I've scanned 64 pages from a 1981 Sears Spring/Summer catalog. I expect no payment in return, only your abiding loyalty to Retrospace. My only reward is the big smiles on your faces (which I can't see, and if I could, would probably creep me out). I initially planned to scan the whole damn catalog, but then common sense (and hyper-laziness) took over, and I settled on a selection of pages throughout the catalog.
To download all the scanned pages from the 1981 Sears catalog click here (rar file via Rapidshare).
Or you can view the pages via a slideshow...
One thing I noticed while going through this catalog was how 1981 fashions and decor were perfectly poised between the 1970's and 1980's - in other words, there's the pastel Miami Vice fashions right alongside the brown and avacodo 70's. The earthtones and bell bottoms weren't completely phased out, and the vibrant colors and styles that we commonly associate with the 80's weren't in full effect yet either. 1981 stands as a transition period between two very different decade styles.
Here's a few of my favorite pages from the catalog.
The colors of these two bathrooms are so loud, I think the blind can even see them. Sheesh. Talk about vivid. Do they come with batteries? Everthing is so excessively lemon or lime, I'd be afraid I'd become disoriented, lose sight of the bowl and miss!
Do my eyes deceive me, or is there a naked chick in my Sears catalog? In Flickr, you can view the large size, and it sure as hell looks that way. Granted, everything's covered up, but it's still pretty surprising.
Shorts lived up to their name in 1981 - they were short..... reeeeeeal short. I don't know who wears denim shorts like that anymore besides Madonna's dancers. These are damn near close to being Daisy Dukes for men. These would be illegal today.
