Description: Corduroy (mostly) suit which consists of a jacket and pants. The jacket buttons up the front with three buttons and has a teddy bear patch on the left breast. The matching pants have a square silk CPK patch label on the back bum. There is a white shirt underneath, either completely white or with navy-blue stitching. (see Variations.) It comes with a knit white hat with a pompom, socks, and regular shoes.
Outfit 5B, KT
The outfit is generally made in a cord material but occasionally comes in a heavier felt-like material. Chinese factories made cord outfits and Taiwan factories made felt-like outfits. For a list of which factory codes to with which location, visit: Info on Factories and Companies
China fabric vs Taiwan FabricChina fabric vs Taiwan FabricKid picture courtesy of Lynn Finley.
This outfit was sold from 1983 until 1985, most likely longer. It was sold both on kids and packaged, starting in 1984. There is evidence that some stock of this outfit was still being sold off as separately packaged outfits as late as 1987. (Ref#4, Iss. 5, p.4)
Version Information
My goal is to find every version of every outfit that was produced. Below is a record of each version of this outfit that I have, up to the date indicated. To understand clothing codes, factories and variations, please refer to the suggested readings below.
If you have an outfit that is not recorded here or does not match my information, (e.g. you have a 5A P that is green, not yellow) I would appreciate hearing from you. Information is best sent in the form of pictures. For details on the pictures required, jump to Taking Clothing Tag Pics.
This outfit was not made by the primary factories CC or SS (that I am aware).
Variations
> The following are observable differences between outfits produced at various factories.
fabric (e.g. IC cord is of a different texture)
colour (shade)
hat knit pattern
look of the bear patch (Jump to Plentiful Patches Pt.2)
> There are several variations of this outfit made by foreign factories; however, the Jesmar factory did not manufacture this outfit. Triang Pedigree, Courtesy of Jamie Osterbuhr
Other Information
> Some pants close along the inner leg seam with Velcro; some do not. > The patch can be different. (e.g. duck) Jump to Plentiful Patches Pt.2 > Girls only wore the pink version (5D) of this outfit. (Ref #3, p. 402)
Suggested reading: An explanation of the 1983 series of outfits that the swing dress belongs to. Jump to: 1983 Series – The 1st CPK Clothes
Original Name: On Holiday, Apple Blossom Alternate Name: Lacy Yoke Dress (Ref#4, Vol. 3 Iss. 8, p.4)
Description: Cotton dress with rows of frilly lace and a small rose patch at the yoke, in one of two patterns. (see below) The lace used at the yoke is also used at the sleeve, leg and dress hems. The dress came with matching bloomers, Mary Jane shoes, and socks. Very occasionally, it came with lace-up shoes.
Outfit 4N, CC
This outfit was sold from 1983 until 1986, maybe longer. It was sold both on kids and packaged, starting in 1984.
Version Information
My goal is to find every version of every outfit that was produced. Below is a record of each version of this outfit that I have, up to the date indicated. To understand clothing codes, factories and variations, please refer to the suggested readings below.
If you have an outfit that is not recorded here or does not match my information, (e.g. you have a 4F P that is green, not pink) I would appreciate hearing from you. Information is best sent in the form of pictures. For details on the pictures required, jump to Taking Clothing Tag Pics.
Variations
> The OK and KT outfits for letters A to D have a patterned yoke with only two rows of lace and a small rose patch. The P versions of A to D are white, with four rows of lace. The remaining letters are the same as the P factory outfits.
> There is a USA version with a slightly different neck area and different lace.
Suggested reading: An explanation of the 1983 series of outfits that the swing dress belongs to. Jump to: 1983 Series – The 1st CPK Clothes
Original Name: Summer Sweetie
Description: Cotton dress with a peter pan collar, ties at the shoulder, attached ‘blouse’ top, and bloomers. The blouse is one colour/pattern and the remainder of the dress and the bloomers are another pattern/colour. The hem of the leg holes and sleeves have matching cotton lace. It generally came with white socks and regular shoes. Very occasionally, they came with Mary Janes.
