30 December 2011

A 1976 Christmas - From Neiman Marcus
















(click on image to enlarge)

Last year, the 1972 NM Christmas catalog was featured here to a somewhat lukewarm reception. This year, the 1986 Apple catalog I posted was seen by half of the United States and all of Australia. I don't get it but I never do. Maybe it was the Belinda Carlise video? Anyway, I blew the dust off my corporate American Express card (they'll never know) and secured this 1976 cheese extravaganza off eBay.

Christmas of '76, I was waiting for the Special Forces 'Q' course to start at Ft Bragg. I didn't know Neiman Marcus from Shinola and the same could be said about Special Forces and what it took to make the grade. Of the 88 in my class -- three got their green beenies and they were all noncoms. My class was the last to allow lower ranking enlisted (E-1 to E-4) after which you had to be an E-5 or above due to the brutal wash out rate.

It's not what you dream -- It's what you fail at that gives character. And this catalog is full of character. That's why I love it so. However, I'm not adverse to an equally cheesy music video of the era saving my ass. Here's to the 85 who failed at USAIMA and to Phil. I remember this playing in the barracks like it was...a very long time ago.

13 comments:

Charles said...

The TV series Dallas must have been originally imagined while gazing at this catalog.

Main Line Sportsman said...

Those clothes are simply a train wreck...what were they thinking...

Anonymous said...

To this day, NM is still a purveyor of upscale bling that is really no different than the God-awful stuff you've shared with us here. The $400 Prada high-top sneakers are gobbled up by the twits who valet-park their Escalades and Hummers outside.

If your tastes are more Neopolitan (e.g. Brioni, Zegna) then NM might have some good stuff, and I've seen shirts by Charvet and T&A in there as well. But from a trad perspective, it's largely a disaster.

Ben said...

Bummer. I'm a 44R. Guess I won't be able to wear any NM cotton jumpsuits to overhaul my "saturday wardrobe". Sometimes you just can't win.

Anonymous said...

A couple years later (1978) I visited the NM store in the Galleria in Houston. I don't know if it was the catalog's special item or not, but they had a dollhouse with lights and it cost as much as real houses in the town I lived in in SE Texas at the time.

Giuseppe said...

Verily, The Jams.

Anonymous said...

Ties or bibs?

Kcaj said...

Thinking of "those who don't remember history, repeat it"; aren't those his-an-her Snuggies in the second photo? An I still believe it true, that one should only wear fur if you see a gynecoligist. Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

Is that a B&O control deck and turntable? I've got a buddy whom still uses his everyday

Brummagem Joe said...

"NM is still a purveyor of upscale bling that is really no different than the God-awful stuff you've shared with us here."

Sure they sell bling but so do lots of places. They also sell lots of rather nice stuff It's purely a matter of discernment. A weeks ago I picked up at a reasonable price a couple of very nice Drake cashmere ties that are never going to look blingy or go out of fashion.

Julia said...

Reminds me of the nylon-esque Kate Spade backpack I bought at NM back in the '90s.

Julia said...

Still thinking about this . . . now it reminds me of watching "Rhoda."

tintin said...

Cathleen- Rhoda's a good one. Certainly Mary Tyler Moore in the pleated St John comes to mind although I can't see Lou in a fur coat.