Big Book Catalog Series - Part 10, Sears Spring / Summer 1976

Forty years ago this Spring, America was getting ready to celebrate its 200th birthday - the bicentennial. Despite being  quite an opportunity  for a big blow out celebration, the nation's attitude was much more subdued on patriotic things compared to today.

So how did the Big Books handle this?  Well, there is surprisingly few references to the bicentennial overall.  And when there are, it was really lame.  For example, check out the cover of the Sears SS catalog....

Yeah, there's an American flag and all, but let's face it.  Overall it's pretty muted with a focus on heritage, family, etc. and not on the "rah, rah, USA! USA!" stuff.

And for the fashions, Sears decided to do a series of  "Fashion '76 Salutes" of American designers. Let's check it out....

No red, white and blue here! Nope, just "peachy" 70s fashions!

More peach!  Not exactly feeling the "Spirit of '76" here.

Joanne and Laura show us the "easy dress".  Hmmm, better not go there, let's move on.......

Oh great.  Now with the "Big Tops."  They're really making it hard for me to stay focused on the bicentennial spirit here.

Nothing said 70s catalog fashions like coordinates.  It was all about comfort and convenience.

Finally we have an appearance by Kathy!  I know that normally I have a pic of her first, but I made an exception in this case.  Still she looks great with Colleen and friend in front of that rustic looking building.  Looks like somehow Karen got left on the other page by herself looking in.

Hey, how did that guy score both Kathy and Colleen? And Karen is still on outside looking in!!

Ahh, a more Springtime looking scene, complete with the country church in the background!  After all nothing says American patriotism more than "calico!"

So the calico doesn't get your Spirit of '76 blood pumping.  Well then how about "chino?"

Finally, some red, white, and blue!! And in "Sports Separates" no less.  I'm finally starting to feel the patriotic spirit!!

Not sure how this ties into the bicentennial, but it's a good way to end this series and this post. Joanne, Laura, and the other models of the Big Book catalogs of the 76 certainly were "Charmers" indeed!!  I'm certainly ready for the big 4th of July celebration now!

K Club Special - Part 25, Kathy and Karen - Part 2!!

A couple of years ago, we had a post dedicated to some really awesome pics of Katy and Karen. According to several of our readers, there were good friends and very often appeared together in the Big Book catalogs of the 70s - often producing classic shots from that era.  So I thought it'd be fun to revisit that theme!!

What can I say but Wow!!  With summer just around the corner, these "Mock-Twin Sets" are just the thing .  And Kathy and Karen appeared so often together, you might tempted to think they were twins!!  Hey, wait, who's that in the inset pic?? (1)

Why it's Kathy and Kay!!

Karen and Kathy again, this time in Sears.  Talk about a total cuteness overload!! And again, who do we have in the inset pic?? (1)

Why it's Kathy and Kay again.  Hmmm, surely this is just a coincidence that this has happened to times in a row!!

Could we find another example perchance?!?

Well it looks like our streak has ended - Kathy and Karen, but no sign of Kay.  But wait!!

It's Kathy and Karen in the small pic with Kay in the main frame in a reversal from the first two pics!!

Back to Kathy and Karen in the main pic!  And this time they are in teh inset pic also showing us the short and long styles if the 70s.  Wait a minute! You call those dresses short?!?  That's nothing compared to the minis of the 60s!! Sigh. What or what happened to the mini skirts??

Even in the long dresses, these two looked incredible!!

One more time with Kathy and Karen.  They were such a classic pair that graced many pages of the Big Book catalogs of the 70s.  Their wonderful smiles were always such a treat to see while shopping 70s mail order style!!


footnotes:

(1) These pics courtesy of Blue Senshi.  Thanks again!!