My Seventeen Magazine tells me...

Finding hidden treasure is a wonderful feeling. I found some treasures recently, while moving from one room to another. (my sisters and I switch rooms periodically for a change of scenery)
One of these treasures is a Seventeen magazine.
I can guess what you're thinking. But it's not like that...I'm not so clingy to celeb gossip or the latest fad that will fade. What makes this issue unique is that it is from March of 1960.
It is a time machine to read the articles, flip through the pages and absorb the graphics and pictures. It's an educational and entertaining experience to view the magazines that my grandmothers at one time were reading when they were my age.

There are advertisements for wedding planners, engagement rings, and silverware in this issue. I guess marriage around 17 was a common practice back in the day? I'm sooo glad that isn't the standard now. You'd be hard-pressed to find such advertisements in today's version of the magazine.

I noted that SO MUCH EMPHASIS was put on looks..."ways to catch his eye" was the cover spread. The cover-model (in her interview) boasted about her clear skin (accredited to keeping it clean, clean, clean!) and weight (much too light for a girl of her height!)  Many, many ads for beauty products with false claims. Not much has changed in that department.

One advertisement made me giggle. It was written like a story. The header read:

WE LIKED GOING STEADY BUT... Why did we always quarrel?

The "article" went on to tell a sad story. This girl had been dating a guy for a while and they liked each other, but there was a strain on their relationship. The boyfriend couldn't make her happy--there was always something between them. Turns out, she had acne. (so that's the problem!) Her doctor suggested she try out a certain type of cream on her face. After she started using the "miracle cream" her skin started to clear, and she and her boyfriend were perfectly happy again. NO MORE FIGHTS!

Moral: you'd better buy plenty of face ointment so that you too will never quarrel with your boyfriend again!

[I hope the advertising agencies have learned some lessons now as far as catering to the teenage demographic.]

Forms for a mail-order dresses are sprinkled liberally throughout the magazine. Here's one such example:

The description reads:
"Sissy ruffles accent this pretty shirtwaist.
 In a wash and wear blend of
65% Dacron polyester and 35% combed cotton.
Green, blue, or pink. Sizes 3-15 $14.98"

 All you must do is detach the form, fill it out, and mail it off. The dress company will send you a bill and the dress. The only problem would be the sizing. They give no indication as to the scale of the sizes. If there's one thing to be known about fashion, it's that women's clothing sizes differ from brand to brand. (I could tell you all about that! Ugh!) If I were a teenager sending off for a mail-order dress, I might be disappointed a few times before getting it right. The dresses were not cheap for the time, either. The dresses were around $12-16, and (using an inflation calculator) the dresses would be around $90 in our modern-day currency. Sounds like the dresses were a bit of a gamble...Then there's the polyester factor. Don't get me started on the polyester. Polyester = ewww...

Oh, the articles go on. Interior decorating, the latest "dreamboat" actor, movies you don't want to miss, interviews with the up-and-coming actresses... and so on.


Here's an interesting quote that does date the magazine to the 60's:

"You see, a fellow's ego is a very important thing to him...he's sensitive to attempts to make him feel like a dope. So, if you've got an awful lot of knowledge stowed away in that pretty head of yours, perhaps the best way is to keep it on the shelves for a while, and take it down only when it is needed. In that way, there'll be more chances in the conversation for the fellow to take over and prove that he's the smartest guy you've ever met."

Good plan? Well, if you try it out, let me know how it goes.

One of the other big articles was about hosting a

PANCAKE PARTY!!! 

Now that's a fun, wholesome, sticky and sweet idea. See what you can pick up from the past? Maybe there's a reason pancake parties didn't go over so well. Sounds like time for an experiment. Anyone up for some pancakes??