Anonymous
02/06/2026 20:52
Subject: Question re catalogs of yore
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I was born in 1969. Worked in a department store equivalent to Macy's one summer in 1987. In misses' clothing.
I remember the name Spiegel but my family did not buy through that catalogue. My mom was a department store customer and my grandma also (plus Talbots and Pendelton).
The mention of the brands Ralph Lauren and Liz Claiborne in the TV ad place this fashion in the department store brand category today. Ralph Lauren's regular department store price level (not at the higher stand-alone store level, although the merchandise might overlap). Liz Claiborne was very successful in creating a company that sold versatile women's careerwear. Eventually it ran out of gas, the company transformed into a conglomerate of cooler brands (i think they had Kate Spade, Juicy Couture, etc.) and let Liz Claiborne and Claiborne (for men) be sold to JCPenneys to become JCP house brands.
These fashions were maybe considered "bridge sportswear" although I don't know the exact price positioning. Here's an AI explanation of "bridge sportswear".
"Bridge sportswear refers to a fashion industry category originating in the 1980s that bridges the price and style gap between higher-priced designer clothing and mass-market brands. It offers premium, career-oriented, or versatile clothing at a more accessible, mid-tier price point.
Key Aspects of Bridge Sportswear:
Positioning: Located in department stores between the designer and better sportswear sections.
Target Audience: Consumers looking for quality and style at a moderate price, often referred to as "investment dressing".
Components: Includes a mix of tailored career apparel, stylish casual wear, and versatile pieces suitable for work or weekend.
Examples of Brands: Historically and in the 90s, this included brands like Ellen Tracy, Dana Buchman, DKNY, Coach, and Michael Kors.
Evolution: While highly popular in the 80s and 90s, the category evolved towards "contemporary" fashion or "accessible luxury" in later years.
It is often associated with "diffusion lines," which are secondary, lower-priced collections created by high-end designers.
Wtf did I just read.
What is your problem with it? Fashion is a business. I just explained, perhaps in fashion business technical terms, the answer to the OP's question.
And before you ask, no, I'm not on the spectrum. And, "sweetie", I'll bless my own heart so you don't have to say it.
Anonymous
02/06/2026 20:46
Subject: Question re catalogs of yore
Anonymous wrote:I was born in 1969. Worked in a department store equivalent to Macy's one summer in 1987. In misses' clothing.
I remember the name Spiegel but my family did not buy through that catalogue. My mom was a department store customer and my grandma also (plus Talbots and Pendelton).
The mention of the brands Ralph Lauren and Liz Claiborne in the TV ad place this fashion in the department store brand category today. Ralph Lauren's regular department store price level (not at the higher stand-alone store level, although the merchandise might overlap). Liz Claiborne was very successful in creating a company that sold versatile women's careerwear. Eventually it ran out of gas, the company transformed into a conglomerate of cooler brands (i think they had Kate Spade, Juicy Couture, etc.) and let Liz Claiborne and Claiborne (for men) be sold to JCPenneys to become JCP house brands.
These fashions were maybe considered "bridge sportswear" although I don't know the exact price positioning. Here's an AI explanation of "bridge sportswear".
"Bridge sportswear refers to a fashion industry category originating in the 1980s that bridges the price and style gap between higher-priced designer clothing and mass-market brands. It offers premium, career-oriented, or versatile clothing at a more accessible, mid-tier price point.
Key Aspects of Bridge Sportswear:
Positioning: Located in department stores between the designer and better sportswear sections.
Target Audience: Consumers looking for quality and style at a moderate price, often referred to as "investment dressing".
Components: Includes a mix of tailored career apparel, stylish casual wear, and versatile pieces suitable for work or weekend.
Examples of Brands: Historically and in the 90s, this included brands like Ellen Tracy, Dana Buchman, DKNY, Coach, and Michael Kors.
Evolution: While highly popular in the 80s and 90s, the category evolved towards "contemporary" fashion or "accessible luxury" in later years.
