Customer Reviews

Fashionable Clothing from the Sears Catalogs: Early 1930s (Schiffer Book for Collectors)

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There are not many reviews of this product, so I want to provide as much information as possible for those thinking of purchasing the book. Even though I love everything about the early 1930s, I am not sure I would have bought the book myself if I'd had a chance to see it in advance. I'm fairly disappointed. So, it covers the period 1930-1934, with a little overlap with the winter of 1929-30. There are more illustrations for these years than you'll see for the Everyday Fashions of the 1930s book, which covers the entire decade. No commentary, other than a very general, 1-page introduction. The captions for the illustrations are taken right out of the catalog itself - there's no additional interpretation or explanation. I would have commented on the dramatic changes in women's fashions just in this short time period - which saw the early days of the stock market crash and beginnings of the Depression. Sports/casual wear section is skimpy. The menswear really gets short shrift, and was most disappointing. It largely consists of several fairly repetitious pages of suits, no formal wear, and no summer suits/flannels. There's a little coverage of casual/sports wear. Under hats there is just one style shown, a high crown western-style hat - what??? No coverage of ties or men's jewelry (no ladies jewelry shown either). Considering the cost, I expected more, and in hindsight would put the money toward more vintage catalogs. Update: I ended up returning the book. It really annoyed me.

I have the early 40's fashionable clothing book and found it really boring. Nothing like the couture clothes of the period. Really rather lifeless, BUT I took a chance on this period and was delighted! lots of fun clothes, very inspiring and charming. Though not couture they still have a real oomph! to them.