This is, quite simply, an exquisite two-page ad from the May 1973 issue of Mademoiselle magazine. Catherine Deneuve for Chanel. Absolute perfection.
~Marilyn
Emilio Pucci Designs for Eaton Paper 1972
I continue to be surprised and delighted when perusing my old fashion magazines from the ’70s. Emilio Pucci designed for Eaton Paper, who knew? This fabulous ad was tucked into the March 1972 issue of Glamour magazine: Pucci’s designs, rich with color and fashion excitement, are ingeniously coordinated in Eaton’s exclusive Haute Scripture collection of letter papers and notes. Vivara is scented and designed with a duplex border; Isabella is deckle edges; Voltige and Taormina have contrasting borders. See these and other exclusive Pucci creations at your favorite store. From $3.00 to $7.95.
Letter and note writing seems a lost art these days. I can remember pondering and picking out the best stationery for my letters, and then writing my missives in cursive handwriting. Sadly, I don’t do much of it anymore; typing an email, message, or online comment is more my style these days.
But ephemera like this will only rise in value and collectibility. And when it’s a Pucci design, all the more so!
~Marilyn
Those Kitschy 1965 Knitted Face Masks
I am thankful that my mom didn’t know how to knit, otherwise I may have ended up in one of these kooky knitted face masks! From the Fall-Winter 1965-1966 issue of McCall’s Needlework & Crafts, here are two of the face masks for boys and girls. While I was out on my walk today in freezing temperatures, I was musing on the fact that some sort of face protector would be great. My face seems to be the only thing that gets cold. I was thinking perhaps something a little less, um, colorful than these…
Presenting the Girls’ Face Mask. It is knitted around, has no seams, warms neck as well as head. Fringed yarn bangs and pompon “hair” are amusing.
And here is the Boys’ Ski Mask. Totally un-PC, but it is described as: Warm little Indian wears his feathers knitted over pipe cleaners, his war paint of duplicate stitch. Knitted nose piece sewn on.
I wonder how many friends and neighbors these kids managed to freak out? 😀
~Marilyn
The 1972 Yardley of London BRIGHTS
These Yardley of London ads from 1972 show that the cosmetics company was on a very bright and colorful bent. Gone were the soft, shimmering, romantic shades of the late 1960s; this was full-on POW!
Yardley Glimmerick Glimmer on Brights was the first watercolor compact to color and polish your eyes. The Flower Brights colors were very intense (Pink! Yellow! Blue!), and you had to mix the shadow with water to apply. Finish it up with the white Polish, Lash-A-Lot, and Easy Liner for that “best eye of spring” look.
This Shadow Sheen China Brights ad left me speechless. Did anyone actually wear this look in 1972? I sure didn’t, and I don’t remember anyone else doing it either! This is the China Brights Eye, which were 5 nifty revved-up Chinese colors with high-powered luminescent glow. Shadow Sheen was a super-frosted eye gel in colors of Ming Blue, Mother of Pearl White, Cinnabar Brown, Lee Chi Amber, and Jade Green. I suppose it was a memorable look for those brave enough to try it.
Even Pot o’ Gloss became brighter in 1972. Super-Tinted Lip Gloss was introduced, and it was wetter, glossier, shinier, and lasted longer. The bright new shades included Red Shriek, Boisterous Bronze, Emphatic Pink (my FAVE!), Noisy Peach, Screechy Pink, and Clamorous Coral. Even the names were noisier and brighter.
~Marilyn
Those Rad Vintage 1975 Frye Campus Boots
Frye Boots hit the fashion scene in 1975, to be exact. I was flipping through a pile of my old Glamour magazines, and saw this great ad for Frye Boots in the September 1975 issue. They were also featured in the fashion editorial section. A look through the September 1974 issue of Glamour showed no mention of Frye Boots. Benchcrafted exclusively by John A. Frye Shoe Co., Inc, in Marlboro, Mass. since 1863, suddenly the Frye Boot became extremely popular. The Campus Boot, with its sturdy chunky lines, fit in perfectly with the wild and wooly fashions of the mid 1970s.
Even guys wore Frye Boots. You could wear matching Frye’s, wrap yourself up in a huge shawl, and stride along together.
Frye Campus Boots were perfect for wearing with long wool socks, and then stuffing your corduroy pants into them. Top it off with two layers of heavy chunky sweaters and a belt, and you are set – 1975 style.
40 years later, Frye Boots continue their lasting popularity. Not only the vintage ones, which are highly collectible, but their current ones. They still make the Campus style, and it’s still made in the USA. An All-American enduring look!
~Marilyn
The Everyday Yardley Girls of 1972
In 1972, I feel that Yardley of London finally threw in the towel in regards to having a specific ‘Yardley Girl’ model. The tradition of having a particular model to be the ‘face’ of the company seemed to have come to an end. No more Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton, Olivia Hussey, or Patsy Sullivan to grace their unique, romantic, and ethereal ads. Yardley advertising using a particular “It” model was so beautiful and effective. It gave us a look to aspire to, and the World of Yardley seemed a magical, slightly mysterious place. Then in 1972, their advertising took a different bent. Now we are dealing with ‘everyday’ girls – who just happen to be completely flawless – with a before-and-after makeover transformation using Yardley makeup. The young women seem like the type that would have large Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter followings today. And a fashion and style blog of course!
This 1972 ad features Jean Day, who is a Fine Arts major at Bennington College in Vermont. She sculpts in steel and paints in giant 10-foot acrylics. But Jean had a problem: her eyes needed to be ‘opened up’ and ‘drawn out’. Yardley’s solution was to 1.) Apply Frosted Rainbow Yellow Sigh Shadow to her eyelids. 2.) Apply Sigh Shadow Lavender Breeze, lid to brow. 3.) Used Panda Black Lash-A-Lot for longer, more defined lashes. 4.) Use Panda Black Easy Liner for touching up of roots of lashes where mascara often misses.
This 1972 ad features Alyssia Lazin , who works as a production assistant for a film house in Cambridge, Mass. She is focused on the visual media, and shoots and develops her own photographs. Alyssia’s ‘problem’ was that ordinary lipstick left her lips dull. But just add a little Pot o’ Gloss and voila! When it lights up your lips, it lights up your face. Pot o’ Gloss promises to make your lips look wetter, shinier, glossier than ordinary lipstick. Plus, you’ll love its smell (and taste) – like an ambrosia of fruits. An interesting side note: I googled Alyssia Lazin’s name, and she is still a photographer – her work is incredible!
Sadly, Yardley of London makeup made a slow disappearance in the 1970s. I was talking to a friend of mine who is not yet 40, and she never even realized that Yardley had a makeup line. “I thought they only made soap”. It was a grand, wonderful ride while it lasted. And if I had one wish, it would be to BRING BACK POT O’ GLOSS! To be able to smell, taste and feel that heady stuff once again would be wonderful. It was intoxicating!
~Marilyn
I'm Marilyn, and I'm obsessed with vintage clothing, thrift stores, clotheslines, and Chanel. Welcome to my down-to-earth world!