1971 The Outfits - Something About The Boy

1971 was the ‘Scene’ year. Fashion Pak items included a set of golf clubs, footwear, and shirts and slacks with accessories. As well as their continuing Casual All Stars series (see section Casual All Stars – Sears exclusive sets 1970-74), Sears sold an exclusive Malibu Ken gift set. Mattel also introduced the tricot sock, which replaced the previous cotton-knit socks.

THE ENSEMBLE PAKS

THE SKIING SCENE #1438

1971 #1438 Skiing Scene — 1971 #1438 The Skiing Scene

1971 #1438 The Skiing Scene in original packaging

The variation below has a sweater and hat made of a different fabric, and the ski pants are a much darker blue than the ones above.

1971 #1438 Skiing Scene variation — 1971 #1438 The Skiing Scene (Variation)

1971 #1438 The Skiing Scene (variation) in original packaging

THE SUEDE SCENE #1439

1971 #1439 Suede Scene — 1971 #1439 The Suede Scene

1971 #1439 The Suede Scene in original packaging

THE SEA SCENE #1449

Almost everywhere online you will find The Casual Scene and The Sea Scene listed the wrong way around. The confusion seems to stem from a misprint in the Mattel Dolls ’71 dealer catalogue, which was taken as fact and printed in a Barbie guide book. Every other 1971 reference to these outfits, from the Barbie booklets, Mattel toy supplements and Fan Club magazines to the Sears Wish Book and the stickers on packaging, has the outfits titled as shown here (see also the Booklets & Catalogues section at bottom of page).

1971 #1449 Sea Scene — 1971 #1449 The Sea Scene

1971 #1449 Sea Scene in original packaging — 1971 #1449 The Sea Scene in original packaging

Four different 1971 #1449 The Sea Scene boxes showing sticker

1971 #1449 The Sea Scene in original packaging showing sticker

Below is an exceptionally rare variation jacket with cuffs. Exceptionally rare because it is not only the first such variation ever recorded, but the only instance of Mattel making a variation to the DESIGN of an outfit. Usually only the materials (fabrics/buttons) varied – and note this jacket also has clear buttons, instead of the regular white. As it was found out-of-box, there is no guarantee that the cuffs weren’t added at a later date, but it certainly looks genuine. It is quite possibly a ‘factory-flaw’ or an early sample – the cuffs are so tight that it would be practically impossible for Ken’s or Brad’s hands to get through.

1971 #1449 The Sea Scene jackets (Variation on right)

THE CASUAL SCENE #1472

1971 #1472 Casual Scene — 1971 #1472 The Casual Scene

1971 #1472 The Casual Scene in original packaging

Three different 1971 #1472 The Casual Scene boxes showing sticker

THE V.I.P. SCENE #1473

1971 #1473 VIP Scene — 1971 #1473 The V.I.P. Scene

1971 #1473 The V.I.P. Scene in original packaging

1971 #1473 VIP Scene variation — 1971 #1473 The V.I.P. Scene variation tie

1971 #1473 V.I.P. Scene variation tie — 1971 #1473 The V.I.P. Scene with variation tie

THE NIGHT SCENE #1496

1971 #1496 Night Scene — 1971 #1496 The Night Scene

1971 #1496 The Night Scene in original packaging

The variation of The Night Scene (below) is very subtle. It uses a darker satin fabric on lapels and cummerbund and, unlike the regular version, this satin fabric is also used for the jacket pockets.

1971 #1496 Night Scene variation — 1971 #1496 The Night Scene (Variation)

THE FASHION PAKS

ACTION WEAR Golf Gear

1971 Action Wear Golf Gear original packaging — Reverse of packaging

The variation golf set above was definitely included in some versions of the Sears 1974 accessory set #7917 Barbie’s Sport Goodies (along with bright green skis and ski poles). I haven’t yet found it packaged as an Action Wear set for Ken, but thought I’d include it as an interesting variation.

1974 Sears accessory set #7917 Barbie's Sport Goodies packaging — 1974 Sears accessory set #7917 Barbie’s Sport Goodies packaging

ACTION WEAR Shoe Ins

ACTION WEAR Slacks Are Back!

Many online sellers describe any odd trousers they find as Slacks Are Back slacks. The genuine ones have a fully elasticated waistband, with fly-stitching (no zip) and have a Ken label inside. No other Mod era slacks are labelled. The green ones are easy to mistake for those from the Casual All Stars series except that these, obviously, have the fly-stitching and label. Note the two different styles of folding the trousers in the packaging.

1971 Action Wear Slacks Are Back! in original packaging

1971 Action Wear Slacks Are Back! trousers

Do you have this set with the brown trousers in the original packaging? If so, it would be great if you could send me a photo! Email Anthony at: contact@somethingabouttheboy.com.

ACTION WEAR Sun Fun

1971 Action Wear Sun Fun in original packaging

SEARS EXCLUSIVE MALIBU KEN SURF’S UP SET

There was also a Sears (including Simpson Sears in Canada) exclusive Malibu Ken Surf’s up set produced this year. Before owning the Beach Beat set I’d assumed that the fins and mask were identical to the ones in this set, but in actual fact the Beach Beat pieces are a clear bright blue, whereas these ones are turquoise.

From 1971 Sears #1248 Malibu Ken Surf's Up — From 1971 Sears #1248 Malibu Ken Surf’s Up

1971 Sears #1248 Malibu Ken Surf's Up — 1971 Sears #1248 Malibu Ken Surf’s Up

1971 Sears #1248 Malibu Ken Surf's Up (Box detail) — 1971 Sears #1248 Malibu Ken Surf’s Up box sides

BOOKLETS & CATALOGUES

Although the outfits still seem to have been packaged with the booklet for 1970, there was a booklet showing the range for 1971. Unlike the earlier stapled booklets, this is a long fold-out. Again, notice how the Casual Scene and Sea Scene are listed.

From 1971 Mattel Presents the Greatest Toy Show on Earth newspaper supplement

The Mattel catalogue below is the one where The Casual Scene and The Sea Scene are listed the wrong way around.

From Mattel Dolls '71 catalogue — Mattel Dolls ’71 catalogue page showing Casual Scene/Sea Scene misprint

From 1971 Canadian Simpsons Sears Wish Book — From 1971 Canadian Simpsons Sears (French) catalogue

The Casual All-Stars clothing featured in the Canadian Simpsons Sears Wish Book below left can be seen in the section Casual All-Stars – Sears exclusive sets 1970-1974.

From 1972 Canadian Simpsons Sears Wish Book

1971 German Mattel Spielzeug 71 catalogue — From German Mattel Spielzeug 71 catalogue

Note how the French catalogue not only uses the English names for the 1971 outfits, but even copies the mistake of mixing up Casual Scene and Sea Scene. It is interesting to see that the French have given unique English names to two of the 1970 outfits.