Figure 1.--The Sears Summer catalog offered several types of short pants. On this page are walk shorts and camp shorts. The only major difference we notice in both types over time in camp shirts was the hem length. |
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Camp shorts were a very popular style of short pants in 1973. Sears was one of the retailers offering them. The cut was still relatively long. Sears in 1973 offered two cuts if Perma-PrestŪ Camp Shorts They were available in regular sizes 6-14, but in larger husky sizes. The larger husky sizes do not reflect chronological age.
Sears was the leading American chain depoartment store in 1973. They also operated the latrgest mail order catalog. Sears dominance in American retailing was in the 1970s declining. The increasing popularity of malls an botique shops was a mjor factor.
The Sears Summer catalog offered several types of short pants. On this page are the walk shorts and camp shorts offered (figure 1). They came in roughly identical sizes in slim, regular, and husky fits. The regular sizes were 6, 6, 10, and 12. The camp shorts were also offered in 14. Husky sizes went up to 16 for the walk shorts and 20 for the camp shorts. The walk shorts were also availble in student sizes, waist sizes 27-32). Sears by student sizes meant boys sizes 14 an d young adults. This roughly meant high schooland college.
The Sears ad copy indicated the walk shorts were "in classic Ivy style" and went on to say, "PERMA-PRESTŪ shorts of 50% polyester, 50% cotton, 2 front, 2 back pockets. Belt loops, zip fly. Machine wash in warm water and tumble dry. No ironing needed. Maximum fabric shrikage is 1 %. They were offered in berry, brown, navy, and white. Younger boys wore both camp and walk shorts, but walk shorts were made for boys in high school and college.
The Sears ad copy indicated the camp shorts had a "soil release finish" and went on to say, "PERMA-PRESTŪcamp shorts made for rugged wear. 50% polyester and 50% cotton for a long-wearing twill fabric. Soil-release finish makes it easy to wash out most oil and grease stains. 1 snap bellows pocket, 1 zip slash pocket, 12 back patch pockets. Maximum fabric shrikage is 1 %." The camp shorts were offered in the traditonal camp short colors of khaki tan, navy blue, and spruce green. The only major difference we notice in both types over time in camp shorts was the hem length and variations in the pocket closures. These camp shorts didn't have the pocket knife attachment often found on camp shorts. They had a snap closure with front pockets, one a snap closure, the other a zipper closure.
The camp shorts are shown here as being worn with The shorts shown here in the Sears Summer catalog were shown to be worn with crew neck knit shorts in a variety of both solid colors and wide, bold colored stripes. See the insert in the figure (figure 1). They were made in boys' (6-12) and students' sizes (14-24). Tank tops were pictured with some pthers tyles of shorts.
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