darker brown trim, as shown here. I have one Windbreaker with the trim in the same pale beige colour as the jacket itself. It may be a genuine variation, or just the result of excessive washing. It can be seen in THE ORIGINAL KEN® BOOK.

1962 Windbreaker
1962 Windbreaker
1962 Windbreaker
1962 Windbreaker
1962 Windbreaker in original packaging
1962 Windbreaker in original packaging

BARBIE & KEN GIFT SET #892

The Barbie & Ken Gift Set obviously also contained a Barbie doll and her clothing. In some early advertising the set is shown with a red cap for Ken. The earliest advertisements also show it with the original 1961 flocked hair Ken with shorts and towel.

1962 Jewel Tea catalogue
From Jewel Tea catalogue 1962
1963 Jewel Tea catalogue
From Jewel Tea catalogue 1963

As the boxes are dated 1962 I doubt it ever came with the 1961 Ken. The original set as I know it included a blonde or brunette flocked hair Ken (initially the ‘thick-brow’ Kens and then later the ‘thin-brow’ versions – see 1962 Flocked hair Kens) wearing his 1962 (unlabelled) ‘cabana’ beach outfit, and with the clothing shown here. The short green socks would only appear for sale once more (with the 1966 Ensemble Pak Summer Job). The set was still being sold in 1964, so later versions came with a painted hair Ken.

From 1962 Barbie & Ken Gift Set #892
From 1962 Barbie & Ken Gift Set #892
From 1962 Barbie & Ken Gift Set #892
From 1962 Barbie & Ken Gift Set #892
From 1962 Barbie & Ken Gift Set #892
From 1962 Barbie & Ken Gift Set #892
1962 Barbie & Ken Gift Set #892
1962 Barbie & Ken Gift Set #892 original packaging
1962 Barbie & Ken Gift Set #892 reverse of packaging
1962 Barbie & Ken Gift Set #892 reverse of packaging
1962 Barbie & Ken Gift Set #892
1962 Barbie & Ken Gift Set #892 (with blonde flocked hair Ken)
1962 Barbie & Ken Gift Set #892
1962 Barbie & Ken Gift Set #892 (with brunette flocked hair Ken)

Note that the Barbie & Ken in the set below left have no card inserts, suggesting that the integrity of the box has been compromised. This means that the Ken may not be exactly original. It is certainly unusual to have a first version Japan-made Ken wearing the later, stiffer beach jacket.

Barbie & Ken Gift Set #892 (with blonde painted hair Ken)
Barbie & Ken Gift Set #892 (with blonde painted hair Ken)
Barbie & Ken Gift Set #892
Barbie & Ken Gift Set #892 (with brunette painted hair Ken)

THE KEN DOLL CASES

Many other toy companies produced Barbie related items under license from Mattel, but only a few made items specifically for Ken. One was his own wardrobe (by Suzy Goose), a traditional country-style brown plastic model, similar to Barbie’s own. Another was Ken’s travel case, produced by Standard Plastic Products in the US. Between 1962 and 1964 they produced cases with three designs, in three colours (lavender, yellow and turquoise).

1962 #395 Ken Doll Case by SPP (lavender)
1962 #395 Ken Doll Case by SPP (lavender)
1962 #395 Ken Doll Case by SPP (yellow)
1962 #395 Ken Doll Case by SPP (yellow)
1962 #395 Ken Doll Case by SPP (green)
1962 #395 Ken Doll Case by SPP (turquoise)
1962 Ken Doll Case tag
1962 Ken Doll Case tag
1962 Ken Doll Case tag
1962 Ken Doll Case tag

BOOKLETS & CATALOGUES

1962 Barbie & Ken booklet
1962 Barbie & Ken booklet
From 1962 Barbie & Ken booklet
From 1962 Barbie & Ken booklet

The illustration for Sleeper Set is still the one from 1961 showing the pajama top with short sleeves, like the prototype.

