Madison Avenue Monday: Forget All Other Beauty Care

Valentine's Day is nigh, so on this Madison Avenue Monday forget all other beauty care and use Palmolive! You'll be sure to win his heart. *wink*

From Ladies Home Journal, January, 1949:

Madison Avenue Monday: Pardon Me for Bragging

Couldn't help but share this unusual ad for Kotex in the August 1939 edition of Ladies Home Journal even though my poor ol' scanner wasn't quite wide enough to capture the entire image on the large format page. (The bottom caption reads "Better Say Kotex--Better for You"). It gives us a glimpse of the hair styles, make up, and clothing that was fashionable in the late 1930s. And we can really see how times have changed in comparing this to ads for the same product now!

Madison Avenue Monday: Simplicity Spots the Trends

A Simplicity ad featuring the latest patterns for spring, from Ebony magazine, April 1972. A similar ad features model Beverly Johnson.

Madison Avenue Monday: Miracle of Spring

A charming two-page ad for Lentheric perfumes and lipstick from Ladies' Home Journal, March 1954:
 

Madison Avenue Monday: The "In" Waistlines, modeled by Twiggy

A fabulous little fashion layout featuring Twiggy from McCall's Patterns Fashions, Fall-Winter 1967-68.  I'd wear any of these silhouettes today:

Madison Avenue Monday: Sunbury Felt

This ad makes me want to go for a ride in the sunshine.  The cute fuchsia jacket is made from vintage jacket pattern Vogue 9057.

From Needlewoman Needlecraft no.82, 1960-61

Madison Avenue Monday: The Fresh Material - Young America Creates

A Celanese Fortrel ad for the Young America Creates series of Butterick patterns, which as I mentioned before in this post was probably the early roots of what would eventually become reality shows like Project Runway.  Cute concept too:  the designers as a band, the ad as an album cover.

From the Butterick Home Catalog, Summer 1970

You can see some of the actual patterns at the Vintage Pattern Wiki on the Young America Creates category page.

Madison Avenue Monday: Fluffy is the One!

What goes around comes around.... 

Chevron prints are huge in fashion this year, and I like the color contrast on this 80s sweater from 1984 (though I can do without the massive shoulder pads):

Via McCall's, Oct. 1984

Madison Avenue Monday: Make-It-Yourself with Wool

Yesterday's time change here in the US has brought me to my knees yet again; it's like having jet lag.  So this week's MAM is brought to you by Olympic Airways and the American Wool Council, who sponsored a design contest with a grand prize of two weeks in Greece and Spain:

From McCall's Patterns, Fall-Winter 1967.

The suit jacket reminds me a bit of this beautiful pale blue wool suit designed by Seymour Fox and photographed in Vogue around the same time period.  I wish I could have seen the winning entries!

Madison Avenue Monday: The Treat is "Hours"

This week's MAM is a charming ad for Capital Airlines (now United) from Ladies Home Journal, March 1954.  Capital served the U.S. Eastern seaboard in the 1950s and 1960s.  This ad seems to suggest that a couple could hop a short Capital flight into New York to go to dinner and a show.

But the incredible evening gown, designed by Ceil Chapman, is what is most striking about this ad.  I'm sold.

And so were Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Grace Kelly, and many others who wore her designs.

Madison Avenue Monday: Revlon Aquamarine Lotion

Isn't the model's outfit cute? I particularly the ball trim around the v-neck blouse and full skirt.

And the advertising script, "Why treat your hands like a stepchild?" is just so funny.  I can't argue with the ad man; from a beauty perspective we should definitely treat our hands as well as we treat our faces!

Via Ladies Home Journal, March 1954

Madison Avenue Monday: Skippies by Formfit

Skippies, for young moderns. Burn your corsets, ladies!  From Ladies' Home Journal, March, 1954.

Madison Avenue Monday: The Glitter Hours

Today's MAM is a trio of knitting patterns from Vogue Knitting, Fall-Winter 1962.

