Everyday Fashions of the Thirties As Pictured in Sears Catalogs
- ISBN13: 9780486251080
- Condition: USED – VERY GOOD
- Notes:
Product Description
For this historically accurate sampling of authentic 1930′s fashion, Stella Blum, former Curator of the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, selected for reproduction 133 representative pages from rare Sears catalogs of the period (1933-1939). Hundreds of illustrations record what men, women, and children were actually wearing in the ’30s when, as a copy line from the fall 1930 catalog proclaimed, “Thrift is the spirit of the day. Reckless spending is a thing of the past”.
Everyday Fashions of the Thirties As Pictured in Sears Catalogs
Written by admin under Fashion Books.
Classic Jazz Fan
March 26, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Wonderful book, gives an authentic overview of the way people dressed in the 1930′s. They sure were a lot more stylish back then, just shows how classy an era the 30′s was. When I go swing dancing I know what kind of clothes to look for this book has been helpful to me in dressing in that style. Recomended and just plain fun to look through.
Rating: 5 / 5
Anonymous
March 26, 2010 at 7:32 pm
This book gives a good look at what the Sears catalog offered in the way of women’s fashions in the thirties. Merchandise is grouped by year and then by women’s, men’s etc. Descriptions are text from the catalog and in some cases give what fabric was used, orignal catalog prices are also included. Accessories such as shoes, hats and jewelery are also pictured.
A great resource for stage cotumes. If you are a good seamstress, today’s patterns can be modified to create styles similar to those of the thirties.
Rating: 4 / 5
GameraGal
March 26, 2010 at 8:45 pm
I own four books in this ‘Searies’ (Twenties, Thirties, Forties, Fifties) and I cannot recommend them highly enough. They are jam-packed with a great mix of pictures in good proportion which show the morphing of fashions over the decade(s). Dominant are women’s clothing (formal, casual, dresses, hats, coats, shoes, with some undergarments, sportswear, nightwear, swimwear). Then there are smatterings of accessories (handbags, watches, gloves, powder compacts, belts, jewelry). Also some menswear and a small amount of childrenswear. All clothing is being worn.
All pictures are black and white and have a certain (pleasant) level of graininess. What you get are the original pictures, prices and descriptions from the catalogs. There is only a very small amount of introductory material (just a one page ‘Publisher’s Note’ for the Thirties).
Changes over the series:
The transition from drawings (all very good and realistic) to photos occurs in the Thirties.
The variety of accessories appearing in the Twenties is largely reduced by the later decades (Fifties almost exclusively clothing and hats with some shoes).
There’s only one problem with these catalogs…you can’t order the contents!
Rating: 5 / 5
Anonymous
March 26, 2010 at 8:48 pm
I am very pleased with this book!! It gives the complete “picture” as well as the year on the proper wear of the clothing from that period, i.e., dress, coat, shoes, hats etc; even accessories like jewelery. The photographs are wonderful. It will be so much fun learning how to wear and collect vintage clothing!! I will buy the rest of the series!!!!!!
Rating: 5 / 5
Hedera Femme
March 26, 2010 at 11:06 pm
If you want a comprehensive book that immerses you in the world of fashion from the thirties, this is the one. It is authentic and beautifully laid out and depicts numerous costume items from the thirties, though mostly focusing on women. The pictures depict everything from dresses to shoes, hats to gloves; the women’s hairstyles, makeup, undergarments, and overall looks give the reader the most authentic possible view of fashion and the aesthetic ideals of the time. The catalogue also shows the prices and features descriptions that include fabric and color. There are some pictures of men’s and children’s fashions. This book is thorough and unbelievably beautiful. The whole series of Sears catalogue fashions by decade is amazing. I recommend them all!
Rating: 5 / 5