Their official explanation is that the “object” was a blemish caused by water or some other liquid falling onto the artwork during the printing process, and that the same picture (sans “object”) appeared in the Spring catalog earlier that year. The size, positioning, and shape of the “object” were all consistent with that of a penis.Īlthough Sears did receive some letters of protest over their showing “this individual’s nakedness,” Sears maintains that nothing improper appeared in the picture. A small, rounded object or blemish could be seen on the inside of the boxer model’s left leg, apparently emerging from underneath the hem of the shorts. Page advertising mens’ shirts, boxers, and briefs in Sears’ 1975 Fall-Winter catalog displayed a picture of two male models, one wearing boxer shorts and the other clad in briefs.
