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!!

Let it Rain - Part 4!!

It happens every time.  Every single time I plan on a "Let it Rain" post, the skies open up and we get a deluge.  This tim all a did was just change the header pick to a rain theme, and BLAM, we get teh first rain we've had in months.  And it was a flood.  Kinda almost makes one believe in karma.

Well the rain drops don't seem to get Kathy and friends down.  She has the same million dollar smile rain or shine. (This pic courtesy of Blue Senshi.  Thanks!)

Even in the small pic, she still has that dazzling smile!!

For some reason, the Big Books always had the umbrellas with some other random stuff like shawls and purses.  I really can't explain that.

Some more groovy 70s fashions from the Sears "Raindrop Shop."

Well sometimes the purses where with the Springtime coats also.  Colleen in some eye "poplin" yellow along with a multi colored scarf!

Let's not forget about the rain boots!  Wait, those don't look exactly water proof.  But hey!! Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for fashion!  And Karen, Donna, and Kathy can certainly chase away any watery worries!!

Some more eye "poplin" 70s weather fashions!  (Okay, I'll stop with the puns, I promise.)

Wait, I'll take that back.  Here we we have more eye "poplin" fashions.  Groan.  Okay, okay, back to the rain fashions.

And what better way to wrap this post up than with Kay, Kathy and friend in some classic short coats along with some groove-tastic boots.  This time the boots look a little ore water proof.  That's good, because I think we're going to get more rain this week!!

Let's Get Into Physical (Part 5) - Tennis Time (Part 2)!

Here we pick up on a conversation between a guy and his grandson about tennis in the 70s.  For Part 1 of the story, Check out this link....

http://kathyloghry.blogspot.com/2014/03/lets-get-into-physical-part-2-tennis.html

And now for Part 2 of the story.

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"Well Grandpa, I took your advice and asked a girl out for a tennis 'date'."

"Great son!  How'd it go/"

"Well she thought it was kinda creepy.  I mean.  People don't go out on 'dates' anymore.  That's just weird.  And besides, people don't go outside much anymore.  I mean, why?"

"Son, what could be 'creepy' about playing tennis/"

"Huh, well, yeah, Those guys are a little creepy, but that's not normally what you saw at the tennis center back when I played in the 70s.  I remember the guys being on their best behavior...." (1)

"Take for example, this fine lad with the good posture. See son, if you dress sharp and are polite and respectful, you'll have all kinds of ladies hovering around you!"

"Grandpa, that guy looks like a dork.  And no, dorks don't get the girls.  Besides, I think the blonde is telling him to get lost."

"Son, back then tennis was cool I tell you.  Tennis stars were famous and everyone wanted to buy all the tennis gear that they endorsed in the Big Book catalogs."

"Rod Laver?!? Never heard of him.  Hey, check out those hilarious old school roller skates!!  Man you guys had it rough Grandpa - no cell phones, wooden tennis rackets, and stone age era roller skates.  We got it much better with our cool skate boards!!"

"Son, I'm not too sure about that.  After all the ladies back then still showed a lot of class, no matter what the situation."

"See son, no weird tattoos, piercings, or unnatural hair colors.  All the ladies were elegant and classy.  And the best part about tennis is that the gals wore mini skirts!" (2)

"You got me there Grandpa.  The mini skirts are the one 70s thing that I do wish would make a comeback!  Still I can't imagine tennis being such a big deal."

"Well son it was HUGELY popular for a while.  They even advertised tennis vacations."

"And naturally, all the gals had to be decked out in the latest tennis fashions." (3)

"Even the teen magazines had articles on tennis.  After all the girls had to be ready when the guys asked them out on the tennis dates!  Son, son, what are you doing??  Stop playing with that darn cell phone and pay attention.  You might learn something!"

"Sorry Grandpa. You mean teenagers actually READ magazines??  Geez, that sounds horrible!!"

"And I still can't get over the fact that the guys had to dress like dweebs.  I mean they even wore sleeveless sweaters!!"

"Son you could look macho when playing tennis."

"Uhh, yeah right Grandpa.  Hey, Grandpa, isn't this supposed to be the 'Kathy Loghry Blogspot'?  I mean we've only seen one pic of her so far!"

"Good point son....."

"There, that's much better.  I guess I got so busy trying to convince you that tennis was cool, I forget the best part were the ladies like Kathy!" (2)

"Hey Grandpa, isn't that guy with Kathy staring at her......."

"Ahhh son, that's quite enough, we don't need to go there.  Perhaps that's enough about the good old days when tennis was cool.  Until next time........"


footnotes:

(1) Yeah I know that this pic is a re-post from an earlier post, but it just fit the story line so well I couldn't resist.

(2) This pic is courtesy of Blue Senshi.  Thanks!

(3)  Be sure to check out the gals in the lower right.  I think one of them could be Jayne Modean.  I zoomed in to find out, but couldn't make a positive ID.