It is often associated with "diffusion lines," which are secondary, lower-priced collections created by high-end designers.
Wtf did I just read.
Anonymous
02/06/2026 20:44
Subject: Question re catalogs of yore
I used to live for the Sears Catalog Wish Book at Christmastime. We were living overseas at the time, and it was my one lifeline to the States. I'd go through it slowly and circle all the things I wanted.
Anonymous
02/06/2026 19:52
Subject: Question re catalogs of yore
Anonymous wrote:This is the ad that got me as a tween.
Look at that cool woman! I remember the shadow palette gwp, but not the THREE dollar gc.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PcaqcuuykPk&pp=ygUac3BpZWdlbCBjYXRhbG9nIGNvbW1lcmNpYWw%3D
Did you see how weak her coffee was? How did we make it through the 80s with so little caffeine?
Anonymous
02/06/2026 19:50
Subject: Question re catalogs of yore
We bought from the spiegel catalog, but only a few things every yesr. It wasn't expensive but not K-mart cheap either.
Anonymous
02/06/2026 18:47
Subject: Question re catalogs of yore
I was born in 1969. Worked in a department store equivalent to Macy's one summer in 1987. In misses' clothing.
I remember the name Spiegel but my family did not buy through that catalogue. My mom was a department store customer and my grandma also (plus Talbots and Pendelton).
The mention of the brands Ralph Lauren and Liz Claiborne in the TV ad place this fashion in the department store brand category today. Ralph Lauren's regular department store price level (not at the higher stand-alone store level, although the merchandise might overlap). Liz Claiborne was very successful in creating a company that sold versatile women's careerwear. Eventually it ran out of gas, the company transformed into a conglomerate of cooler brands (i think they had Kate Spade, Juicy Couture, etc.) and let Liz Claiborne and Claiborne (for men) be sold to JCPenneys to become JCP house brands.
These fashions were maybe considered "bridge sportswear" although I don't know the exact price positioning. Here's an AI explanation of "bridge sportswear".
"Bridge sportswear refers to a fashion industry category originating in the 1980s that bridges the price and style gap between higher-priced designer clothing and mass-market brands. It offers premium, career-oriented, or versatile clothing at a more accessible, mid-tier price point.
Key Aspects of Bridge Sportswear:
Positioning: Located in department stores between the designer and better sportswear sections.
Target Audience: Consumers looking for quality and style at a moderate price, often referred to as "investment dressing".
Components: Includes a mix of tailored career apparel, stylish casual wear, and versatile pieces suitable for work or weekend.
Examples of Brands: Historically and in the 90s, this included brands like Ellen Tracy, Dana Buchman, DKNY, Coach, and Michael Kors.
Evolution: While highly popular in the 80s and 90s, the category evolved towards "contemporary" fashion or "accessible luxury" in later years.
It is often associated with "diffusion lines," which are secondary, lower-priced collections created by high-end designers.
I remember the name Spiegel but my family did not buy through that catalogue. My mom was a department store customer and my grandma also (plus Talbots and Pendelton).
The mention of the brands Ralph Lauren and Liz Claiborne in the TV ad place this fashion in the department store brand category today. Ralph Lauren's regular department store price level (not at the higher stand-alone store level, although the merchandise might overlap). Liz Claiborne was very successful in creating a company that sold versatile women's careerwear. Eventually it ran out of gas, the company transformed into a conglomerate of cooler brands (i think they had Kate Spade, Juicy Couture, etc.) and let Liz Claiborne and Claiborne (for men) be sold to JCPenneys to become JCP house brands.
These fashions were maybe considered "bridge sportswear" although I don't know the exact price positioning. Here's an AI explanation of "bridge sportswear".
"Bridge sportswear refers to a fashion industry category originating in the 1980s that bridges the price and style gap between higher-priced designer clothing and mass-market brands. It offers premium, career-oriented, or versatile clothing at a more accessible, mid-tier price point.
Key Aspects of Bridge Sportswear:
Positioning: Located in department stores between the designer and better sportswear sections.
