Morale Boosting For Fortysomethings

“An extra special outfit…something just that little bit different, that will be noticed in a crowd.”

They got that right.

I don’t even know where to begin. This is a Vintage Thingie all right, the kind that makes the over-40 woman feel like – well, like a Vintage Thingie! The dress, the coat, and oh my God, the hat! The hat! What the hell is the hat in aid of? Oh, I see, it is a sophisticated hat. Thanks for telling us. I don’t think I would have come to that conclusion on my own.

And the dress is smart. And the coat is dashing. And sleeveless. OK, I’ll buy that last bit. It is sleeveless.

The only “very important occasion” I can see wearing this to is maybe going to the circus. Or being in the circus.

I am 45 but I am not joining the Over 40 Club, I can tell you that. I don’t think anyone did in 1971 either, except the model in this picture. And I’m not sure she is all that happy about this…

This advertisement has been brought to you as a delicious part of your Vintage Thingies Thursday – for more VTT goodness (sans silly hats!) please visit the Apron Queen!

(Advertisement from the British magazine Woman’s Weekly, 1971)

A Strange and Sunny Canful

Oh Zena, I don’t know if this is going to work – warm milk and butter in that little thingie, and pump the handle until you get cream? This is like those special TV onion choppers and things, they never work out though, do they? Zena Skinner was a British cookbook author and host of an early 1970s TV cooking show called Ask Zena Skinner. Webrarian has a great photo of Zena on his site.

This cream maker sounds reminiscent of the I Love Lucy episode “Pioneer Women” (1952) where Ethel tries to make butter. It doesn’t work, she needs cream not milk – of course, maybe she needed this Ardmona device. Lucy’s bread works out too well, really – it’s so big it zooms out of the oven and takes over the kitchen.

Oh, and another thing? I really hope that that guy is not part of the special offer. What is he doing lounging around on top of the coupon? Is Zena aware of him? Did he come along with her? And he is about the same size as the stuff on the table. Very strange.