In 1973 a new series called Get-Ups ‘N Go fashions began. They are complete outfits with various accessories. Both the Best Buy Fashions and the GUAG outfits were produced in Korea. No Get-Ups ‘N Go outfits were printed on the reverse of the packaging.
GET-UPS ‘N GO
GET-UPS ‘N GO A busy doctor’s professional attire! #7705
The lab coat has a tendency to soak up the colour from the backing card, so the version below right is not a variation, but an extreme example of the kind of damage which can occur. This backing card was used for the Get-Ups ‘N Go #7707 United Airlines Pilot’s uniform, with similar results: the shirt is often also stained, if only on the back.
GET-UPS ‘N GO Suit-up for safari & adventure! #7706
These outfits often came with very subtle variations: the two jackets below are both made with different fabrics from the one shown on Ken above.
The version below is noticeably different in many respects, most obviously through the cost-cutting measures of having only two pockets on the jacket and a simplification of the backpack.
GET-UPS ‘N GO Authentic! United Airlines Pilot’s uniform! #7707
The pilot outfit was also available in Europe as a Fashion Originals, as shown below. It is probable that all three GUAG outfits from 1973 were available as Fashion Originals, but I’ve yet to find the other two NRFB.
This variation can be found in a lighter fabric, like the version shown above and below left, or in a darker fabric. The lighter fabric is probably just a faded version of the darker one, as illustrated by the half-faded version shown further below.
The 1973 & 1974 Sears Wish Books show Ken’s pilot outfit. It came on card in a sealed plastic bag (below right). Presumably their version of the camping/safari outfit was similarly packaged. Between 1973 and 1978 this pilot outfit was also sold, together with the matching Barbie outfit, as an exclusive Montgomery Ward’s catalogue set #7779. They came in a plain, stamped cardboard box (below left). In fact, apart from the special gift sets, most mail-ordered dolls and outfits seem to have been packaged quite plainly.
BEST BUY FASHIONS
After the promising start in 1972, the Best Buy Fashions were demoted to just a basic outfit with an occasional accessory, such as a belt, scarf or cap. They weren’t even given names anymore, at least not in the US. Despite this, and even though the quality can not match the earlier clothing, some are among my favourite Ken outfits. As none of these Best Buy Fashions originally included shoes, I’ve added some for the photos.
BEST BUY FASHIONS #8615
These shirts can vary slightly. Note how the dots on the version below left are much smaller. With some versions the shirt fabric can look almost hand-painted, while others look more factory-printed.
BEST BUY FASHIONS #8616
The version below is a factory sample, which was never actually produced for sale. It uses the fabric from Ken’s 1971 Skiing Scene sweater.
BEST BUY FASHIONS #8599
A later version of BEST BUY FASHIONS #8616 was produced without the ’73’ logo, and given a different code number.
BEST BUY FASHIONS #8617
BEST BUY FASHIONS #8618
So far, I’ve only ever found the variation fabric version below with this ultra-rare KEN CASUAL ALL STARS set, which was sold exclusively by Sears c.1974. For more photos of this set see here.
BEST BUY FASHIONS REVERSE
The earliest produced Best Buy Fashions still had packaging printed in Japan, like the ones from 1972. Later, both the outfits and the packaging were produced in Korea.
BEST BUY FASHIONS #8627
These first sets with green and light blue sneakers were made in Hong Kong/Japan.
The version below right (with the white soles on the colourful sneakers) is the rarer of these two.
These variation sets with brown and darker blue sneakers and lighter cowboy boots were made in Korea, and have no printing on the reverse of packaging.
This variation also came with and without white painted soles on the sneakers. The version without is the rarer of the two.
BOOKLETS & CATALOGUES
There are two booklets for 1973. The Get-Ups ‘N Go outfits were produced during 1973, so a second booklet, with some other amendments and changes to layout, was printed to include them.
In Europe names were given to all outfits. I imagine the Get-Ups ‘N Go outfits were sometimes repackaged as Fashion Originals, because the GUAG word-play was too obscure for the European market.
Below is a double-page from an Italian Barbie booklet. To judge by the clothing worn by Skipper, it must be from 1977 or later. It shows Ken wearing all four 1973 Best Buy Fashions, including the #8599 version without the logo.
FOOTWEAR
The shoes which came with dolls were produced in the same country as the doll itself, either Taiwan or Hong Kong.
The Get-Ups ‘N Go shoes were produced in Korea, like the outfits. The Best Buy Fashions shoes were made in Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. They are all made of a soft rubbery plastic. Until 1973 sneakers had only been available once before, on the regular Busy Ken. They appeared far more often from here on and were to become, along with the loafer and cowboy boot, a classic Ken shoe. The designs did not alter until well into the 1990s.
