Casual All Stars – Sears exclusive sets 1970-1974

The regular Casual All Stars series began in 1970 and ran until 1973. They are genuine Mattel outfit sets, which were sold exclusively by Sears. Each set came with a jacket, two pairs of slacks, a long-sleeved shirt, a short-sleeved shirt, two ties, and a pair of shoes and socks. The earliest sets (1970) were made in Japan, and also included a razor, soap and a pair of shorts. The later sets were produced in Taiwan. A vast amount of variation fabrics were used each year, especially for the Taiwan-made sets. Sometimes though it is really hard to tell what is a genuine variation, and what could be just an item which has been washed/faded/stained over the years, especialy with the blue/aqua green jackets and shirts.

A completely different type of Casual All Stars set, with a mixture of clothing from 1973-1974, has also been found, and was presumably sold by Sears in 1974 (see further below), though it doesn’t appear in their Christmas catalogue. It would have been produced in Korea.

1970 THE JAPAN-MADE SETS

1970 #1514 Sears Casual All Stars set in original packaging (Japan)
1970 #1514 Sears Casual All Stars set in original packaging (Japan)
1970-71 #1514 Sears Casual All Stars set in original packaging (Japan)
1970 #1514 Sears Casual All Stars set in original packaging (Japan)
1970-71 #1514 Sears Casual All Stars set in original packaging (Japan)
1970 #1514 Sears Casual All Stars set in original packaging (Japan)

The Japan-made jackets have a regular Ken label. There is stitching detail around the collar and pockets. No other Casual All Stars pieces are labelled.

c.1971 #1514 Casual All Stars Japan-made jacket showing Ken label
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars Japan-made jacket showing Ken label
1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket

The blue/aqua jackets below could be mint condition/washed/faded/stained versions of the jacket shown above on Ken, or indeed genuine variations.

1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket

The jacket below is definitely a variation, as it is made of a much stiffer ‘suede’ fabric than the ones above.

1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket

All versions I’ve seen of this green jacket have a Barbie label by mistake. My version has had the Barbie label cut, and a Ken label glued over the top.

1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt

The orange shirt looks a bit like a faded red one, but I have seen several this colour, so it is almost certainly original. The red shirt next to it is made of a slightly different fabric. The third shirt has a more obviously different, ribbed fabric.

1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt (photo © Y. Kanai)
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt (photo © Y. Kanai)
1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1969 #1430 Town Turtle
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars shoes & socks
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars shorts
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars shorts
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars shorts
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars shorts
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars shorts
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars shorts
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars shorts
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars shorts
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars tie
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars tie
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars tie
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars tie
1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars tie
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars tie
1971 #1514 Casual All Stars tie
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars tie
1971 #1514 Casual All Stars tie
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars tie
1970-71 #1514 Casual All Stars tie
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars tie
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1970 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers

1971-73 THE TAIWAN-MADE SETS

The Taiwan-made sets certainly came in a vast array of colours and fabrics, and my collection is far from complete.

1972-3 Sears Casual All Stars set (Taiwan)
1971-73 Sears Casual All Stars set (Taiwan)
1972-73 Sears Casual All Stars set (Taiwan)
1971-73 Sears Casual All Stars set (from the Dwane Adle Collection)

Unlike the Japan-made jackets, the ones from Taiwan have no stitching detail around the collar and pockets, but do have two rows of stitching down the front on either side. They have no Ken label. Instead they have a small Taiwan tag inside the front.

1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars Jacket
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars Jacket (showing Taiwan label)
1972 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1972 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1972 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1972 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1972 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1972 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars Jacket
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars Jacket
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket

The blue jacket below left is similar to the ones shown packaged (further above) and above on Ken. They are probably made from the same fabric, some now more faded than others. The greener jacket below right I believe is a genuine variation.

1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars jacket

The Taiwan shirts also differ from those made in Japan: they have a double row of stitching down the front, there is no stitching around the border of the collar, and the sleeves have no cuffs.

The shirt directly below is super-rare and uses one of Mattel’s best 70s fabrics. I have an even rarer pair of trunks in the same fabric at the bottom of page.

