P-F Canvas Shoes — 1953

“Treat your feet to happy days….”

De Beers Diamonds — 1955

“A diamond is forever” was named by Advertising Age the greatest advertising slogan of the twentieth century. It was written by a female copywriter named Frances Gerety in 1947. Gerety wrote all of De Beers’ ads for 25 years, and those ads changed Americans’ perception of diamonds and nudged them into equating the gem with love and marriage (which was not the case 75 years ago). An interesting  New York Times profile of that early ad woman and her classic advertising slogan is here. Another entertaining story, from Adweek, is here.

Spun-lo Underthings — 1953

No way does that piggy bank hold enough giant pennies for that lady to buy herself a new pair of panties.

Ship ‘n Shore Blouses — 1953

Cute blouses, but that eye makeup is … um … oh dear.

Kayser Gloves — 1949

“Change your glove color and you change your costume!” I love these color names: Arbutus Pink, Magic Gold, Sèvres Blue, Atlantic Sea.

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Naturalizer Shoes — 1949

Fit parade!

De Weese Designs Swimwear — 1966

The “Sphinx.” Swim-sational!

Christian Dior Shoes by Roger Vivier — c. 1959 (René Gruau)

I know next to nothing about fashion history, but having googled the designs of Roger Vivier (1907-1998), I’m enthralled. Vivier — known as “the Fragonard of the shoe” — will forever and always be known as having created the stiletto heel. A very cool mini-slideshow of some of the more exotic examples of Vivier’s designs for Dior can be seen here: Bata Shoe Museum.

ALSO: This illustration is by fabled fashion illustrator René Gruau (1909-2004). His numerous influential haute couture illustrations can be seen here.

J. C. Penney Fashions — 1956

“Fashion doesn’t cost a fortune at Penney’s.” Heck, “fashion britches” are only $2.98.

Grantly Sunglasses — 1947 (Hedy Lamarr)

And Hedy — international sexpot and scientific genius — knew a thing or two about a thing or two.