1976 The Outfits - Something About The Boy

All 1976 outfits were produced in Korea. There were some great ones this year, with an overall seaside-holiday theme. Four of them (#9696-9699) were exclusive to Sears.* Note Ken’s new logo on all the packaging.

BEST BUY FASHIONS

BEST BUY FASHIONS #9127

1976 Best Buy Fashions #9127 in original packaging

BEST BUY FASHIONS #9128

1976 #9128 Best Buy Fashions — 1976 Best Buy Fashions #9128

1976 Best Buy Fashions #9128 in original packaging

BEST BUY FASHIONS #9129

1976 #9129 Best Buy Fashions — 1976 Best Buy Fashions #9129

1976 Best Buy Fashions #9129 in original packaging

BEST BUY FASHIONS #9130

1976 #9130 Best Buy Fashions — 1976 Best Buy Fashions #9130

1976 Best Buy Fashions #9130 in original packaging

BEST BUY FASHIONS #9131

1976 #9131 Best Buy Fashions — 1976 Best Buy Fashions #9131

1976 Best Buy Fashions #9131 in original packaging

BEST BUY FASHIONS #9132

1976 #9132 Best Buy Fashions — 1976 Best Buy Fashions #9132

1976 Best Buy Fashions #9132 in original packaging

SEARS STORE EXCLUSIVE BEST BUY FASHIONS

*Like all Best Buy Fashions sold between 1976-1978 these are dated 1975 on the packaging, so, without any printed reference such as a Sears store guide, I’m relying on the received wisdom of other collectors that these outfits are indeed Sears exclusives from this year.

BEST BUY FASHIONS #9696

1976 #9696 Sears Best Buy Fashions — 1976 Sears Best Buy Fashions #9696

1976 Sears Best Buy Fashions #9696 in original packaging

BEST BUY FASHIONS #9697

1976 Sears Best Buy Fashions #9697 in original packaging

BEST BUY FASHIONS #9698

1976 Sears Best Buy Fashions #9698 in original packaging

BEST BUY FASHIONS #9699

1976 Sears Best Buy Fashions #9699 in original packaging

BEST BUY FASHIONS #8627

Ken’s Best Buy Fashions shoes were reissued in Europe with the new style logo. There was also a variation produced in Taiwan which was possibly a European exclusive. It contains several shoes which were not available with any other outfit or set.

1976 #8627 Best Buy Fashions (European version) — 1976 Best Buy Fashions #8627 (European version)

1976 Best Buy Fashions #8627 (European exclusive)

1976 #8627 Best Buy Fashions — 1976 Best Buy Fashions #8627 (European exclusive)

SEARS EXCLUSIVE FASHIONS #9657

The Sears Wish Book offered an exclusive 2-outfit Wardrobe Set for Ken, which was possibly also sold in their department stores. It consisted of mix ‘n match versions of Best Buy Fashions #9127 and #9128.

1976 #9657 Ken Fashions (Sears exclusive set) — 1976 Fashions #9657 in original packaging

GET-UPS ‘N GO / FASHION ORIGINALS

GET-UPS ‘N GO Casual plaid for business and pleasure / FASHION ORIGINALS #9167

1976 #9167 Get Ups 'N Go — 1976 Get-Ups ‘N Go #9167 Casual plaid for business and pleasure

1976 Get-Ups 'N Go #9167 in original packaging — 1976 Get-Ups ‘N Go #9167 in original packaging

1976 #9167 Fashion Originals (European version I) — 1976 #9167 Fashion Originals (European version 1)

1976 #9167 Fashion Originals (European version 2)

GET-UPS ‘N GO Sporty duds play ball in style / FASHION ORIGINALS #9168

1976 #9168 Get Ups 'N Go — 1976 Get-Ups ‘N Go #9168 Sporty duds play ball in style

The NRFP version below right has a darker mitt and lighter sneakers.

1976 Get-Ups 'N Go #9168 in original packaging — 1976 Get-Ups ‘N Go #9168 in original packaging

1976 Fashion Originals #9168 (European version) — 1976 Fashion Originals #9168 (European version 1)

GET-UPS ‘N GO Classy tux for handsome groom! / FASHION ORIGINALS #9596

This tuxedo is very similar in design to the Donny Osmond outfit Starlight Night (see section 1977-1978 Donny & Jimmy Osmond).

1976 #9596 Get Ups 'N Go — 1976 Get-Ups ‘N Go #9596 Classy tux for handsome groom!

1976 Get-Ups 'N Go #9596 — 1976 Get-Ups ‘N Go #9596 in original packaging

1976 Get-Ups 'N Go #9596 in 1977 packaging — Get-Ups ‘N Go #9596 in 1977 packaging

1976 Fashion Originals #9596 (European version)

REVERSE OF PACKAGING

The Get-Ups ‘N Go outfits from 1973-1978 and the Best Buy Fashions from 1974-1978 are all blank on reverse. The Fashion Originals for 1976 appear to have come in two different boxes. The earliest ones came in a pink box which still used the same graphic design as the previous year. The later ones came with a squarer window and the new Ken logo. The illustration on reverse of box was also modernized.

1974 Fashion Originals #7836 (1976 version) — Reverse of Fashion Originals 1976 (Pink box 2)

BOOKLETS & CATALOGUES

From 1976 Movin' with Mattel catalogue — From 1976 Movin’ with Mattel catalogue

1976 Movin' with Mattel catalogue deal sheet — 1976 Movin’ with Mattel catalogue deal sheet

From 1976 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue

I haven’t yet discovered any US Barbie booklet for 1976. In Europe the Get-Ups ‘N Go outfits were packaged as Fashion Originals, and note that the Best Buy Fashions were still given names.

The 1976 French catalogue also features several older outfits. The Bridegroom, Tennis and Pilot outfits are even pictured twice, and described as ‘Ensembles’ or ‘Vêtements’. The only difference I can think of could be the packaging. The ‘Ensembles’ could be the regular GUAG packaging, and the ‘Vêtements’ are packaged as Fashion Originals (Boite Fenêtre). Note too that the Bridegroom and Tennis outfits have swapped code numbers, and the brown suit has a completely different code number (should be 7838).