“Images Change”These C&A “Avanti” and “Clock House” mixed menswear and womenswear ads date from 1987. They all have a white background with little photos of the models posing around the letters in “Images Change”.
“Where value is always in fashion.”These C&A menswear ads date from 1983-84.
“Images Change”These C&A “Avanti” menswear ads date from 1985-86. They all feature a ripped-page graphic.
“Advantage Avanti”These C&A “Avanti” menswear ads date from 1988. They all feature white backgrounds with big black lettering.
“Advantage Avanti”These C&A “Avanti” menswear ads date from 1989. They all have an Ivy College theme.
“Try it on!”These C&A “Clock House” womenswear ads date from 1985.
“The time is now.”These C&A “Clock House” womenswear ads date from 1988-89. They all have a white background with a faint clock print behind.
Here is a collection of children’s character clothing shown in various US Christmas catalogues from 1980-89 (found on Wishbook). The clothing was mainly t-shirts and sweater/sweat pant sets. I love the poses the kids are pulling in some of these images!
“Tiny togs for tiny tots to knit to crochet.” Columbia Minerva knitting leaflets for childrenswear, dating from 1970-77.
“Get with fashion’s newest rage. These handknits fly off your fingers with supersonic speed.” Columbia Minerva knitting leaflets for Women’s fashion. They date from 1967-77.
Columbia Minerva knitting leaflets for men’s fashion. They date from 1968-75.
“Comfort in action!”These ads for men’s fashions made from Du Pont “Dacron” polyester, “Orlon” acrylic fibre, and “Nylon” date from 1956-59. The ads feature men in various sporting and leisure scenarios.
“The fun is in the wearing.”These ads for men’s fashions made from Du Pont “Dacron” polyester and “Orlon” acrylic fibre date from from 1960. The ads feature men in various sporting and leisure scenarios.
I came across an amazing book of knitting patterns by Columbia-Minerva recently called “Fables and Fabulous Yarns: Knit Fashions for Boys & Girls” (1970). Not only does it the most fabulous photographs inside featuring floral backdrops and slightly creepy stuffed animals, but it also has a short story and poems written by Christie White Dauphin. Concept, photography & lithography by Low’s Inc.
“Eva Joia fun fashions for girls only!” Here are some Gitano “Eva Joia” girls fashion adverts from 1985-87. I’d totally still wear the knitted cat jumper…
“Handknits for all the family.” This small, A6 magazine by Patons & Beehive was published in 1963. It included instructions for nine designs as well as images of a selection of their other patterns. There was also hints and tips on various aspects of handknitting.
During the 1980’s-1990’s, Intarsia (a UK based company) produced over one hundred super cool knitted jumper patterns of cartoon TV characters (plus a few non-cartoon characters too). They are out of print these days, but still circulate on the second-hand market.
“Young gentry sport shirts.” These spiffy menswear catalogue images are from a 1966 JC Penneys catalogue and feature an array of mildly amused men sporting knitted cardigans, pullovers and shirts.
“Elegant. Sporty. Excellent.” This edition of Machine Knitting Chic was published in 1990 (no.5, £1.75) and included 30 over-ornamented jumpers with such wide shoulder that getting though doors must have taken some consideration.
Today I have been mostly looking at 1980’s – 1990’s retro geometric patterns in fashion. Now my eyes hurt…
Here is a fine selection of images from the front of festive knitting patterns.I just can’t decide which one I love most! Not that I’d ever wear one…
