27th March 2011 / 1 Comment
Woman's Weekly /
18th March 1967
I found this interesting as it seems to mark a point at which cosmetic surgery started to be used as a consumer product, rather than as a solution to disfigurement. This seems to be a subtle advert, judging from the phrasing used, and I’m also wondering just how they can show such a transformation when the two pictures are taken from such different angles…
Tags: beauty, blatant sexism, social history
2nd March 2011 / 4 Comments
Woman's Own /
13th June 1969
Seeing as Spring’s in the air, I thought this groovy ad might help us all look forward to seeing the sun on a regular basis. All together now: #Hey, Mr Tambourine Man…#
Tags: beauty, household
9th January 2011 / 2 Comments
Woman's Weekly /
20th March 1965
It’s interesting that 45 years ago, 30 was considered the age from which you got old. Nowadays, it’s the age at which many middle-class women start families, and I certainly don’t consider myself old in my early thirties. However, even though 30 isn’t really considered old any more, it hasn’t stopped beauty companies targeting younger women, under the banner of ‘health’. I’m not sure an unhealthy lifestyle will be fixed by a cosmetic product, but I’m running a small website for no money, not CEO of a global company: so what do I know?
Tags: beauty, blatant sexism, Endocil, retail
13th December 2010 / 5 Comments
Woman's Weekly /
16th May 1969
Make up your own jokes. However, I use Nivea myself nowadays to keep my face all soft and that. And for NOTHING ELSE.
Tags: beauty, Nivea, retail
26th September 2010 / No Comments Yet
Woman's Realm /
11th March 1967
Call me cynical, but isn’t that model’s radiant look less down to PLJ, and more down to the make-up that they’ve plastered all over her? In terms of messages given to women at this time, this ad really does take the biscuit. Not content with persuading women that wearing a nylon strait-jacket and not telling your husband that you dye your hair is normal behaviour, they’re now on at you to look great at 7am. Bastards.
Tags: beauty, blatant sexism, diets, dodgy advice, retail
16th September 2010 / 6 Comments
Woman's Weekly /
4th April 1969
I remember smokers’ toothpaste being a commonly advertised product when I was a child, but it seems to have been eclipsed by general tooth-whitening products nowadays. This is quite likely down to smoking being in decline in the UK, and, with the series ‘Mad Men’ reminding us that a hearty cough used to be the normal start to the day for many adults in the Western world, I thought this was a timely ad. However, it seems like we’ve exported this pleasure to developing countries such as China and India. Well done us.
Tags: beauty, health, retail, smoking, social history
30th August 2010 / 2 Comments
Woman's Weekly /
18th April 1969
A bank holiday blast from the past for you. I don’t think I’ve seen any episodes of The Avengers with Linda Thorson, but she must have been reasonably popular, judging from this ad. Of course, Belle Colour is still going strong, and still blethers on about the ‘natural look’ it gives you.
Ironically, according to Wikipedia, Linda Thorson’s hair was bleached blonde for the show, but became so damaged by the process that she had to wear wigs!
Tags: beauty, Belle Colour, Linda Thorson, retail
21st August 2010 / 7 Comments
Woman's Weekly /
11th April 1969
If anyone can explain to me what the connection is between wearing a girdle and walking in front of a desert backdrop, let me know using the link on the front page.
Tags: beauty, Berlei, blatant sexism, fashion, retail
14th July 2010 / 3 Comments
Woman's Realm /
18th March 1967
Hm. “…the mystery of woman.” seems to equate to hiding your hair dye from your husband, lest he discover that you *gasp* age just like he does. Even if you’ve been married for 17 years.
Tags: beauty, blatant sexism, dodgy advice, retail
27th June 2010 / 3 Comments
Woman's Realm /
11th March 1967
Right…so is she actually learning to fly, or does she just want to sleep with the instructor? I thought the picture looked sufficiently summery, though, so here y’go!
Tags: beauty, blatant sexism, retail