Love was in the air in the 1950s and 1960s when millions of baby boomers were born. Mid-century magazine editors, advertisers and illustrators knew this. Romance was a common theme in mid-century women’s magazines. I picked 10 of my favorite love-themed images from my collection of mid-century women’s magazines. I hope you enjoy these old images from the past as you celebrate Valentines Day.
Cute 1950s & 1960s Couples
A kiss and a sandwich. This cute couple is brought to us by Underwood Deviled Ham in a can. The ad was found in the August 1963 issue of Good Housekeeping.
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This charming Cadillac ad dates back to 1964. It shows a woman waiting in a Cadillac as her man buys flowers. The beautifully illustrated ad was found in the May 1964 issue of Vogue.
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Here we see a 1960s couple holding hands while walking through the park on a spring day. They are advertising Avon cosmetics. The ad is for Avon’s new perfume. The tagline for the ad reads, “Gay as May”. Yup. Times change and so do the meaning of words.
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Here is another happy couple from the 1950s. This time we see a pretty illustration of a newly-engaged couple. This charming scene is advertising soap. Click through below for more illustrations of loving couples advertising Cashmere Bouquet Soap.
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The passionate scene you see comes from a silverware ad from 1952. It was part of a campaign featuring romantic scenes of 1950s couples illustrated by popular illustrator Jon Whitcomb.
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Want 1960s iconic? Look no further than this photo of a couple holding hands while running through the waves on a California beach. The classic 1960s vibe comes from an article in the January 1963 edition of Good Housekeeping. The article was titled “California Beauty Wherever you Live”.
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Speaking of the beach, here’s one more look at a vintage couple at the beach. This 1960s couple are in the Bahamas spending time in a grass hut. Add a bikini and a straw hat, and you have yourself a perfect day. The photo comes from a 1964 travel ad for the Bahamas.
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This cute pair was found in the pages of Vogue magazine from January 1957. She is wearing a batwing suit from Handmacher Vogel. Bow beret, gloves, and pearls complete the look. Her styling is totally 1950s.
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Tell her you love her with a bouquet of flowers. This picture shows a man holding flowers behind his back. It comes from a 1960 ad for the Society of American Florists.
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My final favorite mid-century couple graphic comes from a 1957 Pepsi ad showing a 1950s woman taking a break from painting a chair. Her man has just handed her a Pepsi in the classic bottle. The illustration is 100% Americana.
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More Love-Themes Posts on MidCenturyPage.com
28 Days of Love Collection from February 2022 – Celebrating mid-century love articles and images from mid-century women’s magazines
https://midcenturypage.com/tag/28-days-of-love/
A collection of Passionate Illustrations from my collection of mid-century women’s magazines.
Mid-Century Page 
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