Skipper (and Friends) Fashions Overview: Prototypes, Sample Fashions, Variations ...
You can find lots of photographs and detailed descriptions of all fashions from 1963 until 1979 on my original website (please use the navigation bar or buttons):
Skipper was smaller than Barbie and needed her own wardrobe. However, the first outfits created for her match some of the early Barbie outfits. Later on in the 60s, Mattel designed a wardrobe just for her. Like Barbies fashions, Skippers outfits were made in a very good quality with many details and came with lots of small items like flower bouquets, handbags, gloves, socks, caps, jumping ropes, yo-yos, birthday cakes and candles, etc. At that time, little girls were often dressed like small ladies, and the wardrobe available for Skipper represented this ideal.
The first outfits were called “Junior Fashions” and were sold on card in square packaging and included the clothing, accessories and a booklet. A small sticker attached to one side of the packaging stated the name and stock number of the fashion. They were made in Japan.
Vintage Skipper fashions boxes (Fun Times and Silk 'n Fancy))
In 1965 and 1966, fashion trays for these outfits were used by dealers. In 1966, and maybe in 1967, roteable store displays made of metal which could hold three Skipper boxes were available in Europe. Usually, these items got thrown away after use, so they are almost impossible to find today.
Following please find extracts from the 1965 DUNHAM, CARRIGAN & HADEN CO. catalog, showing Skipper's fashion pak assortment: "Twenty-four assorted fast selling fashion paks including hats/shoes/sports accessories/pajamas (all fit Skooter and Skipper's friend)".
This assortment consisted of Skipper's "Shoe Pak", "Wooly PJs", "Beauty Bath", "Just for Fun", "Party Pink" and "Hats 'n Hats", including a display unit and a display card:
In the same catalog, dealers were offered cartons with different fashions (24 pcs. in a carton): "Under Pretties", "Red Sensation", "Silk 'n Fancy", "Day at the Fair", "Flower Girl", "Sunny Pastels", "Cooking Time" (please note the wrong description for "Cookie Time"), "Skating Fun", "Party Platter" (instead of "Platter Party"), "Ballet Class", "Dreamtime", "Outdoor Casuals", "Dress Code", "Land and Sea", "Rain or Shine", "School Days", "Ship Ahoy", "Happy Birthday", "Fun Time" and "School Days".
Four of Ricky's outfits "Lights Out", "Saturday Show", "Sunday Suit" and "Little Leaguer" were also offered.
Usually, only one article of clothing in a set was tagged.
Skooter didn’t have her own tagged clothing, she shared Skipper’s fashions. There was one gift set (Sears Exclusive Cut ‘n Buttons Gift Set) which contained an outfit especially for her, but these clothes had to be assembled and didn’t have tags. Of course they fit Skipper as well.
Ricky, however, did have his own tagged clothes. Six fashion sets for Ricky were sold between 1965 and 1967. In the German Barbie booklet of that time, Ricky and his fashions are pictured, but it is noted that Ricky and his outfits weren’t available in Germany.
In 1968 the first "Sears Exclusive" fashion for Skipper was available ("Confetti Cutie"). From 1970 until 1974 Sears sold its "Young Ideas" Skipper outfits, which were produced in many fabrics (often using fabrics from other Barbie & family fashions). There were also some Sears Exclusive fashions which were sold in gift sets, like the 1968 "Skipper Perfectly Pretty Set”.
Starting 1967, when the mod era began, Skipper’s wardrobe changed from outfits for little ladies or representing vintage values to colorful and trendy fashions. The first sets were made in Japan, later ones in Taiwan.
Mod outfits pictured on a vintage catalogue:
Mod Skipper fashions box
Sometime in 1968 and later, the back of some fashion boxes showed the same graphics like before, but the text was different. Now, the copyright information states: Contains articles made in Japan, Hong Kong or Taiwan ..." (left pic: Drizzle Sizzle, right pic: Skimmy Stripes):
Comparison of a German booklet (above) and an English booklet (below): The names for the fashions weren’t translated 1:1 from English to German. “Sunny Suity” for example was translated into “Sonnenblume”, which means “sunflower”. “School’s Cool” was translated into “Schulzeit”, which means “school time”, and “Chilly Chums” is “Der neue Mantel” in German, which means “the new coat”.
