Vintage Advertising

Booze, Bras, and Husbands: What Women Want According to Vintage Advertising

April 7, 2013

Vintage Advertising

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by Tara Block 3

Sunday is the season premiere of Mad Men, and we can't wait to find out how things turn out for Peggy, Joan, Megan, and the rest of the women from the show. The series explores what it was like for women in the '60s and how that was connected to the world of advertising. When it comes to the history of our gender, nothing is quite as fascinating and disturbing as the history of advertising as it relates to women. Vintage ads for, about, and featuring the fairer sex range from retro-cute to scarily sexist with their portrayal of women. But we like to look back at these vintage ads for everything from cocktails to underwear to feminine hygiene products to remember how far we've come as well as how far we are from where we need to be in the world of advertising. Plus, a lot of these old ads are so backwards and ridiculous, you have to laugh. So take a trip back in time with us to see what ad execs of the past thought women would want!

1 / 743

by Tara Block 3

Sunday is the season premiere of Mad Men, and we can't wait to find out how things turn out for Peggy, Joan, Megan, and the rest of the women from the show. The series explores what it was like for women in the '60s and how that was connected to the world of advertising. When it comes to the history of our gender, nothing is quite as fascinating and disturbing as the history of advertising as it relates to women. Vintage ads for, about, and featuring the fairer sex range from retro-cute to scarily sexist with their portrayal of women. But we like to look back at these vintage ads for everything from cocktails to underwear to feminine hygiene products to remember how far we've come as well as how far we are from where we need to be in the world of advertising. Plus, a lot of these old ads are so backwards and ridiculous, you have to laugh. So take a trip back in time with us to see what ad execs of the past thought women would want!

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3 Comments

Waterloopy

Waterloopy 1 year 10 weeks

Re #123, why the woman is a cow? "Elsie the Cow" was the Borden company's marketing mascot, or whatever they're called (like the Energizer bunny). Borden's key product was originally dairy products, specifically milk (thus the Brown Jersey cow). I think they still have a brand of canned evaporated milk. Thanks for this great collection of ads: a truly horrifying/entertaining blast from the past.

Annie Scudder 1 year 10 weeks

How funny would it be to put a print of one of the tampon ones in your bathroom?

Rita2378056

Rita2378056 1 year 11 weeks

oh but don't you just love the cowgirl........very cute. And the Love's Baby Soft girl was always so so sweet looking........the ads "take me back"......