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Montgomery Ward was the world’s first mail order catalog business. It was established in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward. The business was catalog-only until 1926, when the first Montgomery Ward store was opened in Plymouth, Indiana. Within four years there were more than 500 stores across the country.

During the 1950s Montgomery Ward began to fall behind its competition, as most major retailers were moving to the suburbs, a move that Montgomery Ward thought to be too expensive. By the 1970s the company was in serious trouble. They continued to struggle and in 1997 declared bankruptcy. They were able to reorganize and emerged in 1999 as Wards. Unfortunately, this was not successful and the company announced it was closing in 2000. The last Wards store closed in 2001.

In 2004 an Iowa-based company bought the rights to the Montgomery Ward and Wards names and started an online and catalog company using the names. This company was sold to catalog giant Swiss Colony in 2008.

Carol Brent was a house brand from Montgomery Ward mail order company.

Written by fuzzylizzie


from a 1930s leather jacket - Courtesy of Sandra Mendoza/Debutante Clothing

from a 1930s leather jacket

Courtesy of Sandra Mendoza/Debutante Clothing

from a late-1930s/early-1940s youth's jacket - Courtesy of dollsntrolls

from a late-1930s/early-1940s youth’s jacket

Courtesy of dollsntrolls

from a late-1940s to early-1950s blouse - Courtesy of Hollie Point Vintage

from a late-1940s to early-1950s blouse

Courtesy of Hollie Point Vintage

from a late 1950s day dress - Courtesy of hopewhite

from a late 1950s day dress

Courtesy of hopewhite

from a 1950s hunting jacket - Courtesy of amandainvermont

from a 1950s hunting jacket

Courtesy of amandainvermont

from a 1950s coat - Courtesy of ruseecure2

from a 1950s coat

Courtesy of ruseecure2

from a 1950s/1960s dress - Courtesy of MagsRags

from a 1950s/1960s dress

Courtesy of MagsRags

from an early-1960s skirt hang tag - Courtesy of Metro Retro Vintage

from an early-1960s skirt hang tag

Courtesy of Metro Retro Vintage

from a pair of 1960s shoes - Courtesy of pinky-a-go-go

from a pair of 1960s shoes

Courtesy of pinky-a-go-go

from a 1970s coat - Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1970s coat

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1970s disco shirt - Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1970s disco shirt

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1970s garment - Courtesy of Vintagiality

from a 1970s garment

Courtesy of Vintagiality