Starting 1971, the back of the boxes showed a new graphic with Living Skipper and Living Fluff. On the drawing, Skipper was dressed in #3470 "Ice Skating" and Fluff was dressed in #3478 "Long ‘n Short Of It". ("Goin' Sleddin' box dated 1970)
Additionally, smaller packages were available from 1965 until 1971, called “Pak Attack”. These often only included one piece of clothing, a few hats, or other accessories. Later pak items were called “Junior Fashions”. No stock number can be found on the cards. In the booklet, these Pak Attack items all had the same stock number: Fashion Pak #A1520
PAK ATTACK assortment (#1375), as shown in a vintage catalogue:
The later paks: "Junior Fashions":
Starting 1972, Skipper’s outfits were sold on cards which had a plastic cover. Now, they were called “Fashion Originals”.
The first “Fashion Originals” set was #3291 “Nifty Knickers”. Some of the 1972 “Fashion Originals” were also sold as “Best Buy Fashions”, like for example #3372 “Fun Runners”.
As of 1973, “Fashion Originals” were discontinued in the U.S.A. and only available in Europe.
(Fashion Originals oder) Best Buy Fashion #3374 White, Bright ‘n Sparkling (1972) und (Fashion Originals oder) Best Buy Fashion #3373 Flower Power (1972) Even though both sets were made in Korea, they contained flats made in JAPAN.
Unlike the “Junior Fashions” before, “Best Buy Fashions”, especially the ones sold starting 1973, didn’t come with many accessories and the fabrics used sometimes were of a minor quality.
With the exception of Best Buy Fashions #3373 and #3374 (released 1972) which were produced in Korea but contained flats made in Japan, they were sold without shoes.
Nowadays, it’s hard to find a mint outfit of that era. Many of the “Best Buy Fashions” only consist of one or two items.
In the U.S.A., “Best Buy Fashions” only had stock numbers. But in Germany, and maybe other European countries, they still were given names. For example, Best Buy Fashion #8612 was called “Gute Nacht”, which means “Good Night”. German Barbie booklets are extremely rare, but it was possible to find some.
Starting 1973, “Best Buy Fashions”, and “Get-Ups ‘n Go” fashions were available. These sets consisted of several clothing outfits and accessories – just like the “Junior Fashions” of the 60s.
Some of them came with shoes marked “Korea”, some of them came with shoes which were unmarked on the sole (but they had Arabic numerals on the inner sole).
Some or all of the “Get-Ups ‘n Go” fashions were made in Korea and were sold in Germany and maybe other European countries as “Fashion Originals”.
At least one of the “Get-Ups ‘n Go” fashions (#9747 – Red set for when it’s wet – released in the U.S.A. in 1977) was sold as a “Fashion Original” set in Germany (and maybe other European countries) a lot earlier - maybe already starting 1972 (packaging dated 1971). European “Fashion Originals” are extremely rare.
With the introduction of “Growing Up Skipper”, “Growing Up Fashions” were released in 1975. They could also be worn by “Growing Up Ginger”.
These fashion sets usually contained two sets of clothes (one for the little girl, and one for the “grown up” doll) and a few accessories, but they didn’t come with shoes .
In Germany (and maybe some other European countries) these fashions were given names (for example: #9021 = Blau/weiß/rot which means “Blue/white/red”).
Many coordinating or matching fashions for Skipper and the Barbie family and friends were sold in the middle of the 70s.
As of 1978, some extraordinarily pretty and well-made fashion sets for Skipper were sold in Europe only as “Fashion Originals”. These are extremely rare.
The shoes were unmarked, just like the ones that came with the “Get-Ups ‘n Go” fashions starting 1977.
“Fashion Originals” were designed by Charlotte Johnson, who was the very first Barbie doll fashion designer in the late 1950s. Her goal was to always keep up with the current fashion trends. Charlotte was director of the Barbie fashion line until 1980.
Whereas some of the “Fashion Collectibles” which were introduced in 1979, resemble the “Best Buy Fashion”, others are wary well-made sets containing accessories.
The shoes included didn't have markings on their soles.
Also in 1979, Mattel released its “Fashion Favorites”. These fashion sets consist of several articles of clothing and adorable accessories.