From 1962 Barbie & Ken booklet
From 1962 Barbie & Ken booklet
From 1962 Barbie & Ken booklet
From 1962 Barbie & Ken booklet
From 1962 Barbie & Ken booklet
From 1962 Barbie & Ken booklet
From 1962 Barbie & Ken booklet
From 1962 Barbie & Ken booklet
From 1962 Barbie & Ken booklet
From 1962 Barbie & Ken booklet
From 1962 Barbie & Ken booklet
From 1962 Barbie & Ken booklet
From 1962 Barbie & Ken booklet
From 1962 Barbie & Ken booklet
From Mattel Toys 1962 booklet
From Mattel Toys 1962 booklet
From Mattel Dolls for Fall '62 catalogue (1st edition)
From Mattel Dolls for Fall ’62 catalogue
From Mattel Dolls for Fall '62 catalogue
From Mattel Dolls for Fall ’62 catalogue
From Mattel Dolls For Fall '62 catalogue
From Mattel Dolls For Fall ’62 catalogue
1962 Barbie & Ken Fashion Bar Display
1962 Barbie & Ken Fashion Bar Display
1962 Barbie & Ken Fashion Bar Display ad
1962 Barbie & Ken Fashion Bar Display ad
From 1962 #903 Barbie & Ken Fashion Bar Display
From 1962 Barbie & Ken Fashion Bar Display
From 1962 Barbie & Ken Fashion Bar Display
From 1962 Barbie & Ken Fashion Bar Display
From 1962 Barbie & Ken Fashion Bar Display
From 1962 Barbie & Ken Fashion Bar Display

In 1962 Mattel even produced sewing patterns with outfits for Ken.

1962 Ken Wardrobe Patterns Display
1962 Ken Wardrobe Patterns Display
From 1962 Mattel Dolls For Fall '62 catalogue (1st edition)
From 1962 Mattel Dolls For Fall ’62 catalogue (1st edition)

Dreamboat and Campus Hero were mixed up in the GMC catalogue below, and Sleeper Set is called Sleeper.

From 1962 Aldens Fall Winter catalogue
From 1962 Aldens Fall Winter catalogue
From 1962 General Merchandise catalogue
From 1962 General Merchandise Fall Winter catalogue
From 1962 Western Auto Fall Winter catalogue
From 1962 Western Auto Fall Winter catalogue
From 1962 Coast To Coast Stores Toys catalogue
From 1962 Coast To Coast Stores Toys catalogue
From 1962 Sears Christmas catalogue
From 1962 Sears Christmas catalogue
From 1962 Americana Home Shoppers catalogue
From 1962 Americana Home Shoppers catalogue
From 1962 Aldens Christmas catalogue
From 1962 Aldens Christmas catalogue
From 1962 Aldens Christmas catalogue
From 1962 Aldens Christmas catalogue
From 1962 Spiegel Christmas catalogue
From 1962 Spiegel Christmas Book
1962 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue advertising
1962 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue advertising
From 1962 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue
From 1962 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue

If Annual or Spring Summer issues have toys at all, they tend to show only items from the previous Christmas. In the 1963 Spiegel Spring Summer catalogue Time For Tennis is incorrectly described as Tennis Time.

From 1963 Spiegel Spring Summer catalogue
From 1963 Spiegel Spring Summer catalogue
From 1963 Aldens Spring Summer catalogue
From 1963 Aldens Spring Summer catalogue
From 1963 Aldens Fall Winter catalogue
From 1963 Aldens Fall Winter catalogue
From 1963 Atlas-United catalogue
From 1963 Atlas-United catalogue
From John Plain book for 1963
From John Plain book for 1963

The #892 Barbie & Ken Gift Set was still being sold in 1964, though now came with a painted hair (Japan-made) Ken.