1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt

The blue shirts seem to have come in an especially large range of colours and fabrics.

1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt

Most Casual All Stars shirts have a dyed fabric, which looks the same on both sides, like the one above. The shirt below may look similar, but is a rarer version with the colour printed onto the fabric, so the reverse of fabric looks different.

1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt showing reverse of fabric

The shirts below are made with a softer, thinner fabric than the ones above.

1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shirt
1972 #1514 Casual All Stars socks & shoes
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars shoes & socks
1972 #1514 Casual All Stars tie
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars magenta tie
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars neon orange tie
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars neon orange tie
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars neon pink tie
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars neon pink tie
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars turquoise tie
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars turquoise tie
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars teal tie
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars teal tie

The Taiwan-made slacks are the most difficult to identify, as, unlike most Mattel slacks, they have no fly-stitching at front. This makes them look like almost any clone or homemade trousers or pajama-bottoms. Below are the trousers I’ve so far identified. They are all constructed identically, with a fully-elasticated waistband with the elastic hidden under the fabric. The hem of the trouser leg is also a good indicator, as they are identical on all genuine slacks. If you’re a fan of other Barbie-family dolls you will recognize certain fabrics that were also used for various girl doll outfits.

1972 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1972 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers

The white trousers below have a distinctly different fabric.

1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1972 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1972 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1972 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1972 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1972 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars velour trousers
1972-73 #1514 Casual All Stars velour trousers
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars velour trousers
1972 #1514 Casual All Stars trousers
1971-73 #1514 Casual All Stars velour trousers

KEN CASUAL ALL STARS SET 31058X (c.1974)

This carded (Korean-made) set of Ken clothing is packaged similarly to the way Sears packaged the 1973 Get-Ups ‘N Go Pilot Outfit (see here). There are also similarities to the Best Buy Fashions packaging (the graphic design, and the fact that the items are stuck on the card with an adhesive), except that this clearly has KEN CASUAL ALL STARS and the Sears code number for this series (30158) printed on the card.

1974 #31058X Ken Casual All Stars Set for Sears
1974 #31058X Ken Casual All Stars set for Sears
1974 #31058X Ken Casual All Stars Set for Sears
Reverse of packaging

The set contains items from several outfits from 1973-1974, and includes the plaid shirt with a red tie, which had me baffled for years, because (despite occasionally appearing for sale out-of-box) it never appeared with the regular Best Buy Fashions #7759. Additionally the denim jacket from Best Buy Fashions #8618 has a variation fabric collar and cuffs, which I also haven’t found (yet!) packaged with the regular outfit. It could be that these variations were only ever sold as part of this set.

The set also contains what, at first glance, looks like the green trousers from Best Buy Fashions #7760, but is actually a pair of shorts. These are unique to this set.

I’ve never seen another set like this, and it doesn’t appear in the Sears Christmas catalogue for 1974, so I can only imagine it was sold in stores, or used as a special promotional item.

1974 #31058X Ken Casual All Stars Set for Sears
1974 #31058X Ken Casual All Stars set for Sears
1974 #31058X Ken Casual All Stars Set unique shorts
1974 #31058X Ken Casual All Stars Set unique shorts

THE SEARS WISH BOOKS

From 1970 Sears Wish Book
From 1970 Sears Wish Book

The US Sears catalogue for Christmas 1971 shows a kind of a mash-up of items from Japan and Taiwan, which in reality were probably existing Japan pieces mixed with prototypes (from either Japan, Taiwan, or even the US). The Canadian Simpsons Sears Christmas Wish Book for 1971 however, clearly shows Taiwan-made clothing. As the packaging was not dated, it remains open as to whether both Japan-made and Taiwan-made sets were sold in 1971, or whether the Japan-made sets were actually only available in 1970. What is certain is that far more variations of the Taiwan sets exist.

From 1971 Sears Wish Book
From 1971 Sears Wish Book
From 1971 Canadian Simpsons Sears Wish Book
From 1971 Canadian Simpsons Sears Wish Book

The 1973 Sears Wish Book mentions shorts and an “electric” razor. This is almost certainly an error. They were included in the earlier Japan-produced sets, but do not appear in the photos, or the MOC versions, of the Taiwan-made sets.

