My husband and I just finished the first two seasons of Mad Men in less than two weeks. That’s probably something like twenty four hours of television. We got a little obsessed. On the weekends we’d watch about four episodes a day. So like everyone these days, I am drooling over the 1960s aesthetic. But less the modern furniture that has been the biggest craze these past few years and more the outfits. I LOVE the way the curvy character Joan looks with her amazing gigantic chest and hips. And I wish I owned every one of Betty’s outfits down to her riding boots. (I bought this dress, which has a 1950s cut, so I could play housewife in heels while cooking our Christmas dinner.) Anyway, this leads me to what I really want to tell you about- this new book of the best pages from mail order catalogs. The samples spans many decades from the 1860s to present but of course my favorites come from the 1950-1965 era. The book is broken up into subject- fashion, toys, house, food etc. and range from handdrawn illustrated products to full color photo spreads. Besides the fashion ladies modeling dresses, I also love the ads for color televisions with “now, a wireless remote control!” and shag bathroom carpeting in bright orange. The “Avocado of the Month Club” ad and “Pong TV Table Tennis” video game ad make me laugh too- not to mention the leopard men’s underwear (see bottom right). Although this book is a good size, I wouldn’t mind it doubling because I would like to see even more. Maybe there will be a part two. But for now get this book here.

© Julia Rothman 2007