IDENTIFYING WHITE SHORT-SLEEVE SHIRTS
Ken’s white short-sleeve shirt first appeared in 1964. There are two versions of the shirt, and both of them came with and without label.
1. KEN IN SWITZERLAND. This shirt is extremely well-made, much like a real shirt, with panelling and finished cuffs. The shirt shown below has the earlier label, but these shirts also came with the later label marked Ken® ©MATTEL, INC.
The version of this shirt shown below right is a nice little oddity, as the stitching on the Ken label is white. The tag doesn’t bleach easily, but if it was from bleaching, then it certainly wasn’t done recently, as the shirt has seriously yellowed with age.
2. COLLEGE STUDENT / ROVIN’ REPORTER. This shirt is made like the one above, but came without the label. Later versions of Ken In Switzerland came with this shirt too. The shirt was displayed in the Ensemble Paks with the collar closed for College Student (because of the tie), and with the collar opened for Rovin’ Reporter and Ken In Switzerland.
3. KEN IN MEXICO / VICTORY DANCE. This shirt is more basic (no panelling, no cuffs), but still labelled. Note too that it is cut narrower, going in at the waist. The shirt shown below has the earlier label, but these shirts also came with the later label marked Ken® ©MATTEL, INC.
4. KEN IN MEXICO (Later version). As above except without label.
5. SEEIN’ THE SIGHTS. Basic shirt with no label and only two buttons. Fastens with only one snap, rather than the usual two. Unlike the other 1966 shirts which have a single snap at the collar (Summer Job, Best Man, Here Comes the Groom) this snap is placed further down, because the shirt is designed to be worn with an open collar, as displayed in the NRFB versions – confirming that Seein’ the Sights never came with a red tie.
IDENTIFYING TROUSERS
Online sellers will often claim to have trousers which fit several outfits. However, the slacks, although similar, varied for each outfit. Some came with zip only, while others fasten with zip and snap. Some are labelled, others not. The fabric and cut even varies from year to year. For example, in 1966, the same type of fabric was used to make the Jazz Concert, Seein’ The Sights & Best Man slacks, and they all have a similar, loose cut. The slacks from 1965 also share a similar cut and type of fabric. Many online sellers get especially ‘confused’ when listing the more expensive outfits like Jazz Concert or College Student – even professionals regularly list the cheaper Fashion Pak or Casuals slacks, as belonging to these rarer outfits. For more information and many photographs showing close-ups of Ken’s original slacks see THE ORIGINAL KEN® BOOK.