This adorable outfit holds a great surprise, if you’re willing to look closely.
This is Helenna Storm. She’s a TransitionalBBB wearing a Hasbro outfit. If you take a close look at this outfit, there’s a fascinating detail.
If you look closely, the middle panel has words on it. Can you read them?
Did you get it? Yes! It’s the Legend of the Cabbage Patch Kids that was originally printed on the Coleco boxes.
Isn’t that awesome! Someone who’s creative and pays close attention to detail was involved in designing this outfit. I bet they loved CPK’s as much as we do!
I also have this outfit recorded as coming in teal.
Every collector wants the portrait dress that looks like them, or one of their kids. Which one is your unicorn?
Summary of 500s Series outfits and a list of the outfits: The 500s Series
Description
This outfit consists of a dress and solid coloured tights. The dress has an embroidered patch of a CPK (from the waist up) that is wearing a CPK Logo Dress. The patch has pigtails and two ribbon bows. The hair, eye, and dress colours change for each version of the dress. The trunk and skirt are made of fleecy sweatshirt material and the sleeves, are a different material and striped. This outfit came with mary jane shoes.
511K
Coleco started selling this outfit in 1985. It likely ended production no later than sometime in 1986. If it is found on later kids, it was likely because the company was using up old stock.
If you have an outfit that is not recorded here, I would like to hear from you. Information is best sent in the form of pictures. For details, visit Taking Clothing Tag Pics.
Variations
This outfit was made by the P and OK factories. There seems to be a significant amount of variation between factories when it comes to the hair, eye, and dress colours used. Kat Perhouse has created this very helpful and easy-to-follow chart. I assume that all the outfits that match visually, for example, the two mint greens 511D, are an OK version and P version. I don’t have enough data yet to know about the ones that are not the same.
According to Kat Perhouse “The OK factory ones are the common colours and the P factory ones are HTF colours. The P factory ones stripey material is more course, while the Ok stripey material has a looser weave and is softer. Also, the embroidered girls/decal on the Ok factory seems to be sewn into the waistband, whereas on the P factory it’s not sewn into the waistband.” (FB Thread, Mar. 19, 2020)
Similar Outfits
Logo Dress: This is a variation of the outfit that came out later. For details, visit 511 Portrait Dress (Post Coming Soon).
Toddler Outfit: This is a later Coleco Toddler outfit (code unknown) that looks somewhat similar.
Courtesy of Pat Slovak
Other Information
> Fun fact: A prototype version of this outfit can be seen in the 1985 Coleco Catalogue (p. 2).
Sailor Suits (#20) are made of heavy cotton fabric, almost jean heavy. They all are. Sometimes the fabric is slightly different, Taiwan vs. China, but it’s still a heavy cotton material. Right?
Apparently not. Recently, I acquired a Sailor Suit made of thin cotton material, similar to the material used in the 1983 dresses. It’s hard to see the difference in the picture, but it’s there.
Regular vs Odd
Regular vs Odd
Top: Odd, Bottom: KT
The accent cord appears to be different as well.
However, everything else is the same. Same patch, same structure, same sizing . . . even the same tag! That’s right, it’s tagged KT factory.
Why?
My only theory is that they ran out of fabric but wanted to continue production. They grabbed another red material that they had handy from making other outfits and continued the run. Another factory fluke.
What do you think? What else could have caused this to happen? Have you ever seen something similar?
With only three versions of this outfit produced, it’s difficult to find. Obtaining one with the hat is even more difficult! Learn all about this cute warm and cuddly outfit.
Summary of 500s Series outfits and a list of the outfits: The 500s Series
Description
This outfit consists of a top, bottoms, and hat; all of it knit. The top is a striped white and coloured pattern with eyelet lace that runs along the join between sleeve and trunk. There is an arched Cabbage Patch Kids logo patch on the bottom left side. The bottoms are solid coloured pants with ballooned legs with ribbed extra-wide hems. The hat is the same colour as the pants and has a pom-pom on top. This outfit came with regular lace-up shoes.
The colour of the logo patch does not appear to stay consistent across production. For example, both outfits below, 510A, are from the KT factory.