Outfit 3C, OK
This outfit was sold from 1983 until 1985, most likely longer. It was sold both on kids and packaged, starting in 1984.
Version Information
My goal is to find every version of every outfit that was produced. Below is a record of each version of this outfit that I have, up to the date indicated. To understand clothing codes, factories and variations, please refer to the suggested readings below.
If you have an outfit that is not recorded here or does not match my information, (e.g. you have a 3C OK that is pink and white gingham, not yellow and white gingham) I would appreciate hearing from you. Information is best sent in the form of pictures. For details on the pictures required, jump to Taking Clothing Tag Pics.
Variations
> Mimic Outfits: There are 2 Coleco outfits that are similar. It was used for the Play Along 25th Anniversary outfits, and the USA factory produced this outfit.
> There were many variations made by foreign factories. The Tsukuda factory used them on their twin sets. For information on identifying a Jesmar version, jump to Identifying Jesmar Clothing
Tsukuda, Courtesy of Carolyn Dahl WoodsTriang Pedigree, Courtesy of Shelley LynneJesmar sailboat dress, orangeJesmar Sailboat dress, blue; Courtesy of Carolyn Dahl Woods
Produced for only a short time, sleepers are adorable!
Suggested reading: An explanation of the 1983 series of outfits that this outfit belongs to. Jump to: 1983 Series – The 1st CPK Clothes
Original Name: Nightie-Night (Ref#4, Vol 3 Iss. 9, p. 6)
Description: Terry cloth sleeper that velcros up the front, a bear patch on the left breast, and a pom-pom at the toes (generally). Many also have some form of lace decoration (refer to variations below).
Outfit 2J HK
Originally Sleepers were sold in 1983 on boxed kids. Around June of 1983, they started being sold packaged, with socks and shoes. Presumably, they were sold until the stock ran out. They were no longer being produced by early 1984 at the latest. (Ref#4, Vol 3, Iss.8, p. 4; FB conversation with Leah Salt, April 2019) However, there is evidence that some stock of this outfit was still being sold off as separately packaged outfits as late as 1987. (Ref#4, Iss. 5, p.4)
Version Information
My goal is to find every version of every outfit that was produced. Below is a record of each version of this outfit that I have. To understand clothing codes, factories and variations, please refer to the suggested readings below.
If you have an outfit that is not recorded here or does not match my information, (e.g. you have a 2D OK that is pink, not purple) I would appreciate hearing from you. Information is best sent in the form of pictures. For details on the pictures required, jump to Taking Clothing Tag Pics.
For more information on my completed sleeper collection visit: My Little Dreamers
Sleepers were not manufactured by the primary factories CC, SS or PMI. The PMI and foreign factories did not start manufacturing until after production of the Sleepers ceased.
Variations:
> There appear to be three lace patterns used on Sleepers. The pattern appears to be factory specific, rather than gender-specific, as many collectors have speculated.
Version 1: Full – KT factory and P Factory – lace down either side of the velcro and around the collar Version 2: Partial – KT Factory – lace around the collar and sleeve hems Version 3: No lace – OK Factory – They used no lace at all.
FullPartialNo LaceMiddle picture courtesy of Erin Cavill.
> Mimic Outfits: Similar footed sleeper-type outfits were created for preemies, Sipping Kids, and BBB‘s but this is the only 16″ outfit of its type.
> The crotch closure depends on the factory. The OK and KT factories do not open where the crotch meets the front closure, whereas the P factory outfits open entirely.
Other Information:
> The patches used can vary. The teddy bear patches on the sleepers are yellow and gold colours whereas the teddy bear patches on the Cord Suit(#5) tend to be in shades of brown and dark beige. > Sleepers were sold on bald dolls, both boys and girls. This was one of the only outfits that had bald girls. (Ref#4, Vol 3, Iss. 8, p. 4)
The first outfit, the Swing Dress. There’s so many different patterns!