From 1972 Sears Wish Book
From 1972 Sears Wish Book
From 1973 Sears Wish Book
From 1973 Sears Wish Book

OTHER ITEMS

These items have been spotted in online auctions, and are 100% genuine. The dark blue long-sleeved shirt is made of a heavier fabric than any I have photographed above.

1971-73 Casual All Stars shirt (Taiwan) from online auction
1971-73 Casual All Stars shirt (Taiwan) from online auction
1971-73 Casual All Stars shirt from online auction
1971-73 Casual All Stars shirt (Taiwan) from online auction

SIMILAR ITEMS

MATTEL CASUAL ALL STARS FABRIC TRUNKS/UNDERWEAR

These are a real conundrum. Apparently too big for a Barbie, they are a snug fit for Ken. The fabric is the same as used for the rare shirt further above. All official Ken swimming trunks from this period are like shorts. They are most similar to Ken’s white cotton underwear from the 1960s, but the waistband differs. So, they are either made by another company, who happened to have access to Mattel’s fabric, or are mom-made from an old torn shirt perhaps..? If anyone knows for sure, please write!

Many thanks to Susanna in Sweden for the loan of these trunks.

1970s unidentified swimming trunks or underwear
1970s unidentified swimming trunks (Lent by Sannasan Barbie Sweden)
1970s unidentified swimming trunks or underwear
1970s unidentified swimming trunks (Lent by Sannasan Barbie Sweden)

MATTEL 1970 BIG BUSINESS & 1971 V.I.P. SCENE SHIRTS

The three shirts below are occasionally listed by online sellers as belonging to this series. The green and blue shirts are from the 1970 outfit Big Business, and the red shirt is from the 1971 outfit V.I.P. Scene. These shirts differ in three main ways: they have four buttons (Casual All Stars shirts have three), they have a slit at the back of the neck for the talking pull-string (Casual All Stars shirts do not), and the shirt bottoms are rounded, whereas the Casual All Stars short-sleeved shirts are straight.

Ken shirts from 1970-71 outfits Big Business and the VIP Scene
Ken shirts from 1970-71 outfits Big Business (blue and green) and the VIP Scene (red), made in Japan.

MATTEL 1971 SLACKS ARE BACK TROUSERS

The green slacks below have a Ken label, so can only be from the Action Wear Slacks Are Back series. No other Mod era slacks are labelled. They also have fly-stitching, whereas the Taiwan-made Casual All Stars slacks, which these resemble, do not.

1971 Action Wear Slacks Are Back
1971 Action Wear Slacks Are Back
1971 Action Wear Slacks Are Back
1971 Action Wear Slacks Are Back

MATTEL 1974 BEST BUY SHIRT

This red flowery shirt is very similar to the Casual All Stars ones, but it has differences – the collar is not made well enough and is too large, it has only one popper, and the sleeves are slightly too short. It is by Mattel though, and also a Sears (store) exclusive. It was part of their 1974 exclusive Best Buy Fashions collection. More photos can be seen in the section 1974 The Outfits. The outfit was only available in-store, so is now exceptionally rare to find, even out-of-box, and I’ve still to find a single example NRFP. If anyone does have a packaged version of this outfit, I would be very grateful for a photo: contact@somethingabouttheboy.com.

1974 Sears Best Buy Fashions (#7872?)
1974 Sears Best Buy Fashions #7872
From 1974 Sears Merchandise Arrangement Guide
From 1974 Sears Merchandise Arrangement Guide

CLONE SLACKS

These clone pajama bottoms are practically identical to the genuine Casual All Stars slacks: similar cut, hemming and type of fabric. The only inconsistencies are the slightly looser cut around the hips, and the fact that the elastic inside the waistband is visible, whereas on genuine Casual All Stars slacks the elastic is stitched under the fabric.

Vintage slacks, probably clone
Vintage clone pajama bottoms
c.1970 unidentified clone pajamas
c.1970 unidentified clone pajamas