Not all vintage clothing was labeled, as usually only one piece in an outfit was tagged.
1959 to 1972
Vintage black & white tags are cloth with the original Barbie logo woven into the cloth.
The back of the tag has black threads. Some modern tags might be confused with vintage tags.
Vintage TM (trademark) tags are from 1959, the first year Barbie was produced.
Vintage R (registered trademark) tags were used from 1960 to 1972.
The 1972 Fashion Originals clothing line was the last to use the vintage tag.
1972 Best Buy clothing was not tagged.
Tiny paper inspection tags were sometimes sewn on top of or beneath a label.
Water easily disintegrates these inspection tags.
Doll Reference page on vintage Barbie labels: http://www.dollreference.com/barbie_fashion_labels_tags.html
1973 to 1977
Tags were not used at all from 1973 to 1977.
1978 to early 1980s
Printed black-on-white tags with the restyled Barbie logo are from 1978 to the early 1980s. These tags were made of both printed cloth and printed reinforced paper.
Late 1980s / 1990s to Now
Modern Barbie tags are printed on reinforced paper or embroidered on cloth.
Square purple or pink tag with serif initial B: Late 1980s to early 1990s
Square pink, purple, or black tag with sans serif initial B: 1990s to current
Fashion Avenue clothing, 1995–2004:
Embroidered black-on-white cloth tag, 1990s–:
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