Suggested reading: An explanation of the 1983 series of outfits that the swing dress belongs to. Jump to: 1983 Series – The 1st CPK Clothes
Original Name: School Days Alternate Name(s): A-line Dress, Sailor Dress (Ref#4, Vol 3, Iss. 8, p. 3)
Description: Cotton A-line dress with a sailor collar and long cotton ties. The collar and sleeves are edged with white lace. The dress was paired with either white or red tights (Ref#4, Vol 3, Iss. 8, p. 3) and generally came with white Mary Jane shoes. Very occasionally, they came with lace-ups.
Outfit 1H, IC factory
This outfit was sold from 1983 to at least 1985. I believe it may have been found on kids later, but this was most likely the company using up old stock.
Version Information
My goal is to find every version of every outfit that was produced. Below is a record of each version of this outfit that I have, up to the date indicated. To understand clothing codes, factories and variations, please refer to the suggested readings below.
If you have an outfit that is not recorded here or does not match my information, (e.g. you have a 1D OK that is pink and white gingham, not green and white gingham) I would appreciate hearing from you. Information is best sent in the form of pictures. For details on the pictures required, jump to Taking Clothing Tag Pics.
I have not recorded any primary factory CC versions of this outfit.
Variations
> The following are observable differences between outfits produced at various factories.
#504 – Sailboat Dress – This dress has a different collar, rick rack decoration, a sailboat patch, and matching bloomers. It came out in 1985. This series will be another post.
When Cabbage Patch Kids came out in 1983, each was wearing one of 18 outfits. These outfits came in a variety of colours and patterns, but there were only 18 to choose from. (Ref #4, Vol. 3 Issue 9/10/11, p. 6)
The 1983 Series outfits.
A 1983 catalogue that appeared to have prototype outfits in it named each outfit. However, over time collectors have created new names that better describe the outfit, allowing for easier identification. For example, the outfit below was originally called the Snuggle Suit but is generally called a Bubble Romper by collectors. (Ref #4, Vol. 3 Issue 9/10/11, p. 6)
As explained in an earlier post ( What are Clothing Codes?), each outfit came with a code that consists of a letter and a number. The numbers represent the outfit type, and the letters represent a specific fabric pattern or colour combination. With this series, certain letters seem to have been produced primarily by certain factories. I call these the Primary Factory for each letter. For example, the KT factory produced the letters A and B for all 18 outfits, I think. Here are the primary factories, as proposed, at this point:
However, outfits were often produced by multiple factories, not just the Primary Factory. For example, I know that outfit 7A was produced by primary factory KT, and also by the LF, P, and OK factories. Below, we know that 2C was produced by two factories. Can you figure out which ones?
Sample layout showing which ‘versions’ of the outfit that I have recorded. Make sure your outfit matches both code and factory. If it doesn’t, I likely need to record it. ANSWER: 2C is produced by both the OK and KT factories. It may be produced by more, but I am unaware of them at this time.
In addition, not every letter was produced for every outfit. For example, the Sleeper (#2) only goes to letter K. Letters L to R (CC and SS primary factories) were only used for packaged outfits, and apparently, the Sleeper was not sold separately. Also, it was not manufactured by the PMI factory because the factory began production after they stopped making the Sleepers.
Factory Variation
The outfits produced by primary factory SS (P, Q, and R) are often close copies of earlier letters, making them difficult to identify. For example, if I had the red and white check Swing Dress (#1) recorded, you might think you didn’t need to check the one that you have. Unfortunately, I have the 1G (factory P) version, and yours is the 1Q (SS factory) version of the outfit, which I need to record. Consequently, checking to see if I have something recorded based on the code and factory is superior to using a description of the outfit.
Example: SS factory outfits matched with previous letter outfits.
We need to record all of the factories that made each outfit, as there are often differences between them. These differences can then be used to identify an outfit by factory, which may help to identify the possible factory of the kid wearing it or let you know if you need it for a specific kid. These differences can include but are not limited to, differences in:
fabric colour/pattern
small changes in the structure of the outfit
fabric type
silk tag placement
stitching pattern
thread colour
buttons
lace/edging material
size
Below is 1Q, as made by three different factories. Can you spot the differences?
