1980 The Outfits - Something About The Boy

Until 1980 the design of Ken’s trousers hadn’t changed since 1972, with a half-elasticated waistband (at back). During the Superstar era Mattel began to experiment with new styles. A few remained the same, but some had a totally elasticated waistband, while the majority were made with a metal popper fastening at the back. The outfits again came with booklets, or not, as Mattel saw fit.

FASHION COLLECTIBLES

Again, none of these Fashion Collectibles originally came shoes, so I have added some for the photos. There are a lot of variations, some of which are quite rare.

FASHION COLLECTIBLES #1375

1980 #1375 Fashion Collectibles — 1980 Fashion Collectibles #1375

1980 Fashion Collectibles #1375 in original packaging

1980 #1375 Fashion Collectibles variation — 1980 Fashion Collectibles #1375 (Variation 1)

1980 #1375 Fashion Collectibles variation (II) — 1980 Fashion Collectibles #1375 (Variation 2)

FASHION COLLECTIBLES #1376

1980 #1376 Fashion Collectibles — 1980 Fashion Collectibles #1376

1980 Fashion Collectibles #1376 in original packaging

FASHION COLLECTIBLES #1377

As well as the obvious variation tops, the jeans also vary slightly in fabric. The back pocket is either a sticker, or non-sticky and sewn on along the top edge.

1980 #1377 Fashion Collectibles variation (I) — 1980 Fashion Collectibles #1377

1980 Fashion Collectibles #1377 in original packaging

1980 #1377 Fashion Collectibles variation (III) — 1980 Fashion Collectibles #1377 (Variation 1)

1980 #1377 Fashion Collectibles — 1980 Fashion Collectibles #1377 (Variation 2)

1980 #1377 Fashion Collectibles variation (II) — 1980 Fashion Collectibles #1377 (Variation 3)

FASHION COLLECTIBLES #1378

The variations of this outfit aren’t all obvious. The buttons vary, as does the colour of the slacks.

1980 #1378 Fashion Collectibles — 1980 Fashion Collectibles #1378

1980 Fashion Collectibles #1378 in original packaging

1980 #1378 Fashion Collectibles variation (I) — 1980 Fashion Collectibles #1378 (Variation 1)

1980 Fashion Collectibles #1378 variation (II) — 1980 Fashion Collectibles #1378 (Variation 2)

1980 Fashion Collectibles #1378 (Variation 2) in original packaging

FASHION COLLECTIBLES #1379

1980 #1379 Fashion Collectibles — 1980 Fashion Collectibles #1379

1980 Fashion Collectibles #1379 in original packaging

1980 #1379 Fashion Collectibles variation — 1980 Fashion Collectibles #1379 variation top

1980 Fashion Collectibles #1379 (Canadian/European version) — 1980 Fashion Collectibles #1379 in Canadian/European packaging

FASHION COLLECTIBLES #1380

Note that some of these trousers have blue stitching down the fly and some not.

1980 #1380 Fashion Collectibles variation (I) — 1980 Fashion Collectibles #1380

1980 Fashion Collectibles #1380 in original packaging

1980 #1380 Fashion Collectibles (Variation 1)

1980 Fashion Collectibles #1380 in European packaging — 1980 Fashion Collectibles #1380 in Canadian/European packaging

1980 #1380 Fashion Collectibles variation (II) — 1980 Fashion Collectibles #1380 (Variation 2)

1980 #1380 Fashion Collectibles variation (III) — 1980 Fashion Collectibles #1380 (Variation 3)

FASHION FAVORITES

FASHION FAVORITES Running Start #1404

1980 #1404 Fashion Favorites accessories — 1980 Fashion Favorites #1404 accessories

1980 Fashion Favorites #1404 in original packaging

1980 Fashion Favorites #1404 (Canadian/European)

FASHION FAVORITES Tennis Everyone! #1405

1980 #1405 Fashion Favorites Tennis Everyone — 1980 Fashion Favorites #1405 Tennis Everyone!

