Did you realize Dinosaurs had syphilis? Not only that but you mustn’t kiss your baby because it’s unhygienic and whatever you do DON’T mix whiskey with gas (I’m assuming they mean as a cocktail). I’m being facetious of course, but public health notices certainly told very different messages in the past compared to now. We(…)
I just wanted to share this delightful 1920s advert for Chanel No.5 perfume today. As I’m sure you know by now (I’ve gone on about it enough) this is the perfume I wear and I so prefer the charm of the flighty flapper in this ad to the modern over-airbrushed perfume ads. It was drawn(…)
You don’t see fur adverts much these days (or at least I haven’t come across many) but basically fur advertising hasn’t changed much since this type of ad (above) from the 1960s. Why she’s holding a lit cigarette lighter that close to her flammable fur coat I have no idea… Anyway, by now you probably(…)
Never underestimate the marketing power of Lucille Ball! I grew up watching re-runs of I Love Lucy on the telly, and there is a special corner of my heart reserved for it, but even my love of the 1950s sitcom wouldn’t make me buy these hideous spin offs! Even the gorgeous Lucy looks unconvinced about(…)
Old age ain’t no place for sissies: Bette Davis And on that note, I’ll just say Happy Sunday everyone! The original photo (above) is from a Jim Beam advert from 1974.
Some vintage Aquascutum adverts from the 1940s along with a fascinating note from Buckingham Palace regarding articles ordered for the Queen, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret for their 1947 trip to South Africa. I wonder whether they wore any of these lovely items or whether everything was bespoke..? Either way I particularly like The ‘Ladies(…)
Is it just me or does this strapline sound a little insidious? A bit like ‘Mothers Littler Helper….’ Beechams Pills were actually a laxative (containing soap, yum!) rather than something addictive, but still… Would you know what this ad was for?
Marilyn Monroe‘s Coca Cola commercial from 1953. Apparently this was a scene from the movie Love Nest which was later re-edited and used to advertise Coke. Who better to have to advertise your product that Marilyn? Chanel obviously agree! You can watch the Coke advert below:
A very pretty 1920s advert for Ivory Soap. Never has soap sounded so appealing! Hidden springs of beauty in your skin – set them free! In your marvelous skin itself Nature has set up a beauty shop! Did you know that? Complicated little cells renew its silken surface day by day… invisible springs of moisture(…)
Another beautiful Cole of California advert from the 1940s. I don’t know why more people don’t wear high-waisted bikinis, if this one is anything to go by they look fabulous! This ad was shown in The Californian, May 1947.
This advert from 1936 is from a Lucky Strike advert (hence the cigarette I suppose). I don’t know who the model is, but she looks like Marlene Dietrich wearing a fabulous orange saree (perhaps a wedding one – anyone know enough about bridal sarees to confirm?). I guess that was probably intentional, Dietrich was one(…)
1930s Dutch advert for fur coats from 1938. Which is your favourite style?
This is a bit like an adult version of Frosties’ Tony the Tiger for this ad for Dickie’s trousers from the 1960s. Don’t they look greeeeeaaaaat? (see what I did there…?) Actually it reminds me a bit more of Alan Partridge ‘You’re a tiger….’ I was so excited to hear that there’s an actual Alan(…)
A series of 1940s adverts for fashions by Lynn Lester suggesting a summer wardrobe for June 1947. This summer capsule collection has some wonderful descriptions underneath each item – you just don’t see that any more! There are some great new fangled fabrics, like “SnoSilk”, and also some unusual clothing styles. I had no idea what ‘cape(…)
Isn’t this wonderful? The illustration is just gorgeous, but is this the vintage swimwear in this Cole of California advert actually a swimsuit or a bikini? I’m not sure. The text reads: Streamline – beautiful new backsweep… in a Lastex swimsuit… from Cole’s “Westward to the Sea” beachwear collection.
Isn’t this just the prettiest advert? It dates from 1931 and is an advert for Casino de Paris. I assumed (because of the name) that this was a Casino but couldn’t understand why they’d be advertising with a showgirl riding bareback on horses. I looked into it and it turns out Casino de Paris was(…)
1930s advert for Lucky Strike from 1936: ‘Lucky Strike, Girl with Snowshoes’. Photo by Nickolas Muray. Source and copyright: George Eastman House Collection: No known copyright restrictions
Girl in a green bikini holding a starfish on a poster from the newly nationalised British Railways, advertising Whitley Bay in North Tyneside. Signed “Michael”. Date: 1949 Source and copyright: The National Archives No known copyright restrictions