Why I still love shopping from a catalogue

When I look back and try to decide where my interest in fashion came from, I find it very easy to give an answer. It was the Kays catalogue! In the early 1980s my mom always used to shop from catalogues, and Kays was her absolute favourite. It was always an exciting moment when the new one was delivered encased in its box and I don’t mind admitting that I savoured every page and would look through it over and over again.

I can clearly remember the first issue I ever looked through was very influenced by Princess Diana – all the models seemed to be wearing pill box style hats with dotted veils – sooo 1981. It all looked so glamorous and exactly what I wanted to be like when I grew up. I couldn’t wait until the new catalogue arrived because then I would be given the old book to cut up for my scrap book. I guess these were my earliest attempts at fashion mood boards that I now love creating on my pinterest account.

Flash forward to the late 1980s, and catalogues were at the forefront when I started to buy my own clothes. Because you could pay in installments, my nan would let me order things and pay every week. I clearly remember getting a pair of white lace gloves and a matching scarf from Grattons, I really wanted to channel Madonna as she had looked during The Virgin Tour. The first pair of jeans I paid for myself also came from a catalogue. This time it was Littlewoods and the jeans were a very baggy pair of Joe Bloggs. Boy did I love them!

These days catalogues are still a great way of shopping from home, with JD Williams, Simply Be and Very just some of the most popular. Many still offer credit allowing you to spread your payments, which is great when shopping for a new holiday or work wardrobe.

Do you still use a catalogue – which ones do you remember from your childhood?

Sharing is caring!