Coleco started selling this outfit in 1985. It likely ended production no later than sometime in 1986. If it is found on later kids, it was likely because the company was using up old stock.
Long-time collectors believe that this outfit only came in the four versions described below. I wonder if there is an orange KT version of 510A? If you have an outfit that is not recorded here, I would like to hear from you. Information is best sent in the form of pictures. For details, visit Taking Clothing Tag Pics.
> Fun fact: A prototype version of this outfit can be found in the 1985 Coleco Catalogue (p. 3, 17). As far as I know, a purple version of his outfit was never actually produced.
This is a great sporty outfit but the kids are always losing their leg warmers!
Summary of 500s Series outfits and a list of the outfits: The 500s Series
Description
This outfit consists of a dress, tights, and leg warmers. The dress has mesh sleeves and neckline. The attached skirt is pleated. The front has a silk-screened Cabbage Patch Kids arched logo above three hearts. I’m not sure which shoes this outfit came with, either pink striped sneakers or regular lace-ups.
#508A KT, Photo courtesy of Kat Perhouse.
It is believed that the outfit did not start being manufactured until 1986, instead of 1985 like most of the others in this series. Consequently, it has a shorter manufacturing time and is harder to find. There’s no known explanation for this. For details, refer back to the summary post. This outfit only came out on kids. If it’s found packaged, it was done during the ‘inventory clean out’ that happened later.
If you have an outfit that is not recorded here, I would like to hear from you. Information is best sent in the form of pictures. For details, visit Taking Clothing Tag Pics.
Factory Variations
I have only one factory, AX, to compare to the KT outfits. On the AX factory outfit (508B), the hearts appear to be slightly bigger, the skirt is hemmed differently, and it has larger skirt pleats.
Photo courtesy of Chris Hansing Tallman.
Other Information
> Fun fact: A prototype version of this outfit can be found in the 1985 Coleco Catalogue (p. 3, 16). There’s also a purple version on the 1st Birthday card. I don’t believe it was ever produced.
What the heck?! Can you figure out what is wrong with each outfit before reading the description?
Odd, weird, unique. These are all words used to describe things that happen outside the ‘normal’. Many such factory flukes can be found among Cabbage Patch Clothes. Here are some examples I have come across. Do you have any in your collection?
This Pinafore Dress has two silk labels! One on either shoulder. Oops.
This could be a bad ‘repair’ after the patch fell off, but the current owner feels it is in the original location. This is more typical of Jesmar jogging suits!
This Ducky Dress, owned by Jamie Osterbur, is missing the duck patch and has the silk label in an odd spot. This may be because it’s a Hong Kong version of the dress, but it’s still odd!
This Yoke Dress appears to be missing the bow and the ribbon that normally runs around the edge of the neck area. Photo courtesy of Alicia Rose.
The pocket on this Sailor Suit is on the wrong side!
The silk label on this CC Preemie Elephant Romper is in an odd location. Normally it is on the sleeve.
This one is a double whammy from Kathy Lucy Uher. The silk tag on the jogging suit is upside down, and the shirt from the windbreaker outfit has two tags instead of one!
This Swing Dress had two labels, one of which was completely wrong. This outfit is 1C! Photos courtesy of Jodi’s Punky Patch.
This hat normally comes with a different outfit, Preemie Outfit #8, but for some reason, it came with this packaged Yoke Gown. Maybe they ran out of the correct bonnet? Photos courtesy of Becky Alvery.
This outfit is the Elephant Romper, Outfit #7 . . . not #1! This outfit had the wrong tag completely! Photos courtesy of Melanie De L’Etiole.
Many CPK outfits have animal patches on them. A Bib Dress normally has a giraffe patch on the bib. This outfit has the wrong patch. Although this happens quite a bit, it is still a ‘mistake’ made at the factory. For more information on these patches, and where the outfits they can be found on, visit PTP: Plentiful Patches Pt. 1.
With only four versions of this outfit produced, it’s one of the hardest outfits to find. Obtaining a complete aerobics outfit with all the pieces is even more difficult! Learn all about this interesting outfit.