They also came with shoes without markings on their soles.
All of the 1979 fashion sets are vhtf or even rare.
Prototype and Sample Fashions
Prototype clothes were hand sewn. There was only one prototype of each garment. Most likely some sample outfits were produced after these prototypes using different fabrics and sewing patterns. These sample clothes are also unique, but no prototypes.
Proper documentation is needed to identify prototype and sample fashions. You’ll probably never find one of these articles for sale, but if you’re very lucky you might run over a production sample one day.
Photograph: Skooter and Skipper prototype or sample bathing suits
Another wonderful prototype fashion - well, rather a gift set - is shown below. It features a TNT Skipper doll and a circus outfit and accessories:
courtesy of Patrick McGovern
Production/Packaging Samples/Samples
It is assumed that, after choosing one or two samples for possible mass production, a few production samples were made which were packaged in the original packaging.
Finally, only one of these production samples was selected for release. The packaging samples of the production samples not chosen were also sold. Some collectors call these packaging samples "mock-up prototypes".
Photograph: „Chilly Chums“ production sample coat
Production samples are very rare. Some of them do have Skipper tags (only one clothing item of a set is tagged). You can get an idea of possible production samples by looking at the original booklets. In one of these, for example, “Turn Abouts” is pictured in a fabric very diverse from the mass produced fashion. Another booklet shows the dress from “Trim Twosome” in different colors and with larger stripes than on the known fashion.
The blue coat pictured is either a production sample or a very, very rare (European?) variation of "Pink Princess"
Here you can see a Test Market doll with the regular, blue version of "Ship Ahoy" and a red variation which is most likely a sample fashion.
Triple Treat production sample to the left and rare variation (using the same fabric like in "Black Francie's" original swimsuit) to the right
The following packaging sample/mock up prototype shows a great insight into the last part of the development process. It contains a sticker "Skipper" inside the package and some stickers with numbers on the outside of the front part of the cello. The first number on the bottom left corner is the stock number of the outfit.
In addition, there's a number written on the back. The cello is sealed.
It is a Fashion Pak A1520 outfit: Nighty Nice/Night (1970). It contains the pajama top and trousers of the fashion actually sold lateron - with a different lace, and different scuffs than the ones that were part of the regular fashion set.
A telephone is also part of the packaging sample, but the cardboard mirror of the regular fashion set is missing. My guess is, that the sticker with #8670 which was placed on the right side to the middle, is an internal stock number for the cardboard mirror and might indicate that the mirror is part of the fashion, but wasn't added to this sample packaging.
"B 326-4" is marked on the front as well as on the back. I don't have an exact idea, what "B 326" might mean, but "4" is most likely a clue, that this production sample is sample #4. So there must be at least 3 more ...
You can find the fashion, which was actually sold, on "A Guide to Vintage Skipper Dolls #1" (scroll down the page):
Variations
Using up left-over fabrics or substitution of fabrics that weren’t available any more are two of the reasons why we can find lots of variations of Skipper clothing items. Some variations are very rare and might be taken for production samples.
But, production samples usually (but not necessarily always) were made of colors and fabrics that do not match with the mass produced fashion. Sometimes it’s impossible to tell exactly if an article of clothing is a production sample or an extremely rare variation.
Photograph: Extremely rare (European?) variation of "Turn Abouts" vs. regular version
Sometimes only small parts of the fashions vary. In this case the borders. The "Party Pair" dress pictured to the right is the regular dress, the left one is the dress with the rare border variation.
Japanese exclusive Skipper fashions
There were some Skipper outfit variations, and even a few fashions limited to the Japanese market.
Here you can see a variation of Lolapaloozas:
Food for thought
Mattel didn’t always produce all the fashions or items pictured on the booklets or on the original boxes. For example, the booklets show Skipper’s fashion “Real Sporty” with a hot pink cowboy hat. In fact, the set came without hat. Except for the fashion sets sold in Australia!
The rare green Bendable Legs Skipper box shows a red dress with eight white buttons and white stripes. This fashion was never produced. The reasons for not launching these items on the market are not known.
You can find lots of photographs and detailed descriptions of all fashions from 1963 until 1979 on my original website (please use the navigation bar or buttons), including some rare variations: