The conversation at dinner last night turned to Dove’s Real Beauty advertising campaign. You know the one—with all the REAL women with REAL curves.

This 80-year-old advertisement for La Mar reducing soap is a cheery reminder that no matter how much the companies and their ad agencies dress it up, they are still selling the same old product, repackaged and re-described for the 21st century.

The advert was found by macboy in a newspaper from 1924 that had been used as backing for an old map his grandfather had framed. I particularly like its promise to:

“Reduce any part of body desired without affecting other parts.”

See here for more.

Firm links for today:
Team behind the Dove adverts discuss the campaign here (Brand Republic).
Blog discussion of Dove Real Beauty campaign here and here.
Some adverts from the eighties that I came across a few months ago.