Now Back to the Catalogs!!

 Okay the previous post was a fun diversion.  Now back to the groovy catalogs of the 70s!!

Some nice Spring fashions from Penneys!!

And some more!!!  I'm not sure where these pics were taken, but there is definitely a garden theme going on here!!

Let's just stay with the Spring Penneys theme for this post!!

Groovy sports jackets!!

And finally on the garden path.   Perhaps it's the yellow brick road to 70s fashion fun!!

Winter Wear from Wards!!

 The go to place for all your winter wear needs!!

Hmmm, most of these are not real fur, most that it is.  But all of them look toasty warm, even in black and white.

Sticking with the black and white theme, here are scarfs and shawls!!!

Finally some color!! And these short coats look VERY warm!! (Pic is courtesy of Blue Senshi, thanks!)

VERY warm!!

More short coats!!

We started with head wear and we'll end that way.  BTW it's real fur, don't judge.  It was the 70s!!

His and Her Fashions: Groovy Baby!!

 How did couples in the 70s show their relationship status????

With His 'n Hers sweaters from Wards!!  And with matching psychedelic shirts too!!

Speaking of matching shirts.....

It's all smiles here!!  I guess the couple that dresses together stays happy together???

Need more proof???

Here it is!!  This looks liek a heck of alot more fun than updating your Facebook status!!

That's so 70s: Sleep Time with Wards!

 Sleep wear from Wards, how so very 70s groovy!!

Too bad it's in black and white, but still nice!!

Sizzling Sleepwear!!

This time from Wards!!!

Okay, this is a little strange.  The gal on the left is looking at Kathy while Kathy is looking down at Karen.  And Karen is staring out to the right.

Let's try that again.....

Now both models are looking at Karen...and Karen has the exact look as before!!  Very strange.

Random VERY Goodness: Hot Pants plus Bodysuits!!

What's better than 70s style hot pants???  What's better than 70s style bodysuits???

Well how about putting the two together!!!  What a great idea!!!

Great Go-Togethers indeed!!  Kathy, Kay, and an unknown model show us how it's done!!

A closeup of the bodysuits!!  With ideas like this, how in the heck did Wards ever go out of business???

These pics are courtesy of Blue Senshi.  Thanks!!

That's So 70s: Seven Pics of 1970!!

What can me more 70s than the 70s themselves especially 1970?? The question begs the answer!!

And what can be more 70s than those groovy models like Kathy and Wendy!!

Reduced from the 70 Spring Big Book catalog!!

Yep the 70s where a Whole New Thing!

Close up of Kathy and friend from the inset pic.

More groovy 70s fashions. This time from Bellas Hess!!

In 1970 everyone was was asked "What's Next?" after the  wild fashion trends of the 60s.  Sadly, none of these awesome offerings from Penneys were what's next.

These fashions had more of a 60s vibe than 70s, but they still look nice!!

So there you have it dear readers: seven groovy catalog pics from 1970!!

Ready for Summer Wards Style!!

Summer is upon us and what better way to get in the mood than with some groovy fashions from Montgomery Wards circa 1975!!

 And the polyester madness of the 70s continues....

 Activewear never looked so, well, ordinary?!?

 Yes I can imagine that!!

Polka dots - perfect for a night out on at the disco!!

Montgomery Ward Catalog - RIP

Ahh, Montgomery Ward (or "Monkey" Wards as it was affectionately known) was a staple of Americana for decades before sliding silently into the night.  MW was the first mail order retailer -publishing their first catalog in 1874 (yes, you read that correctly.)  However, they were soon joined, and eventually, eclipsed by Sears.  And like Sears, MW focused on the rural market, bypassing the large cities at first.

But like all good things, time and technology passed them by. (1) (2) They published their last catalog in 1985 and went out of business in December 2000. (3)  However, that's not going to stop us from taking a look back at their groovy fashions!!

Colleen, Kathy, and Karen certainly did their best to keep MW a float! (4)

God, I miss the minis!! (5)

Some fetching lasses from the MW 61 SS catalog!  Hats were still in style for young ladies. (6)

MW sold everything through their catalog.  For a short time, you could even purchase an entire home!

