Where To Watch
The most totally Nineties things we found in the 1991 Sears Christmas catalog
It was mostly teal and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Images: Sears / Wish Book Web
It was a time of teal and puce. Turtlenecks and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reigned. Our pants were pleated, acid washed, baggy and zebra-striped. The only thing on a bigger roll than roller blades was Vanilla Ice.
We are talking about the early Nineties. The beloved Sears Wish Book was on its final legs. The thick Christmas catalog faded away in 1993, but in its final years, the annual publication perfected captured the era. Just as it had in the 1970s and in the 1980s.
Flipping through the pages of the 1991 Sears Wish Book, we were overwhelmed with a feeling of nostalgia that was warmer and fuzzier than flannel. So take a journey back in time with us. Here are 19 items that you would only find in the 1990s.
[Images: Wish Book Web]
1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as formal wear
When your parents told you to wear a nice sweater for the holidays, you could at least still represent Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo.
2. McDonald's clothing
Thankfully, McKids threads did not smell of Big Macs. You'd have to hang out all day in the restaurant for that effect.
3. That Jerry and George look
These kids are cosplaying as the cast of Seinfeld, right? It's hard to tell. Everyone in these pages looked like they were cosplaying Seinfeld.
4. Turtlenecks, blazers, turtlenecks under blazers
This was the look — available in a variety of Professional Sports Expansion Team colors.
5. Stop… pajama time!
People took MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice seriously enough to take them to bed.
6. N.K.O.T. Bed
Or, you could tuck up inside a new kids sleeping bag.
7. Pants had earned their stripes
There were no fewer than six pages of Zubaz. Let that sink in — six pages of Zubaz. The zebra-themed sweats were for more than Buffalo Bills tailgating. People worked out in them. People wore them to school…
8. This kid with all the patterns
Ombré, acid washing, Zubaz, phony surf brands… this lucky kid had all the trends at once.
9. Jordan over Jordache
MJ was the king of basketball and pop culture. Jordan apparel popped up throughout the catalog, nowhere more dramatically than this airbrushed Starter jacket.
10. Fanny packs and film
Fanny packs were not ironic fashion — they were functional. You could stuff in all sorts of great things, like these stylish plastic cameras. That used film. Remember film, kids?
11. Swatch phones
The Swiss pop watchmaker got into the telephone biz with these bright devices that allowed — get this — TWO PEOPLE to talk on the same phone at once! Science, man!
12. "Cellular-style" walkie talkies
Walkie talkies were modeled to look like the cellular phone of the era — which made them bigger than normal walkie talkies.
13. Air in your feet
Reebok took Technotronic's jock jam hit "Pump Up the Jam" to heart and unleashed the Pump sneaker. It was the Crystal Pepsi for your feet.
14. Now this is what we call streaming
Who needs Netflix? With the Sony Video Walkman you could watch (four-inch) television in the palm of your hand. For the low, low price of a grand — or about $1,800 today. Eesh.
15. Race car in bedrooms
The Silver Spoons effect was still going strong.
16. Thingz spelled with Zz
This is about when things got X-Treme with the Z pluralization. Take this totally to the max word game. Makes you want to slam a Jolt Cola.
17. Three full pages of roller blades
There was no shortage of roller blades. Roller skates were for squares.
18. Captain Planet toys
The environmentalist superhero was so eco-friendly even his mullet was green.
19. These jeans
Just these jeans.
SEE MORE: 19 ITEMS FROM THE 1979 SEARS CATALOG THAT WILL GIVE YOU A 1970S OVERLOAD
Mork was the Ninja Turtle of his day. READ MORE
Related
22 Comments
Mom jeans are back in 🙄
Yes I'll have a Big Mac, a Chicken Nugget Happy Meal...Oh, wait and a medium pink turtleneck.
I can hear the Church Lady saying:
You will always be a classic to us here- Well " us" meaning some/most. Do others agree?
#15 racecar or sporting a pair of #17 rollerblades. Yep the manufacturers would definitely see you coming. Well you could always get on a #11 Swatch phone and set up a return or exchange.
#19. "These jeans. Just these jeans."
Well, There are these jeans as well.
Miss Sears. ;; So many memories. Plus shopping the Christmas catalog, and others...JC Penney’s was similar. My mom and I used to make humongous lists of what we wanted from those and then wind up ordering most of it. x3
