1972 The Outfits

1972 saw the beginning of the Fashion Originals and Best Buy Fashions ranges. Gone are the zips and the fine tailoring of the early outfits. The trousers are simply half-elasticated at back with fly-stitching detail on front. This became the standard trouser design right up until 1980. There only are a few exceptions (for example some trousers which came with jackets), and those are usually fully elasticated with no fly-stitching detail.

The Fashion Originals were the last outfits to carry the original Ken label, and from 1973 to 1978 no Ken outfit was labelled at all.

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FASHION ORIGINALS

Despite the fact that the quality is relatively poor compared to the previous years, these outfits were still produced in Japan. The earliest versions display booklets and the box has Fashion Originals in white writing on the front. On later versions (sold in 1973-74) the box printing has some modifications (compare the versions below). They were sold in several variation fabrics, especially in Europe.

FASHION ORIGINALS Casual Cords #1717

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FASHION ORIGINALS Brown on Brown #1718

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FASHION ORIGINALS Midnight Blues #1719

As well as the variations shown below, I have also seen the jacket in purple with a black collar, and in purple with a burgundy red collar.

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FASHION ORIGINALS Way-Out West #1720

The later version of Way-Out West isn’t a variation as such, but does use a softer, shinier denim fabric, and has a bronze belt buckle instead of bright gold.

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FASHION ORIGINALS Mod Madras #1828

The version shown below has a jacket made of a darker fabric with a more sackcloth-like structure.

The blue shirt below was found in a mixed lot in Europe with no other pieces from this outfit, so until a NRFB version appears it is impossible to say what other pieces it originally came with, or if it is even genuine. The regular jacket has also been found in (dark) blue. The slacks below right were found in a mixed lot with the Mod Madras sandals, and are made with the same fabric as the Brown on Brown shirt shown further above. Many thanks to Ebay seller ilovetoyzzz for the use of this image.

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FASHION ORIGINALS Red, White & Wild #1829

This outfit came with either shoes or sneakers.

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BEST BUY FASHIONS

The Best Buy Fashions were made in Korea. They are given names in the Mattel ’72 catalogue, but these names are not found on the actual packaging. They are exceptional in that they are complete outfits. From 1973 onward none of the Best Buy Fashions would include shoes and socks as standard.

These are the first outfits to come without booklets. Ken clothing would not appear with a booklet again until 1977.

BEST BUY FASHIONS Denims for Fun #3376

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BEST BUY FASHIONS Wide Awake Stripes #3377

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BEST BUY FASHIONS Western Winner #3378

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BEST BUY FASHIONS Cool ‘N Casual #3379

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FASHION ACCESSORIES

Beach Beat #3384

Note the slight differences to the graphics of the two packaged versions below. Presumably, like the Fashion Originals, the version on the left is earlier (the first version has FASHION ACCESSORIES in white writing, and the second version has the Mattel square in white). Also it makes sense that the age warning has been added to the later version.

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REVERSE OF PACKAGING

The Fashion Originals box was illustrated on reverse. The text mentions the use of zips, which is odd, considering that these were the first outfits to come without. The packaging of the 1972 Best Buy Fashions had a Barbie Fan Club application on reverse. The Fashion Accessories set #3384 Beach Beat packaging is blank on reverse.

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BOOKLETS & CATALOGUES

None of the Best Buy Fashions came with booklets, and the Fashion Originals all appear to have come with the booklet from 1971.

The Italian booklet from 1972 shows Ken’s Fashion Paks from 1964-67. At first glance it seems highly unlikely that these sets were still being sold in 1972, as the new Ken was too bulky to fit slim Ken’s tailored shirts and shorts. However, the price – a bargain 750 Lira each, compared to the 2500 Lira price-tag of a new outfit – suggests that Mattel were indeed still selling off old stock.

The 1972 Fashion Originals were still being sold in Europe (with the variation fabrics) in 1974. Note how the 1974 Swedish brochure gives the outfits different names.