Sun lamps from MW.  Hmmmm, what could POSSIBILITY go wrong?!?

Ahhh, the good life from MW: redwood outdoor furniture, bamboo fishing poles, and straw hats!!

Or for those indoor types, there was only one word in MW grooviness - Wicker!!

Back to Juniors section, this time from 1971.  Kay, Karen, and Wendy looked very elegant.

Karen and Kay stepping out in style!

Let's not forget the guys in our MW look back!  I think that if anyone actually wore these outfits to school.......well, I'd hate to be that guy!!

The Tunic Suit never took off (thank goodness!)  Maybe this signaled the beginning of the end for MW!!

We can't end on that note, no,no, no!

Kathy , Colleen, and Karen.  That's so much better. "It's a Different Kind of World for Juniors." And now it's a different kind of world without the Big Book catalogs.  Sighhh, and I'm not sure it is for the better.


footnotes:

(1) MW had a wild, turbulent history which I decided not to detail.  During the 70s, the company was already fighting for its life.  In 1976, it was purchased by Mobil (yes, the oil company) which was a financial disaster for both sides.

(2) As an interesting side note, MW coined the phrase "Satisfaction Guaranteed or your Money back."  They introduced that phrase in 1875.

(3) Actually Wards still exists, but only as an online retailer (Wards.Com) which is not connected to the original company except in name only. In 2004, the Wards trademark and other intellectual property rights were bought by a company called DMSI which was later acquired by Swiss Colony.

(4) Pic is courtesy of Blue Senshi - Thanks!

(5) Pic is courtesy of JJ's Playhouse - Thanks!

(6) Re-blogged from NoPatternRequired.Com (as if you couldn't tell with their name plastered across the front.)

That's so 70s - Winter Wear!

Yes, now that the snowy grip of winter has swept over the land, people every where are thinking about adding that special stylish extra to their winter wardrobe.  Of course, back in the halcyon days of the Big Book catalogs, they had that covered as well - and in that special 70s way no less!  Let's go back and see how "in crowd" styled the winter blues away!

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Alert for all you PETA types - prepare to be horrifyingly offended in this and the following pics.  No "pleather" here.  No, no, no.  Only REAL leather will due back in 70s.  Hey Karen, do they have mail order catalogs in The Matrix?  A short leather coat is not enough for Kathy.  She has to really jazz it up in that weird cap / hat thing.  Speaking of winter hats......

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Oh my, Kathy positively lights up the winter darkness in a neon red coat and stripped belt.  Naturally this outfit wouldn't be complete without the outlandishly over sized hat, which is perfect if you are a cold war era spy - you could hide all kinds of James Bond type gizmos in that thing.  Even the gloves are too big.  From Kathy's expression, it looks like she is about to burst out in laughter at any moment.  Colleen is so shocked, she has to avert her gaze!  What could be more crazy than that?  Glad you asked......

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I told you PETA types that you may not like this post!.  Here we have fur (or at least cheap fake fur, This is Montgomery Wards after all).  Still I doubt anyone today could get away with wearing what appears to be a entire polar bear pelt in public (see girl next to Kathy if you couldn't figure that one out).

Apparently this style is called "Chubbies" from the title.  And I doubt it caught on.  Besides from looking absolutely hideous, what self respecting women would buy anything called "chubbie".   What was their advertising department thinking?  You can see early on why Montgomery Ward bit the dust!

The PETA horror show continues with a fake leopard print coat and more leather coats ("Designed and Finished in Minnesota" no less - as if that is some kind of selling point?  I don't get it).  For the rest of us, the fashion horror show also continues with the whacked out pantcoat in the middle - trimmed in fluffy white stuff, with same fluffy white stuff collar and, naturally, a matching fluffy white hat.  That gal is ready to step out and face the icy blast of winter in style!

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It certainly is revealing how, not only fashions change, but what is considered socially acceptable to wear. I'm not sure all these changes are for the best.  Come to think about it, I suddenly feel the desire to wear a polar bear coat (just kidding, please no hate mail.  I know how crazy you PETA types can be).