Over 130 fully illustrated pages from Sears catalogs offer historically accurate images of what men, women, and children wore throughout 1930s. Hundreds of illustrations reflect the era's mood of economic austerity and its departure from the flamboyance of Twenties fashions in favor of lower hemlines and garments made from more traditional, affordable materials.
Everyday Fashions of the Thirties As Pictured in Sears Ca...
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By GameraGal
Format:Paperback
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!
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!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By "nell47"
Format:Paperback
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.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
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!!!!!!
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have to agree with the other reviewers. Modern fashion tends to look "dumbed down". I've owned this book for some time and refer to it often. Not to copy, necessarily; but to find inspiration. There are clothes available that still look "classic". Many of the original Sears pictures were in color but are reproduced here in b&w. Many of the reproductions have an overly fuzzy look. I suppose that's why the book is only $15 instead of 2 or 3 times as much. The Schiffer Sears series has sharp color images but you pay twice as much. You could buy the original Sears catalogs on eBay (I have a few) for even more. Your choice. This book will give you a good overview of the fashion changes during the decade and you can take it from there. Also of note are the accessories. A New Deal/FDR watch! A Buck Rogers watch! This isn't camp, either, but back in the days when this was serious stuff. Highly recommended!
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Purchased this book soon after it was published in a Baltimore art museum.
Modern Fashions and hairstyles today reveal absolute mediocrity. No style. No class. More to offend the eye than to please. Trousered females with short cropped hair and men whose hair is unkept wearing garments ill made. Swimsuits that leave nothing to the imagination worn by people who one just wishes were not visable because they keep themselvs as they do their awful cloths.
This book is a treat to the eye. Wonderful cloths that show modern apparel was not alawys the norm.
For the student of History this book is a valuable source of information on the cloths of the period, for which I purchased my copy. No scoloarly work but merely taken from the Sears catalogs of the time. Undergarments and accessories, shoes to hats, everything is shown here.
Modern Fashions and hairstyles today reveal absolute mediocrity. No style. No class. More to offend the eye than to please. Trousered females with short cropped hair and men whose hair is unkept wearing garments ill made. Swimsuits that leave nothing to the imagination worn by people who one just wishes were not visable because they keep themselvs as they do their awful cloths.
This book is a treat to the eye. Wonderful cloths that show modern apparel was not alawys the norm.
For the student of History this book is a valuable source of information on the cloths of the period, for which I purchased my copy. No scoloarly work but merely taken from the Sears catalogs of the time. Undergarments and accessories, shoes to hats, everything is shown here.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By AirLiner
Format:Paperback
As a 1930's enthusiast I became interested in this book after reading the reviews. They all seemed to indicate a well sampled view of 1930's fashion in general, of men, women and children, so obviously I was eager to purchase the book.
When I finally got it I was disappointed to see that this book did not provide fashions of the general 1930's populace, but rather concentrated mainly on women's fashions. There were only a few pages dedicated to men's clothes and I was especially surprised to see how much the book lacked in portraying men's suits. So as for for portraying a good view of what people wore in the 1930's I'd say the book was inadequate.
If you're into learning mainly about 1930's women's fashion, then go ahead and purchase this, but if you are really interested in a more detailed portrayal of what the whole population in general wore in those times then you are better off buying a vintage Sears catalog on ebay.
When I finally got it I was disappointed to see that this book did not provide fashions of the general 1930's populace, but rather concentrated mainly on women's fashions. There were only a few pages dedicated to men's clothes and I was especially surprised to see how much the book lacked in portraying men's suits. So as for for portraying a good view of what people wore in the 1930's I'd say the book was inadequate.
If you're into learning mainly about 1930's women's fashion, then go ahead and purchase this, but if you are really interested in a more detailed portrayal of what the whole population in general wore in those times then you are better off buying a vintage Sears catalog on ebay.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Last Decade of Elegance
The Last Decade Of Elegance: Everyday Fashions Of The Thirties: As Pictured In Sears Catalogs
This book depicts the clothes of everyday people as opposed to high fashion. Read more
This book depicts the clothes of everyday people as opposed to high fashion. Read more
Published 18 days ago by Linda Cargill
4.0 out of 5 stars
Reel information
Reel information and designs directly from the past. This book is useful and i recommend it ...and bla bla bla
Published 4 months ago by SueSue
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Cool Artifact
I really liked the variety of images included in this resource. This is a tremendous resource for my purposes, and I recommend it for people trying to recreate authentic 30s looks.
Published 6 months ago by Steven Willis
4.0 out of 5 stars
In hard times, Americans remain well dressed
"One might be tempted to think," observes the Publisher's Note, "that the financial deprivations suffered by most people during the Depression would have brought fashion to a... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Chrijeff
5.0 out of 5 stars
....back in time.
This wonderful compilation of clothing and accessories available at Sears in the 1930's makes me want to go back in time. The book is very well thought out. Read more
Published 16 months ago by J. Trout
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great photos and illustrations
I love this book; received it in great condition. I look at the photos and illustrations for hours. Its an excellent resource for some of the artwork I'm doing currently. Read more
Published on March 2, 2011 by Sherry Martin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent reference book
The "Everyday Fashions" books are a hoot to look at and are informative, too. I am using my copies (of the 20s, 30s, and 40s) as reference books for selecting fabrics and patterns... Read more
Published on January 30, 2011 by Norma
4.0 out of 5 stars
Clothes makes the Man or Woman
Showing the clothing offered by one of the biggest retailers in the US, this is a study in clothing for the era. Read more
Published on March 14, 2010 by John Erickson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Useful and enjoyable reference
This is the first book from this series I obtained. It is a useful reference tool not only for the major pieces of clothing but also how accessories were used and placed. Read more
Published on February 22, 2010 by seide
5.0 out of 5 stars
A gorgeous book!
This book (and the others in the series) are absolutely fantastic.
As a costumer, i've found these books to be extremely helpful in recreating costumes of the period. Read more
As a costumer, i've found these books to be extremely helpful in recreating costumes of the period. Read more
Published on December 26, 2009 by Flo B. Foxworthy
