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To look at how society has changed over time, we don’t just have to rely on history books. Sometimes, the proof is sitting right under our noses.
To spot it, you could rummage through a drawer and find an old iPod. Or take a trip to your grandma’s house, open her closet, and see what her generation used to wear. Or you can look at something people used to see every single day: the ads of the past.
And when it comes to vintage ads aimed at women, they’re especially telling. On top of selling products, they also reveal the values of the time, along with the labels that were placed on women. The design might be gorgeous, but the messaging doesn’t always age well. Check them out below.
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#1
Dodge Challenger R/T Ad (1970)
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Advertisements exist to sell us products. That simple truth has remained constant for over a century, even as the methods and messages have transformed beyond recognition. What has changed dramatically is our understanding of who gets targeted and how those targets are portrayed.
#3
Frederick’s Of Hollywood Stocking Stuffers Ad (1960s)
Lee Gilliland 1 hour ago
Fredrick 's of Hollywood sold very s**y, classy clothes back in the day.
Women were recognized as a distinct consumer market long before modern advertising emerged. By the late 1800s, department stores and the culture around shopping already spoke directly to women and treated them as key customers.
What evolved over the decades wasn’t the recognition that women bought things, but rather the increasingly sophisticated psychological tactics used to influence those purchases.
#5
Datacomp Ad
#6
Amc Pacer Ad From France
#7
Keyko Margarine Ad - 1955
Michael Largey 16 minutes ago
Background - The dairy industry in some states tried to make it illegal to color margarine yellow, so as to make it less competitive with butter.
#8
1939 Wrigley's Doublemint Twins Ad
Michael Largey 14 minutes ago (edited)
🎶🎵 "Double your pleasure / Double your fun / Make out with two girls / Instead of just one." 🎵🎶
#10
Alfred Angelo Wedding Dress Ad (1970)
#11
General Tire Ad - 1943
Lee Gilliland 1 hour ago
Absolutely women are attracted to men who only use certain tires. I can guarantee it. Uh-huh.
#12
Ben Barrack (1959)
#14
Another From Mg
Bill Swallow 33 minutes ago
Reminds me of the old ads for the Triumph Spitfire, a small British sports car of that time: "You not only get a car and a girl, but a piece of history!"
#19
Shu-Mak-Up Ad (1963)
#20
1980's Dillards Ad With Stephanie Seymour
#24
Esleep Ad (1988)
Bill Swallow 29 minutes ago
OH, that's *E* Sleep! At first I thought it said "*F* Sleep", and figured they likely had something better to do in bed dressed like that!
#31
Jnco Jeans Ad (1998)
#32
Bold Hold Ad (1988)
Gingersnap In Iowa 1 hour ago
I may have used Bold Hold hairspray so my hair do didn't move...
#41
O-Cedar Polish Mop - November 1913
#43
Virginia Slims Ad (1971)
#44
Teen Spirit (1992)
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