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Sears, Roebuck & Company

Sears, Roebuck & Company was at one time the largest retailer in the United States, and was both a mail order company and chain of stores selling mid-priced goods.

The company was founded by Richard W. Sears, a railroad station agent located in Minnesota, and Alvah C. Roebuck, a watchmaker. They began by selling watches and jewelry by mail order in the late 1880s. In 1893, they incorporated as Sears, Roebuck & Company. The company was located in Chicago, which would remain the site of their headquarters through the years.

By 1894, the Sears, Roebuck catalog was filled with many goods that were needed and desired by the many farm families who had little access to stores. The good prices and wide selection allowed the business to grow very quickly, and within a few years the catalog offered everything from farm equipment to toys.

In 1925, Sears, Roebuck & Company opened their first store in Chicago. Within the next few years, Sears, Roebuck stores were scattered across the Mid-west, and were being built across the country. By 1933, there were 400 stores nationwide. During this time period, Sears began to develop their own brands, such as Kenmore appliances. Over the years, Sears clothing lines have included Kerrybrooke, Charmode, Roebucks, Pilgrim, Hercules, King’s Road, and The Fashion Place labels. There are hundreds of different Sears labels, and the best indicator for dating is often the styling of the garment, rather than the style of the label.

The name of the store was shortened to just Sears in the early 1970s, though the official name of the company remained Sears, Roebuck and Company until the 1980s. In 1993 an era ended when Sears stopped producing its catalogues. In 2005, Sears was merged into the K-Mart Corporation.

Throughout the 2010’s Sears sales began a decline that it never recovered from, filing for bankruptcy in 2018. It emerged with a plan to restructure the business in order to keep stores open. This optimism was short-lived, as over the next few years, poor sales performance caused the brand to close 100s of stores, sell off other assets, and once again file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. By the end of 2024, only 8 Sears stores remained, with only online purchases available through the Sears.com web site.

Written by Vintage Fashion Guild

from an early 1940s work shirt

Courtesy of Brown & Hopkins Country Store

from an early 1940s work shirt

Courtesy of Brown & Hopkins Country Store

from a 1940s swimsuit

Courtesy of Catseye Vintage

from a pair of 1940s jeans

Courtesy of Brown & Hopkins Country Store

from a pair of 1940s twill work pants

Courtesy of Brown & Hopkins Country Store

from a pair of 1940s overalls

Courtesy of Brown & Hopkins Country Store

from a late 1940s/early 1950s jacket

Courtesy of FabGear Vintage

from an early 1950s work shirt

Courtesy of A.O.T.

from an early 1950s men's wool jacket

Courtesy of TBonita Style

from a 1950s slip

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1950s suede zip jacket

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1950s boy's jacket

Courtesy of Poppys Vintage Clothing

from a 1950s blouse

Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com

from a 1950s coat

Courtesy of fast_eddies_retro_rags

from a 1950s skirt

Courtesy of MagsRags Vintage

from a 1950s swimsuit

Courtesy of stelladoravintage

from a 1950s dress

Courtesy of Hollie Point Vintage

from a 1956 men's garment

Courtesy of searsarchives.com

from a late 1950s slip

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a late 1950s dress

Courtesy of StellAdoraVintage

from a late 1950s dress

Courtesy of hatfeathers

from a late 1950s dress

Courtesy of StellAdoraVintage

from a late 1950s girdle

Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo

from a late 1950s Holomū - this label was carried by Sears, Roebuck and Co. stores in Hawaii in the late 1950s.

Courtesy of Tory Laitila

from a 1950s to early-1960s chore coat

Courtesy of Hollie Point Vintage

from an early 1960s Beacon robe

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from an early 1960s thermal underwear top

Courtesy of Aviena Vintage

from a 1960s housedress

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1960s women's robe

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1960s housecoat

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1960s shirt dress

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1960s blouse

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1960s dress

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1960s mens coat

Courtesy of morning-glorious

from a 1960s necktie

Courtesy of glad rags and curios

from a 1960s hostess gown

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1960s men's polo shirt

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1960s Hawaiian shirt

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1960s blouse

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1960s jacket

Courtesy of morning-glorious

from a late 1960s swimsuit

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a pair of late 1960s overalls

Courtesy of Hollie Point Vintage

from a late 1960s coat

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a pair of late 1960s swim trunks

Courtesy of FabGear Vintage

from an early 1970s girl's poncho

Courtesy of vintagegent.com

from an early 1970s boy's coat

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from an early 1970s women's coat

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from an early 1970s shirt

Courtesy of catseyevintage

from an early 1970s dress

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from an early 1970s shirt

Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com

from a 1970s disco shirt

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1970s shirt

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1970s raincoat

Courtesy of Luna Junction

from a pair of 1970s women's jeans

Courtesy of Hollie Point Vintage

from a pair of 1970s jodhpurs

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1970s women's blouse

Courtesy of TBonita Style

from a 1970s maxi dress

Courtesy of VintageFanAttic

from a 1970s maxi dress

Courtesy of pinupdresses.com

from a 1970s shirt jacket

Courtesy of BulletBraBoutique

from a 1970s velour shirt

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1970s casual shirt

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1970s casual knit top

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1970s casual shirt

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1970s casual shirt

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1970s sport coat

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1970s jacket

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1970s women's suede jacket

Courtesy of Hollie Point

from a 1970s shearling coat

Courtesy of Hollie Point Vintage

from a 1970s robe

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1970s necktie

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1970s dress

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1970s men's suede and knit jacket

Courtesy of TBonita Style

from a 1970s western shirt

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a late 1970s blazer

Courtesy of vintagegent.com

from a late 1970s polyester shirt dress

Courtesy of Black Lotus Vintage

from a 1979 shirt dress

Courtesy of Black Lotus Vintage

hangtag from a 1979 shirt dress

Courtesy of Black Lotus Vintage

from an early 1980s shirt dress

Courtesy of Black Lotus Vintage
label from Sears bra, 1990s

from a 1990s bra

Courtesy of TBonita Style