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If there were any doubt about how strongly gender roles and expectations were once ingrained in American lives, this 1961 White’s Christmas catalog should remove all doubt. Continue reading Girls’ Gifts: Gender Definitions for 1961
In 1976, the year of America’s bicentennial, Neiman-Marcus hit a perfect note for their his and hers gift – real live Buffalos. Continue reading His and Hers, Hides and Furs
Americans, we love our medicines. That sounds strange, but we have always looked to nostrums like these that could cure us of our ills. Continue reading Mother’s Little Helpers
“Heavily Silverplated Flatware”, evidently. Just look at her rapturous gaze! Continue reading What Makes a Woman Swoon?
Chicago Mail Order, 1941 An outfit for “Today’s Bride” of 1941, virtually as streamlined as any 1941 warplane. Because the bride was practical, the wedding gown was two-piece — ditch the coat and wear the sleeveless gown alone to dances. Because “all eyes (are) on your figure as you walk down the aisle” everything is … Continue reading What the Modern Bride was Wearing
A fashion model using a pay phone: as good a theme as any to build a dress catalog around. Especially for Neiman-Marcus… Continue reading The “Long Distance Look”
It shocked me to learn Fredrick’s of Hollywood was the largest purveyor of lingerie before Victoria’s Secret. It shocked me to look at these pages and see the ancient sexism and tawdry attitudes… Continue reading “Stop Traffic – Go Spring Fashion”
The big fashion fad of 1975 had to be the “Mood Ring” that changed color depending on your “mood”… Continue reading Feeling Moody?
Montgomery Ward, Summer 1976 Your homework assignment for today: Compare and contrast the 1976-era bathing suits on these two pages of the 1976 Montgomery Ward catalog with the swimsuits shown in my previous post from the 1922 Montgomery Ward catalog. Forty-four years between the two catalogs. Pens at the ready? Go! For extra credit, consider … Continue reading Sea-ductive Swimwear
Montgomery Ward & Co, 1922 The start of the roaring ’20s’ and swimsuits were still modest – for the men as well as women. Although not quite as fully covering as swimwear from a decade before (arms and legs are starting to show) they still cover more than they reveal. Look at the “hero” outfit … Continue reading “Add to the Summer Joy of Bathing”
