Barbie of the Month: #857 Mix 'N' Match Set

The beautiful #857 Barbie Mix ‘n Match Gift Set is one of the earliest gift sets available.  It debuted in 1960 and was re-issued in 1962.  In December I featured the #861 Barbie Mix ‘n Match Gift set that was released in 1963 with a Bubble Cut Barbie doll, which was an update to the magnificent set that I am highlighting today.

This is a lovely #5 ponytail from the 1962 set

1960 was the first year Barbie gift sets were available.  There were three sets that year, and all are incredible!  They were the #856 Party Set, #857 Mix ‘n Match set, and the #858 Barbie Trousseau set (which was a double set).  

Included in the #857 Mix ‘n Match set was a #3 or #4 ponytail Barbie doll, and everything Barbie needs to make 70 different combinations of fabulous outfits.  Barbie, dressed in her traditional striped swim suit and pearl stud earrings or gold hoop earrings, also had sunglasses and black open-toe heels.  These were packaged together with her pink booklet with her picture on the front. 

#857 Mix 'N' Match Set 

In 1962 the set was available again, but with a #5 or #6 ponytail Barbie doll.  In this almost identical set she wore the same striped swimsuit, but a gold Barbie wrist tag was added (when found with a number 6 ponytail, she is in the red swim-suit).  The 1962 pink booklet featured Barbie and Ken’s photograph on the front.

1960 and 1962 booklet included in the set

In 1960 and 1962 the outfits and partial outfits included in the set are all from the 900 series ensembles which are #919 Undergarments (bra and panties), #963 Resort Set (jacket, shorts, t-shirt, hat) #976 Sweater Girl (orange sweater top, matching cardigan sweater, gray flannel skirt), #975 Winter Holiday (leather coat, hooded tee-shirt, black knit pants,travel bag), #981 Busy Gal (red and white blouse), and #967 Picnic Set (jeans and red checked shirt).  There was also a crystal necklace and black pedestal or wire stand.

Interestingly, if you look at the Mattel catalog for these sets in 1960 and 1962, you’ll notice that in 1960 the photograph shows the blue checked #916 commuter set blouse rather than the red checked picnic blouse that the description below the picture describes, and what the set actually came with.  In 1962 Mattel corrected the catalog description of the set by describing these partial sets of clothing more clearly for the retailer to read (see picture and description below).

The 23 x 12 box is marked ©1959, 1960 Mattel, Inc, Hawthorne, Calif. Stock No 857 and originally retailed for $12.00.  Inside there is an attached plain white box which includes a box liner placed in the center of the larger box to fit Barbie.  Inside the larger box bottom is a yellow liner on which all the clothes and accessories were placed.

I love how the cover of the box stands up for display

I’ve wanted this hard to find early set for quite some time, and was ecstatic when I finally found it!  I hope you find your dream sets too.

Happy Hunting!   

Barbie of the Month: Barbie Mix 'n Match Gift Set

It’s December already, and this is the month I enjoy featuring one of Barbie’s fabulous gift sets.

 

In 1963, #861 Barbie Mix ‘n Match gift set was released, and retailed for $10.00.  Along with a beautiful Bubble Cut Barbie doll in her red one-piece swim-suit, the set included many of the early Pak items, which allowed Barbie to make twenty-six different outfits. 
 

Bubblecut Barbie

 

Pak items were first introduced in 1962 for Barbie and Ken.  They were intended to be more affordable clothing, which were usually single items such as a dress, sweater, or skirt.  Others were sets of several pairs of shoes, or a trio of purses.  These Pak items didn’t have all the additional accessories that were included in Barbie’s beautiful ensemble series. Pak items retailed for 80¢, $1.00, or $1.20, depending on which item was purchased. 

 

 

1962 Pak Items Introduced (Photographed from Mattel Catalog)

 

The Mix ‘n Match gift set contains mostly Pak items, but there are a few nice accessories from Barbie’s ensembles as well.  The set includes a pink gathered skirt, pink cardigan, pink square neck sweater, white clutch purse, white short gloves, pink open toe heels, white sunglasses with blue lenses, orange scoop neck playsuit, orange wide belt, orange open toe heels, blue panties, blue bra, orange slacks, orange cotton slim sheath skirt, white shorts, red and white tee shirt, black and white gathered skirt, white open toe heels, white telephone, pearl graduated necklace, pearl bracelet, and pearl post earrings. It came with the Barbie and Ken fashion booklet as well as Barbie's black wire stand.

 

The belt shown should be orange, not red.
Missing in picture: 1 pink open toe shoe

 

This set has also been seen without the pink gathered skirt, which was replaced with the orange gathered skirt.  With this variation, the orange sheath skirt, was replaced with the pink sheath skirt.  Also some sets have a black telephone rather than a white one.

 

The set has been found with this variation in skirt colors.

 

This set has the same name as the 1960 and 1962 Barbie Mix ‘n Match Gift Set, but with a different stock number.  The earlier sets were marked #857, and the contents were completely different from the 1963 set.  The 1960 and 1962 sets featured a ponytail Barbie, along with partial clothing items from several of the 900 series fashion ensembles.

 

All the Barbie gift sets are truly amazing, and maybe this year you’ll find a vintage gift set all wrapped up under your Christmas tree!  

Merry Christmas, and Happy Hunting!  

View more Barbie Gifts Sets at MyVintageBarbies.com