Difference: outfit structure, tie fabrics, red colours, size, lace pattern, elastic at sleeves, type of silk label
Potential Problems
Finally, just to make things difficult, some clothing tags, primarily those from the P and PMI factories, came with the codes on stickers that can wash off. Of the two, P factory tags like those below, are the most difficult to recognize as they do not actually have a P on them. However, even without code information, knowing which factory an outfit is from is a step in the right direction. (Jump to: What are Clothing Tag Codes)
As for shoes, they were specific to the outfit. In general, each outfit came with certain shoes, but there were only four options: Sneakers, Mary Jane’s, lace-up shoes (sometimes called lace-ups or high tops), and knit booties. Occasionally, as this is Coleco and they don’t stick to their own rules, kids will come with ‘unusual shoes’ for an outfit. For example, sometimes you will find dolls in the Bubble Romper with regular lace-up shoes.
Regular/ Lace-up Mary JanesSneakersKnit booties
Shoes that came with these outfits are labelled with the factory inside, about 1″ from the heel. They generally say ‘HONG KONG’ but were most likely produced in China, unless they came on an early 1983 doll. Like with the clothing, the shoe factory should match the dolls factory. If the doll is KT, the shoes should be KT. For more details, jump to: Shoes – An overview and reference links
Casual Wear Line – Packaged Outfits
This is the only other line of clothing that came out in 1983 and all of these outfits came packaged. They did not come on boxed kids. For more information jump to Casual Wear Line (1983).
Outfit Summary Shortcuts
Below are shortcuts to information about each of the 1983 series outfits. This information includes the versions s that I already have recorded and those I am still looking for information on. Each outfit will open in a new tab, allowing for easier navigation while you work. I would appreciate any help you can provide and accept tag/code information at any time.
For information on taking clothing tag pictures in order to assist with the research project, jump to: Taking Clothing Tag Pics
A while ago, I noticed a BBB outfit that looked a lot like the knit twin outfit. Recently, I obtained tag information from Angel K. Freely and was gobsmacked!
Now, I knew the outfits looked similar, but I never thought they would be this similar! BBB outfits were ONLY produced by the SS and WS factories. I have no record of any BBB outfit being produced anywhere else, until this one. (Update: Made in Thailand)
The similarities are not difficult to see. Take a moment and compare.
What is difficult to see is the feet of the BBB outfits. The footies in a regular BBB outfit have an additional piece of circular fabric, like a sole. The twin BBB outfits just have a seam . . . It looks like they’ve just sewn the bottom of the pant legs together!
Jodi, from Jodi’s Punky Patch, helped me gather information and photographs for this post and observed that we only have evidence of this outfit coming on boxed kids. This means that they either sent the completed outfits from the P factory to the SS/WS factories to be put on kids or sent the kids and boxes to the P factory. Either way, this is the first evidence we have of cross-factory cooperation like this. It’s also the first exception to my statement that BBB’s always came in WS or SS clothes! Jump to: A match made in . . . the factory. Update: Second Exception
Courtesy unknown
The knit twin outfits were available in five different colours, and so is this outfit. I theorize that the factory had a lot of the knit material left over and needed to do something with it. At the time, no other clothing lines being produced would have welcomed an outfit made of knit fabric, except the BBB’s. I think that’s why they made a BBB outfit, instead of something that they could more easily put on P factory kids.
I still need tag pictures for the mint green (A), yellow (B), and medium blue (F). If you happen to have this outfit in any of those colours, I would greatly appreciate your help with tag photos. For details on taking the photos, visit HERE.
Baby Luck and his friends Lorenzo, Bethany, Ellyn, and Dylan would like to wish you a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
What is your favourite good luck green outfit and who’s wearing it? Post a picture and let us see! The bigger the party the better!
May the sun shine, all day long, everything go right, and nothing wrong. May those you love bring love back to you, and may all the wishes you wish come true!