From 1964 First Distributors Year Round catalogue
From 1964 First Distributors Year Round catalogue
From 1964 Mostow Yearly Wholesale catalogue
From 1964 Mostow Yearly Wholesale catalogue

The Fashion Pak items were available in 1962-63. The Ensemble Paks were available as follows.*

RALLY DAY (1962-1964)
THE YACHTSMAN (1962-1964) (Until 1968 in Europe)
TIME FOR TENNIS (1962-1965) (Until 1968 in Europe)

* Based on information taken from US and European Barbie booklets 1961-1968, Mattel catalogues from 1962-1968, and Mattel Employee Order Forms 1965-1967.


REVERSE OF PACKAGING

All Ken Ensemble Paks and the larger Fashion Paks were illustrated on the reverse. Apart from a slight alteration to the written information on reverse during 1962, these designs remained the same until the introduction of Ken’s Buddy Allan in 1964. Booklets were always included, even with the smallest Fashion Pak item, and obviously varied according to year.

Reverse of larger Ensemble Pak packaging 1961
Reverse of larger Ensemble Pak packaging 1961-62
Reverse of smaller Ensemble Pak packaging 1961
Reverse of smaller Ensemble Pak packaging 1961-62

In 1964 the Ensemble Paks were packaged in a new box featuring Allan on the reverse (see section 1965 The Outfits, bottom of page), but the earliest packed outfits for 1964 still came in the original packaging, shown below.

Reverse of larger Ensemble Pak packaging 1962-4
Reverse of larger Ensemble Pak packaging 1962-64
Reverse of smaller Ensemble Pak packaging 1962-64
Reverse of smaller Ensemble Pak packaging 1962-64
Reverse of larger Fashion Pak packaging 1962
Reverse of larger Fashion Pak packaging 1962
Reverse of slim Fashion Pak packaging 1962
Reverse of slim Fashion Pak packaging 1962
Reverse of small Fashion Pak packaging 1962
Reverse of small Fashion Pak packaging 1962
Reverse of larger Fashion Pak packaging 1962
Reverse of larger Fashion Pak packaging 1962
Reverse of slim Fashion Pak packaging 1962
Reverse of slim Fashion Pak packaging 1962
Reverse of small Fashion Pak packaging 1962
Reverse of small Fashion Pak packaging 1962
Reverse of larger Fashion Pak packaging 1962-3
Reverse of larger Fashion Pak packaging 1962-63
Reverse of slim Fashion Pak packaging 1962-3
Reverse of slim Fashion Pak packaging 1962-63
Reverse of small Fashion Pak packaging 1962-3
Reverse of small Fashion Pak packaging 1962-63
Reverse of larger Fashion Pak packaging 1963
Reverse of larger Fashion Pak packaging 1963
Reverse of slim Fashion Pak packaging 1963
Reverse of slim Fashion Pak packaging 1963
Reverse of small Fashion Pak packaging 1963
Reverse of small Fashion Pak packaging 1963

THE KEN LABEL

Genuine Ken clothing was labelled. From 1961-1964 the labels were marked Ken™ BY MATTEL. From 1964 onward there was a new label, which read Ken® ©MATTEL INC., though the earlier version can still occasionally be found on Ken clothing right up to the Fashion Originals in 1972.

All single Fashion Pak items were labelled, but larger sets usually only had one or two labelled pieces. This is most noticeable with the trousers. If Ken’s trousers were part of an outfit (like the Ensemble Pak Going Bowling or the Fashion Pak Soda Date), they were not labelled. The only exceptions are the outfits containing knitted pullovers (Campus Hero, Mountain Hike, Hiking Holiday), in which the labels are found in the trousers/shorts. As another example, the orange hooded top from Ensemble Pak Ken Skin Diver #1406 was not labelled, because there was a label in the trunks. But, the same top released as the Fashion Pak Sweatshirt did have a label.

1961-72 Ken clothing labels
Two beach jackets showing original label (left) and later label (right)
1963 Ken Sweatshirts
Two versions of 1963-64 sweatshirt