The Big Book Catalog Series (Part 8) - 1976b

Ahh yes, 1976.  It was a year right on the edge of the disco craze.  But from the looks of the fashions in the two of the main Big Book catalogs, you wouldn't know it.

JCPenney and Sears were two of the mainline, middle America retailers of the era.  Did they see disco coming?

 Nah, they were still stuck in the earth tone phase of the middle 70s.  The hoodie on Kathy is nice.

No sign of disco!

Pretty standard stuff here.  Karen, Kay, and Wendy look great and all, but that's not disco fashion at all!

Is this a little bit more in the disco spirit?  Nah, just more Random Weirdness from the 70s.

More earth tone drabness from the 70s.  Saturday Night Fever hasn't taken the country by storm yet! And yes, that is my favorite Mystery Model.

Yawn.  More of the same.  From this catalog it appears as if fashions of the 70s were really, really dull.

Perhaps Sears can liven things up.

Kathy's smile is dazzling, but the fashions are a bit everyday.

Let's face it.  There is simply no way that any amount of hype can make "medium gray flannel" sound exciting.

Hey! Here some snappy colors. Perhaps we've turned a corner at long last.

The hat on Karen is great.  Still not feeling the disco here.

Ladies I'm very disappointed.  Maybe the guys can help us out?

Nope.

And........

Nope.  Leisure suits. Shudder!  I guess that people in 1976 simply had no idea of the fashion nightmare that was just around the corner with disco!

That's So 70s: Winter Wear - Part 4!

Yep, it's that time of year when we have to put aside thoughts of the groovy swimwear, min skirts, and hot pants of the 70s and prepare for. brrrr, Old Man Winter.  But not to worry, the Big Book catalogs of the 70s had you covered from head to toe in the grooviest winter fashions.

Well you can't hardly get any groovier than these two.  They're not going to let a little cold snap ruin their fun!  Those bright smiles are bringing on a heat wave instead!

Let's check out that small pic of Kathy shall we?

That looks like one very heavy winter coat!

Coleen is definitely bundled up and ready to face the elements in "Sueded Split Cowhide."  Yes, I know that some of my readers may find such items offensive.  If the cowhide bothers you, then perhaps should avoid the next couple of pics.......

Is that, GASP, real fur?!?  Yes, and from Montgomery Wards no less. I do believe that is Kathy in the lower left.

Yep, it's her.

What! Now Kay too??  Nah, it only looks like a giant fur hat.  Instead it is mode of the finest man made, artificial fabrics available in the 70s.

Great imitators indeed!  The trees may be bare and the weather frosty, but these gals almost make you feel glad that it's Winter, almost.

Forgot about "almost", with snazzy winter coats like here from Wards, who wouldn't like wintertime in the 70s?!?

Well at least we seem to have escaped from the real fur coats of the 70s.  These fakes from Aldens are groovy cool and snugly warm at the same time!

Arrrgghhh!   Not only do we have real fur but also cowhide in the same outfit - a PETA supporter's nightmare!!

What, oh what, can save us from this trend?!?!?

Instead of fur, one could wear a, a, tapestry??  That's one 70s fashion idea that didn't make it out of the decade.