Summary of 500s Series outfits and a list of the outfits: The 500s Series
Description
This outfit consists of numerous pieces. 1) Striped one-piece with footies and long sleeves. 2) Bodysuit with a ruffle on the shoulder straps and a ruffle around the waist. The ruffles are the same striped pattern as piece #1, but the main portion of the bodysuit is a sold colour. This piece has the curved Cabbage Patch Kids logo patch on it. 3) A pair of slouchy leg warmers the opposite colour from the bodysuit. 4) Headband the same colour as the leg warmers (generally).
I believe that Coleco started manufacturing this outfit in 1985 because the PMI factory would not have had an opportunity to produce it otherwise. However, many believe the manufacture of this outfit didn’t start until 1986, as kids wearing this outfit are generally found in later boxes. It is a mystery.
Long-time collectors believe that this outfit only came in the four versions described below. UPDATE: However, we recently added a new PMI outfit to this list! Thank you April Shaw for your keen eyes. Are we missing any others? If you have an outfit that is not recorded here, I would like to hear from you. Information is best sent in the form of pictures. For details, visit Taking Clothing Tag Pics.
ABGS – Courtesy of April ShawT – PMI FactoryPhotos courtesy of Kat Perhouse.
Factory Variations -none so far
Similar Outfits
Outfit #325: This cornsilk outfit is the only outfit that looks remotely similar.
Other Information
Scarcity: As it was only made by one factory for most of its manufacture, this outfit is one of the more difficult of the 500s Series to find. It is also the 500s Series outfit with the least number of versions produced. Finally, it is extremely difficult to find an outfit with all the pieces!
How to determine which knit sweaters may go with which bubble romper. It’s all in the details!
Like all of the clothing made for Cabbage Patch Kids, the sweaters used in the #9 Bubble Romper Outfit are susceptible to differences based on factory. Meaning, the look of the sweaters changes based on the factory that produced them.
These sweaters are not tagged. (For information on what part of a CPK outfit do come tagged, visit Where are tags in clothing located?) Consequently, it is difficult to confidently match sweaters to rompers.
To determine which factory made a sweater, take note of the following.
The tension and pattern of the knit.
The patterns that are used for the edges and hems.
The pattern and look of the decoration around the neck. (If there are any.)
The colour(s) used around the neck.
NOTE: The factory of manufacture for each sweater is noted in the caption of the picture.
OK Factory
P Factory
KT Factory
IC Factory
PMI Factory
AX Factory
UT Fctory; Photo from Chrisa Easton.
Jesmar
Lily Ledy
Tri-ang Pedigree
If you have a sweater that is not pictured here, or you have a better picture than one used here, I would love to see it.
Yellow Sweaters
I believe that yellow sweaters were only manufactured by the OK factory and for the 25th Anniversary Kids (Play Along).
OK factory sweater
25th Anniversary Sweater; Photo from Cathleen Mary.
Knit Booties
The correct knit booties will match the sweater. They will have the same tension and knit pattern. For more information visit Shoes: Knit Booties.
Fun in the sun! Everyone likes these cute sun suits, so much that they are highly replicated!
Summary of 500s Series outfits and a list of the outfits: The 500s Series
Description
This outfit consists of a cotton blouse, cotton romper, and a white terry cloth bucket hat. The blouse has slightly puffed sleeves and is a single fabric pattern. The romper has a lace-edged bib front with the curved Cabbage patch Kid logo on it. It also has two rows of lace running across the backside and acting as ruffles. The straps close with velcro. The hat is made of white terry cloth and has ribbon ties to hold it on. The outfit came with regular lace-up shoes.
#505J OK, Photo courtesy of Kat Perhouse.
Coleco started selling this outfit in 1985. It likely ended production no later than sometime in 1986. If it is found on later kids, it was likely because the company was using up old stock.
If you have an outfit that is not recorded here or does not match my information, (e.g. You have a 506A OK that is pink, not yellow.) I would like to hear from you. Information is best sent in the form of pictures. For details, visit Taking Clothing Tag Pics.
> Fun Fact: This outfit is one of the most commonly replicated CPK outfits. Consequently, you can find it in a variety of colours and patterns that Coleco never intended. They can also come with different styles of patches on the front.
Felicity is wearing a wonderful handmade version of the Sun Suit. It was a gift.