I can't imagine the skill needed to make the first sleeveless sweater with its tiers of crystal beads!  The third gorgeous sweater is made of silk and gold lamé yarns.

How do you like the hair and makeup styling in this fashion layout?

Don't forget:   Take my reader survey and tell me what YOU would like to read on this blog!

Madison Avenue Monday: Safe in Snow

I found this charming Ivory Snow ad in the January 1949 issue of Ladies Home Journal and felt a little solidarity with those who have snow at this time of year as it has been so uncharacteristically cold here over the past couple of weeks.  The ad is a little battered given that it was on the back cover so please forgive my amateurish retouching skills.  It was too cute of an ad not to share with you even thought there are obvious creases and marks.

I adore the model's slouchy knitting bag, but that gold belt is just to die for....
 

Yes--even your softest hand-knit sweaters are so wonderfully safe with gentle Ivory Snow care.  And you can PROVE it!  Just was your dishes with Ivory Snow--as millions prefer to do.  When you see how it pampers your hands, you'll KNOW it's extra kind to find woolens.

Madison Avenue Monday: Singer Memo-Matic Punch Card Knitting Machine

Couldn't help but share this blast from the past for gift ideas from the early 1980s:

From McCall's Needlework and Crafts, December 1984

Madison Avenue Monday, Halloween Edition: The Wrinkle Is Dead

This oldie-but-goodie Madison Avenue Monday returns to haunt us this year.  Every time I see this ad for Dan River fabrics I can't help but laugh.  Scary!

From McCall's Patterns Fashions, circa the mid-1960s

Madison Avenue Monday: Who's Home Knitting?

Me!  We'll, actually I'm crocheting.   And wishing for a pair of suede boots like those in this ad.

Via Good Housekeeping Needlecraft, Summer 1972

Halloween Goodies, 1940s Style

At this time of year I like to search through my vintage cookbooks and magazines for long-lost recipes, craft, and decorative holiday ideas. Sometimes I enjoy reproducing the recipes or crafts, and sometimes it is just interesting to look at these things through the lens of history.

I found two charming ads in my October 1941 issue of Woman's Day to share with you.  At this point World War II had begun, but the U.S. would not officially enter until December of the same year.  Rationing did not begin until Spring 1942, so sugar, meat, and fat were still readily available in the fall of 1941.

This first ad is for the A & P grocery chain, and features a macaroni recipe that uses evaporated milk but still contains two types of meat, the choice of chicken or veal and ham.   I think it would be very interesting to see how an ad for the same macaroni might change six months later.

I still haven't found a gingerbread recipe that I really like, so I just might try the one written for the Good Little Goblins in this ad:

Halloween Gingerbread

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup molasses
2 1/2 cups sifted flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 TBS. ginger
1 tsp. cinammon
1 1/2 tsps. baking soda
1 cup evaporated milk soured with 1 TBS. vinegar

Cream shortening and sugar; beat in eggs one at a time; add molasses.  Sift flour with spieces, baking soda, and slat.  Add to molasses mixture alternately with soured evaporated milk.  Pour into greased shallow baking pan and bake 30 minutes in a moderate oven, 350 degrees F.  Cool and top with Orange Icing.  8 servings. (The Orange Icing recipe is not included here.  Perhaps it was on the evaporated milk can?)

I found this second A & P ad for Jane Parker donuts to be just too cute. I love those individual leaf-shaped serving trays and I wish that they were mine.  If I saw those at a thrift store or estate sale I'd snap them up.   But I have to say that those ghostly little marshmallow faces with cloves for eyes and maraschino cherry mouths just adorable?

What are you planning for Halloween?  Do you have a recipe or a decorating tip to share?  Leave a comment!

Madison Avenue Monday: Great Clothes with Texfi Knits

I am speechless, once again.

From McCall's Needlework & Crafts, Fall-Winter 1973-1974

Madison Avenue Monday: Conquer Fat Forever!

Just started a new diet today.

It's 2012.  Why hasn't a pill that actually works been invented yet?

From McCall's Needlework & Crafts, Fall 1977