Target Audience: Consumers looking for quality and style at a moderate price, often referred to as "investment dressing".
Components: Includes a mix of tailored career apparel, stylish casual wear, and versatile pieces suitable for work or weekend.
Examples of Brands: Historically and in the 90s, this included brands like Ellen Tracy, Dana Buchman, DKNY, Coach, and Michael Kors.
Evolution: While highly popular in the 80s and 90s, the category evolved towards "contemporary" fashion or "accessible luxury" in later years.
It is often associated with "diffusion lines," which are secondary, lower-priced collections created by high-end designers.
Anonymous
02/06/2026 18:36
Subject: Question re catalogs of yore
1959 https://youtu.be/TqROEPP9UxY?si=QVufVJtjOvIYz4gv
Looks kind of higher end than Sears. I am thinking maybe it was something different about the credit terms that kept my mother from being a customer. We had Sears cards. But typically you sent a check in with your order in the 50s and 60s.
Looks kind of higher end than Sears. I am thinking maybe it was something different about the credit terms that kept my mother from being a customer. We had Sears cards. But typically you sent a check in with your order in the 50s and 60s.
Anonymous
02/06/2026 18:32
Subject: Re:Question re catalogs of yore
It was more akin to Sears or JC Penny
Anonymous
02/06/2026 18:28
Subject: Re:Question re catalogs of yore
I remember Spiegel from the 80s. I equate it with JC Penney or Montgomery Ward. So, no, not high end.
Anonymous
02/06/2026 18:23
Subject: Question re catalogs of yore
This is the ad that got me as a tween.
Look at that cool woman! I remember the shadow palette gwp, but not the THREE dollar gc.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PcaqcuuykPk&pp=ygUac3BpZWdlbCBjYXRhbG9nIGNvbW1lcmNpYWw%3D
Look at that cool woman! I remember the shadow palette gwp, but not the THREE dollar gc.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PcaqcuuykPk&pp=ygUac3BpZWdlbCBjYXRhbG9nIGNvbW1lcmNpYWw%3D
Anonymous
02/06/2026 18:22
Subject: Question re catalogs of yore
I wasn't born yet in the 60s, but I do remember the Spiegel catalog from the 80s. Never ordered everything, but at that time clothing from just about anywhere was better quality than today's Old Navy crap.
Anonymous
02/06/2026 18:11
Subject: Question re catalogs of yore
Anonymous wrote:We didn't either but we did from Sears and Montgomery Ward catalogs. Was Spiegel upscale or a club type thing?
I can’t believe the energy required to store such “memories” on YouTube
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U20NZh4Nn-w&pp=ygUac3BpZWdlbCBjYXRhbG9nIGNvbW1lcmNpYWw%3D
Anonymous
02/06/2026 18:06
Subject: Question re catalogs of yore
I was born in the 60's and remember the Spiegel catalog but never bought anything. I think by the time I was old enough to buy things myself Spiegel had morphed into things my MIL would wear - frumpy clothes for overweight women. I vaguely recall they owned Eddie Bauer for a while.
Anonymous
02/06/2026 18:04
Subject: Question re catalogs of yore
We didn't either but we did from Sears and Montgomery Ward catalogs. Was Spiegel upscale or a club type thing?
Anonymous
02/06/2026 18:02
Subject: Question re catalogs of yore
As a kid I remember seeing Spiegel ads.
I was not their target demographic. My mom never did mail order.
So, for those who were born in the 1960s & therefore at an age to be a consumer. Question:
Was Spiegel selling well made clothes? Or was it in par with today’s Old Navy?
(Random thoughts on a snowy dark night waiting for Games to start lol. I imagine some more “winners” from will be posted)
I was not their target demographic. My mom never did mail order.
So, for those who were born in the 1960s & therefore at an age to be a consumer. Question:
Was Spiegel selling well made clothes? Or was it in par with today’s Old Navy?
(Random thoughts on a snowy dark night waiting for Games to start lol. I imagine some more “winners” from will be posted)