The 1941 Montgomery Ward catalog reads like a menswear manifesto from the heyday of heritage clothing. I usually repost images of Ward product offerings. But this time, I’m lingering on the soothing, info dense pages at the back of the catalog. Here, I’m imaginging myself as a skitterish, 1941 shopper, short on cash, scanning the copy (again and again) for one good reason not to mail in my order. I’m drawn in by all the promises of high standards, perfect fit and affordability. I am also sold on the idea of a gent with a microscope, part of a larger in-house “bureau of standards,” testing and inspecting each product on offer. Next week, I’ll post more pages from the actual catalog.