"That Seventies Pattern" -- grooviest MPB giveaway EVER!

Friends, today begins a new chapter in my much-heralded decluttering saga.  While longtime MPB readers may remember my very first decluttering post only last November, the mental preparation was years in the making, subtle shifts taking place deep within my unconscious.

Now, some of my less forgiving followers will feel compelled to remind me that despite my success at removing clutter from my life, new clutter quickly takes its place.  For those heartless souls I have only one word: So? 

I am excited to announce that I have decided to launch my new decluttering project with another MPB vintage pattern giveaway!

But first -- I must show you my new Ken dolls.

Imagine my joy when they both arrived on the same day, one delivered directly to my door by my mail delivery person, the other clumsily stuffed into my narrow metal mailbox.  Thank goodness limbs weren't snapped off in the process.

Friends, meet Ken and....Ken, my two new polyvinyl playmates, both from 1971.



On the left is "Live Action" Ken.  He originally came with his own bandstand, microphone, and fringe vest, all now sadly lost.  He does retain his "live action" properties however.  Just watch:







He shakes, but you have to do most of the work.



On the right is the very naked, very blonde, very swarthy "Malibu Ken." Readers, I haven't seen a tan that fake-looking since Jennifer Jones in Duel in the Sun.

Please note both Kens' buff new bods -- they're bigger, more muscular, even their feet are wider.  Ken is no longer a cute, gangly seventeen-year-old boy; he's a man, albeit one with just a molded lump between his legs.

Malibu Ken's knees bend, but neither he nor Live Action Ken will be in Cirque du Soleil any time soon. Still, compared to stiff Sixties Ken and Allan, they're a big improvement.

The first thing I did was get them into some better looking clothes.

Here's Live Action Ken in "The Casual Scene", which sounds like a 1970s teens-on-acid flick but is actually the name Mattel gave this outfit.  I think it's a big improvement over that psychedelic polyester Ice Capades reject, don't you?



Then we got poor naked Malibu Ken dressed in some of Allan's hand-me-downs.  MUCH better.



Needless to say, old Ken and Allan are not very excited about these two and don't intend to be sharing their vinyl carrying case with them any time soon.  (Ken's on the fence, actually.)



More enlargeable, kissable pics of Ken and Ken here.

And now on to our pattern giveaway.

Friends, inspired by my new Seventies-era Kens, I have decided to give away the lovely 1973 dress/bikini pants/hip-hugger bell-bottoms pattern pictured up top.  Isn't it the grooviest!





It's a Size 12: Bust 34", Waist 26 1/2", Hip 36"

I can see so many of my you wearing this kind of thing; in fact, I'm pretty certain many of you were wearing this in 1973.

All you have to do to enter today's giveaway is....name my two new dolls.  (We can't have three dolls named Ken, can we? How would they know whom I was talking to?)

Be creative but keep it clean and please include a brief statement on why are you giving them the names you've chosen.

You have till Friday, March 4th , midnight EST, to enter, and Male Pattern Boldness followers are eligible the world over.  The winner will be chosen by random drawing and announced on Saturday.

If you're not interested in the pattern but still want to take a crack at names, your contribution will be greatly appreciated.  Just let me know you're not in the running.

Ready, set...

Name those dolls!

UPDATE:  It sounds like me, it looks like me, it is me!  Check it out: Peter on BurdaStyle