, even body shapes over the decades.There probably aren't many of us that grew up in the UK and didn't see one of these books, if your Mum didn't have one, an Aunt, or a friend's Mum would have one. Hands up, who didn't go to the underwear section and have a snigger?
I worked for several years at a sister catalogue, Morses. We didn't do Mail Order, our customer base were those who were unable to get credit anywhere. We had Sales Collectors and they took out a smaller version of the book, would take orders, bring the goods to the customer and then call, weekly to collect the money. They would have been a more modern version of the Tally Man.
My Grandma's Harrold nephews had their own business taking round ladies clothes to sell from their van and made a good living out of it. Many of these 'Rounds' were bought up by Morses, years ago.
You can see some examples of different decades CLICK HERE.
The third page, from the 70s is hilarious. Come on Chaps, own up, who had the Crimplene Jump Suit? And is that Robbie in the Paisley Lace Fronted shirt?