The consistency with which the doll tag and the outfit tag factories matched changed starting in 1985. Many continued to match, but not all. Here are the ‘situations’ in which you might find a match that doesn’t match!
Situation 1:
From 1986 to 1988 (ish), the most common situation resulted from an overabundance of specialty outfits that were not selling (high $) and a lot of pieces coming from foreign factories that had shut down. In this situation, you might get an OK kid, in a P factory twin outfit, in a single kid box. (Ref. #5, Issue 4, p. 5) Or maybe, a set of P dolls, in IJ animal costume sleepers (Ref #3, p.104), in a twin box. Or even a pair of Jesmar dolls, in PMI World Traveler outfits, in a twin box!
Twin outfit in a single boxWorld Traveler outfits on Jesmar dolls in Twin boxCostumes in a Twin boxFun Furs in a Twin boxSports Collection on KidCostume on Kid
Some of these outfits were made by the factories which did not produce kids, only packaged outfits that were never intended to be sold on kids.
Situation 2:
A similar situation happened with outfits originally designed for specific kinds of kids. For example, occasionally you will find Cornsilk and Talker outfits on regular kids from 1987 onward. This doesn’t occur as often as situation one, but it does happen. This situation could also be the result of in-store outfit switching.
Regular Kid in Cornsilk dressRegular kid in Talker’s dress
Situation 3:
IC kids were made in Taiwan and, according to their side tags, which are numbered IC to IC7, there may have been at least eight factories. However, there are NO clothes with IC# on them. However, several Taiwanese factories did produce clothing: AX, CY, FD, HP, WW, HRS.
I have evidence that IC kids came wearing IC, AX, and potentially WW clothing. The same has been discovered about the UT factory. Although UT kids could come with UT clothes, they also came dressed in AX and WW clothing. (Jump to: AX and the UT Kids)
In addition, IC kids came wearing specialty line outfits that were made at other Taiwanese factories (HRS, CY, FD), so their tags would not match. For example, Western Wear and All-Star kids. (Ref #5, Issue 3, p. 5)
Top: CY Western Wear outfit and AX outfit, Bottom: CY All Stars Outfit
Situation 4:
Hong Kong Tags. Some Hong Kong Kids had no factory indicated on their tag. In this case, for MIB kids, it can be assumed that if the kid is OK, the outfit is OK. However, if the outfit is not original to the kid, it is either P, OK or KT. (Ref#3, p. 28) My personal experience with HK outfits leads me to believe they will be either OK or P, as the tags themselves more closely resemble OK and P tags, rather than KT tags.
Situation 5:
Twin outfits are all P factory. However, some were put on OK kids. In this case, the tags would not match.
Situation 6:
There is evidence that ‘Made in USA’ outfits did come on boxed kids. There are no ‘Made in USA’ kids, so the tag cannot match in this situation.
Situation 7:
It appears that some SS factory outfits came on MIB regular-sized kids. As the SS factory did not make any regular-sized dolls, there will be a mismatch between the kid and the outfit. I’ve confirmed this on one OK factory HK doll.
How do you know if an outfit originally came with the doll? Here’s the first step to finding out!
There is no way to know what outfit originally came on a doll. The choices were made randomly. However, you can match the production year of the doll to the production year of the outfits, and in some cases, the factory information.
1983 – 1985ish: A Match!
Coleco dolls produced from 1983 to 1984 (and some stuff in 1985) generally came with clothing made at the same factory. So, if the doll was OK factory, the outfit and shoes were also OK factory.
KT Boy OK Girl
Dolls wearing 500s outfits which came out in 1985 also matched factories.
However, I know of at least one collector who admits to taking kids out and switching clothes AT THE STORE, so even if you bought a kid from the store and it didn’t match, that doesn’t mean it didn’t originally come with the correct outfit!
Series Specific Pairs . . .
Some lines of kids had specific clothing created just for them. In many of these cases, the dolls and the outfits always match. There may be two factories producing them, but there is always a match.
Triang Pedigree, Courtesy of Jamie Osterbuhr
