Born on this day in 1894, artist George Petty created pinup art for Esquire magazine (among others) beginning in the 1930s and continuing into the 1950s. Reproductions of his work, known as “Petty Girls,” were reinterpreted and used by military artists as nose art decorating warplanes during WW2, including the most well-known example, the Memphis Belle.
His artwork also appeared in art deco inspired advertisements, including this delightfully dated Old Gold cigarette ad (scanned here from a 1938 issue of The New Yorker magazine) which includes a line describing the “benevolent mildness” of this brand:
What charm! What freshness! And just twenty! Twenty Old Golds… No more, no less than you get in any other regular-size pack of cigarettes. But O.G.! What a difference you’ll find in O.G.s! What a difference in the rich full flavor and fragrance of their prize crop tobacco! What a difference in their benevolent mildness that comes from long extra aging and mellowing in oaken casks! What a difference in Old Gold’s Guaranteed Freshness, the result of a stale-proof package wrapped in double cellophane double-sealed! Do you wonder that every day more wise smokers marry Old Golds?
Love this elegant ad from La Presse (Montreal), dated May 26th, 1928. Titled “Pour Le Grand Jour” (“For The Big Day”) it features a collection of illustrated bridal looks, including a drop-waist gown, gorgeous cap veils and a variety of hats, all set against a classic geometric deco green and yellow color scheme. Magnifique!
Illustrated ad from a 1925 issue of Good Housekeeping, for Stevens Spreads “Romance” collection of bedspreads. Features a bride in her vintage juliet / cap veil, mid-length wedding dress and flower accessories galore.
A couple things become immediately clear from this Bonwit Teller ad (pulled from a 1929 issue of Vogue Magazine). First of all, there is no downside to the drama of a long, gorgeous cap veil. Even with (maybe especially with) the sleek lines of a 20s style wedding dress. Secondly, can we bring back “gowned” …
Easy to forget, a century later, how influential the art around Fritz Lang’s 1927 film Metropolis was (and is). So much incredible, inspirational art deco/modernist art sprang up around it. The fonts! The design! The posters! To be fair, that futurist look might be a little dark for some weddings (unless they are dystopian or …
George Petty | Vintage 1930s Advertisements
Born on this day in 1894, artist George Petty created pinup art for Esquire magazine (among others) beginning in the 1930s and continuing into the 1950s. Reproductions of his work, known as “Petty Girls,” were reinterpreted and used by military artists as nose art decorating warplanes during WW2, including the most well-known example, the Memphis Belle.
His artwork also appeared in art deco inspired advertisements, including this delightfully dated Old Gold cigarette ad (scanned here from a 1938 issue of The New Yorker magazine) which includes a line describing the “benevolent mildness” of this brand:
What charm! What freshness! And just twenty! Twenty Old Golds… No more, no less than you get in any other regular-size pack of cigarettes. But O.G.! What a difference you’ll find in O.G.s! What a difference in the rich full flavor and fragrance of their prize crop tobacco! What a difference in their benevolent mildness that comes from long extra aging and mellowing in oaken casks! What a difference in Old Gold’s Guaranteed Freshness, the result of a stale-proof package wrapped in double cellophane double-sealed! Do you wonder that every day more wise smokers marry Old Golds?
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1920s Advertising | Vintage 1920s Wedding Gown Ad
Love this elegant ad from La Presse (Montreal), dated May 26th, 1928. Titled “Pour Le Grand Jour” (“For The Big Day”) it features a collection of illustrated bridal looks, including a drop-waist gown, gorgeous cap veils and a variety of hats, all set against a classic geometric deco green and yellow color scheme. Magnifique!
1920s Advertising | Vintage Bride | Stevens Spreads
Illustrated ad from a 1925 issue of Good Housekeeping, for Stevens Spreads “Romance” collection of bedspreads. Features a bride in her vintage juliet / cap veil, mid-length wedding dress and flower accessories galore.
Vintage Advertising || Bonwit Teller + Guerlain Shalimar
A couple things become immediately clear from this Bonwit Teller ad (pulled from a 1929 issue of Vogue Magazine). First of all, there is no downside to the drama of a long, gorgeous cap veil. Even with (maybe especially with) the sleek lines of a 20s style wedding dress. Secondly, can we bring back “gowned” …
Inspiration | Metropolis
Easy to forget, a century later, how influential the art around Fritz Lang’s 1927 film Metropolis was (and is). So much incredible, inspirational art deco/modernist art sprang up around it. The fonts! The design! The posters! To be fair, that futurist look might be a little dark for some weddings (unless they are dystopian or …