Catalina vintage shirt with label I've never seen...and can't find!

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piperlori

Registered Guest
This is a mystery waiting to be solved...

Shirt is definitely vintage Catalina--I can tell by material, styling, feel, etc.

However, the attached label does not match ANY Catalina label shown that on this site, nor, for that matter, any other site that shows a history of Catalina labels. (It's certainly not this era—does not match current labels at all. )

First, the lettering on label is in all CAPS--can't find that on any other Catalina label. And the "C' is unique. The characteristic line through the 'T' is gone . (Apparently men's 60's surfer shirts had a label without the line extension, and straight lettering to boot--however, not in all caps. And it was a different font.)

Interestingly, it does not say California (spelled out) USA. Just says Calif. USA. This is telling--trying to remember just in general what year we all stopped writing "Calif" and started writing "CA" on correspondence, labeling, etc...anyone? Knowing this piece of trivia would help ID this I believe.

Would love to solve this mystery! Plus I need to know for selling purposes.

The bonus of correctly identifying the decade on this shirt, of course, is that we can then add this label to the Catalina brand history on this site. This will then help others who might run across this same exact tag.

Thanks all!
 
Oops, forgot to attache images. Here they are.
Catalina VTG shirt.jpg
Catalina VTG Label.jpg
 
Pinkcoke said:
Your top looks very 70's. Can you show the reverse of the label?
Click to expand...

I know, 70's is what I'm thinking, judging by style and material. Material tag is missing but it's polyester, for sure.

Attached is the reverse side of label. (I apologize for the low-light fuzzy image...just took it and it's night)

My take: Font style and color looks 70's too! (Says "do not soak" on bottom of label where it's curled—another indication IMO that it's synthetic (poly), and, I'd hazard a guess, another indicator that it's 70's era as I think that exact terminology ("do not soak") was not used on clothing labels past the mid century. Granted, that's just a semi-educated guess on the part of a self-described amateur "garment sleuth," but Hey,
it's fun to speculate. :)

Thoughts?


Catalina -2.jpg
 
I was expecting to see at least one care symbol, which is usually found late 60's you tend to get more by the early 70's so maybe it's earlier - I'm intrigued by what it means by 'machine dry' if it's not tumble drying...I wonder when the first tumble dryers came into use? (electric dryers were around earlier)
Can you show it unclipped? That may reveal it's true shape.
 
I'm glad you're intrigued by all this...me too!

Not sure what you mean by "unclipped?" Are you talking about the garment? It's showing it's full image--not clipped. Or did you mean the tag? Only thing that's missing is the very end which reads: "Do Not Bleach. Do Not Soak."

I did find some very helpful info, though which would date this top earlier than 1970's: The state abbreviations changed from "Calif." or "Cal" to "CA" in 1963. So now we know it's at least from the 60's...if not before though the styling is not 50's IMO.

Please clarify what you mean by "unclipped."

Thanks!
 
amandainvermont said:
The USPS changed the longer state abbreviations (I lived in Conn.) to two letter abbreviations (now I lived in CT) in 1963. So ... early 60's?
Click to expand...

Ooops, sorry. I somehow missed your post! If I had read it, I would not have needed to research the whole state abbreviation thing. You already had given me the answer. I do think that makes it pretty definitive that this garment has to be @circa 60's. That, and as Melanie said, the fact that it states "Machine" vs. "Tumble" Dry.

:) :)
 
Sorry, have you pegged (or 'clipped')the back of the top at the waist to give it more shape or is it just a small size?
 
Oh, I see. I don't use the term "clipped"...that is what confused me. (Besides I thought you were referring to the image of the garment...not the garment itself.)

I honestly don't remember if I clipped this item or not--sometimes I do if the garment is a lot bigger than my Size 4-6 mannequin. Since I don't have time to go outside and take another photo on the mannie, I just took another photo on the floor--laid flat. That should help. :)
Catalina-Flat.jpg
 
Thanks, that helps a lot. I can see this worn loose over capris in the summer. (the rounded corners of the hem suggests it should be seen) Now I can see those square set sleeves as well, which is something I last had on a 1950's women's cotton shirt so definetly earlier rather than later.
 
Cool! Good assessment. :) Should I submit this Catalina label for the site or is it not definitive enough? Like I said, have never seen this Catalina label before...anywhere. I think it would help anyone coming across this label again.

I'm applying for membership. I definitely qualify on all counts (have sold lots of vintage since 2008 with a 100% rating on eBay, Etsy and try to correctly ID all my items) with the possible exception of one point--just emailed Membership person to clarify this one qualification.

Thanks so much for your help!

:) :)
 
It doesn't hurt to wait for some more opinions. Being in the UK I have zero knowledge on Catalina - my dating is going purely on the garment style, shape, material and labelling.

I wish you the best in your application for trade membership.
 
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