Sizzling Sears Swimsuits - Part 2!

Oh boy, they're back and just in time to help chase away those mid-winter blues (1)!  Whether by the beach or by the pool, Sears was the name in swimsuit fashion in the early 1970s.  And of course, Kathy was one of their top models to show off the latest styles that every young girl of that time so desperately wanted to have.

First up is a some suits from the 1970 spring / summer catalog.

Kathy is sizzling at the shore (except for that wig) in her Two-Part Swimmer that skirts the "beach blanket circuit".  I'm not really sure what exactly that means, but it is trimmed in "rick rack" which I assume is the white frilly stuff.  You can almost hear Frankie and Annette singing "Beach Blanket Bingo" in the background.  Other suits featured include Big Girls' Pinafore, Clever Little Two-Piecer, and Dotty Little Dipping Dress.  Such descriptive superlatives to sell swimsuits!

Beach baby, beach baby, give me your hand, give me something that I can remember... echos in the background as Kathy couldn't look cuter in pigtails (thank goodness the wig is gone!) and in her "double dip of flowery polyester knit in splash-happy print" swimsuit.  No wonder she was a fave of the photographers - she could make anything look hot!

Next is some suits from 1972.

Let's go surfin' now, everybody's learning how, come on and safari with me... Kathy keeps a watch out for the next tastey wave in some kind of purple swimsuit with shirt-style top.  She seemed to like that pose a lot!  Maybe it is highlight her famous "side shot" look, or maybe she is just shielding her eyes from the sun (hey, photographer, I know you want the sun at your back but these models are going to go blind staring into the searing white sun while you try and get the perfect pic!).  In the bottom pic of Kathy, she is attempting to hold that golden smile of hers while trying desperately not to squint too much.  Who said modeling was easy!  Meanwhile, Colleen ALMOST cracks a smile.  Why so serious Colleen?

Finally we have a pic from 1973.

Tired of the beach scene?  Then hang out by the pool with Kathy, Karen, and Colleen while they stare blankly off to the left at something out of frame (in unison, no less).  Kathy uses the pigtail look once more to turn on the cuteness in her printed velor bikini.  Again she gets to show off the flower print design - this time with a halter top (oh man, don't get me started on those!  Halter tops were designed to drive guys absolutely wild, and boy did they ever!).  Meanwhile Colleen gets to model something called "Leno Wave Stripper Dipper".  Huh?!?  I think they went overboard there on the cutesy names.  I'm not sure any girl (or especially her mother) would be interested in buying something with the word "stripper" in it.  Colleen does not seem too excited about it either based on her expression.  Smile already, would ya!

Well I hope this look back at Sears Swimsuits from the past has put some sizzle back into winter.  Soon it will be Spring, but unfortunately the Big Book catalogs and their stylish swimsuits are long gone.  However, with the blogosphere we can keep their memory alive to enjoy again!


Footnotes (can't stop using them).

(1) Okay, there's no lobster this time to make fun of (yea that was a great prop!), but hey, there are still some pretty spiffy swimsuits to check out!