1980 Fashion Favorites #1405 in original packaging

1980 Fashion Favorites #1405 (Canadian/French version) — 1980 Fashion Favorites #1405 in Canadian/European packaging

FASHION FAVORITES Outdoor Man #1406

1980 #1406 Fashion Favorites Outdoor Man — 1980 Fashion Favorites #1406 Outdoor Man

1980 Fashion Favorites #1406 in original packaging

1980 Fashion Favorites #1406 (Canadian/French version) — 1980 Fashion Favorites #1406 in Canadian/European packaging

FASHION FAVORITES Well Suited #1407

1980 #1407 Fashion Favorites Well Suited — 1980 Fashion Favorites #1407 Well Suited

1980 Fashion Favorites #1407 (Canadian/French version) — 1980 Fashion Favorites #1407 in Canadian/European packaging

SEARS EXCLUSIVE FASHION FAVORITES #1804

Sears sold Fashion Collectibles #2792 & #2796 from 1979 together as an exclusive set. It was available to order through the Wish Book (and presumably to purchase in the stores) as the unique Fashion Favorites #1804.

1980 #1804 Sears Fashion Favorites — 1980 Sears Fashion Favorites #1804

1980 Sears Fashion Favorites #1804 variation (from Dwane Adle Collection)

KMART EXCLUSIVE FASHION FAVORITES

All Fashion Favorites are dated 1978 or 1979, so without any printed reference, such as a Kmart catalogue, I’m relying on the received wisdom of other collectors that these outfits are indeed Kmart exclusives from this year.

FASHION FAVORITES #3449

1980 #3449 Kmart Fashion Favorites — 1980 Kmart Fashion Favorites #3449

1980 #3449 Kmart Fashion Favorites shoes — 1980 Kmart Fashion Favorites #3449 shoes

1980 Kmart Fashion Favorites #3449 in original packaging

FASHION FAVORITES #3450

1980 #3450 Kmart Fashion Favorites — 1980 Kmart Fashion Favorites #3450

1980 Kmart Fashion Favorites #3450 in original packaging

1980 #3450 Kmart Fashion Favorites variation — 1980 Kmart Fashion Favorites #3450 (Variation)

FASHION FAVORITES #3451

1980 #3451 Kmart Fashion Favorites — 1980 Kmart Fashion Favorites #3451

1980 Kmart Fashion Favorites #3451 in original packaging

FASHION FAVORITES #3452

1980 #3452 Kmart Fashion Favorites — 1980 Kmart Fashion Favorites #3452

1980 Kmart Fashion Favorites #3452 in original packaging

1980 Kmart Fashion Favorites #3452 with variation (factory-flaw?) shoes

DESIGNER ORIGINALS

DESIGNER ORIGINALS Golden Glamour #1413

1980 Designer Originals #1413 in original packaging

1980 Designer Originals #1413 (Canadian/French version) — 1980 Designer Originals #1413 in Canadian/European packaging

DESIGNER ORIGINALS Evening Elegance #1415

1980 #1415 Designer Originals Evening Elegance — 1980 Designer Originals #1415 Evening Elegance

1980 #1415 Designer Originals accessories — 1980 Designer Originals #1415 accessories

1980 Designer Originals #1415 in original packaging

1980 Designer Originals #1415 (Canadian/French version) — 1980 Designer Originals #1415 in Canadian/European packaging

1980 Designer Originals #1415 (Canada/Europe) original packaging — 1980 Designer Originals #1415 Canadian/European packaging

The Canadian/European version below left uses a variation lace on the dickey. This can be seen clearer in the comparison below right.

1980 Designer Originals #1415 (Canada/Europe)

1980 #1415 Designer Originals variation dickey — 1980 Designer Originals #1415 variation dickeys

REVERSE OF 1980 DESIGNER ORIGINALS PACKAGING

1980 Designer Originals #1413 reverse of packaging — Reverse of 1980 Designer Originals packaging

1980 #1415 Designer Originals (European version) — Reverse of 1980 Designer Originals Canadian/European packaging

WEDDING PARTY FASHIONS

Suited for the Groom! #1418

There are several variations of this outfit, both in the cut and the fabrics used. All came with black Hong Kong-marked shoes. In Canada and France it was also known as Habillages “Mariage”.

1980 #1418 Wedding Party Fashions — 1980 Wedding Party Fashions #1418

1980 Wedding Party Fashions #1418 in original packaging

1980 Wedding Party Fashions #1418 (in 1981 version packaging) — 1980 Wedding Party Fashions #1418 in 1981 version packaging

1980 #1418 Wedding Party Fashions variation (I) — 1980 Wedding Party Fashions #1418 (Variation 2)

The versions packaged for 1981 have a different design on the reverse, featuring Designer Originals #1956 Paint the Town Red.

Reverse of 1980 Wedding Party Fashions packaging

Reverse of 1981 Wedding Party Fashions packaging

BOOKLETS & CATALOGUES