A few weeks ago I bought a stack of 20-odd vintage French magazines, all from the 40s, 50s and 60s and I was beyond excitement. Or excitement in a French sounding way… This morning, I bought forty four – yes, forty four! – Woman’s Own magazines, mainly from the 1950s but some from the 40s and a couple from the 60s. If I was beyond excitement before, I’m not sure what I am now…

“Remember, too, that there’s a glistening Gala Nail Colour to match every lip colour.”

The magazine is full of fashion and beauty advice, much like today. The adverts seem to be amongst the most colourful pages:

Much of the beauty tips seem to be related to getting married or keeping a home. Today, it’s more about looking glamourous but I still think the underlying reason is because women want to attract other people, or at least for other people to think they’re attractive.

Some of the letters that readers of the magazine sent in are quite illuminating! After reading several of these magazines, I’m even starting to write a bit like them myself…

“You may call a woman a kitten, but not a cat; a mouse, but not a rat; a chicken, but not a hen; a duck, but not a goose; a vision, but not a sight”. That little pearl of wisdom was by Mrs. P. from Swansea.

“What a wonderfully varied like the air hostesses have! I envy them that, but I also envy their extraordinary versatility; there seems to be so little they cannot do or situations with which they cannot cope. Then too, they’re always so attractive to look at. All this – and travel too!” Miss W. F., Edinburgh

I think I need to get one of these:

More fabulously Fifties’ adverts:

Even in adverts, the dresses are fabulous:

I just wish I could go back in time and see all of the dresses, the furniture, listen to the music, go dancing, bake cakes… Oh well, back to the 21st century it is…