November 24, 2012
When I came across these vintage Seventeen magazine covers fro the 1940s I was astonished that this is the same Seventeen magazine around now. Seventeen was my second magazine subscription ever (Teen, R.I.P., was my first) and I kept most of them until I was in college (my Mom eventually threw them all out). And while the original seemed very focus on character, work, and how to be a good wife (at least that's how it seems to me), the current magazine seems a lot more shallow and fluffy. But then again, I haven't picked up a Seventeen magazine for years...

After a little digging around (well, actually I just checked Wikipedia) I unearthed plenty of information about Seventeen magazine!

Vintage Seventeen Magazine Covers from the 1940s Vintage Seventeen Magazine Covers from the 1940s Vintage Seventeen Magazine Covers from the 1940s Vintage Seventeen Magazine Covers from the 1940s Vintage Seventeen Magazine Covers from the 1940s Vintage Seventeen Magazine Covers from the 1940s Vintage Seventeen Magazine Covers from the 1940s Vintage Seventeen Magazine Covers from the 1940s

"It began as a publication geared towards inspiring teen girls to become role models in work and citizenship." The magazine was birthed from an idea that then editor-in-chief, Helen Valentine, had in her mind to have a magazine for teenage girls focused on service and fashion. Most of the early articles focused on work, citizenship, fashion, and beauty.

Things really started to change up by the time Seventeen had it's 5th birthday. By this time Helen Valentine was no longer editor-in-chief and Seventeen started to shift towards a different ideal for women. It started to focus more on fashion, beauty, and consumerism, and a domesticated female.

Which Seventeen magazine would you prefer to read, the 1940s version or the ones today?

5 comments:

  1. it would be so cool to look through the ones in the 40s. I adore the covers. I would think they would still look "vintage" up to the 70s. I guess that's the thing about nostalgia and romanticism, everything looks so much prettier and classy from decades past...at least that's how I feel.

    xoxoo
    Diana

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  2. I had no idea 17 magazine has been around that long. I absolutely love vintage fashion! Their hair seemed to look so much better back then!
    -StayingVintage.com

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  3. I totally forgot 17 was around that long! I used to love to read it as a teen.

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  4. Those would be so fun to look through. I remember loving YM when I was younger too. I think my favorite cover out of the ones shown is the pyramid of girls and the sign "all yours". Thanks for sharing.
    XOXO

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  5. You know, I haven't seen Seventeen mag in a long time, but I used to love it when I was a teen. I know I would love reading the 40s version. This reminds me that I have a vintage etiquette book put out by Seventeen that I must dig out of my collection. Glad you shared these!

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Thank you for taking the time to leave me a little comment, I do try to respond back as often as I can. Have a lovely day! xoxo - Rodellee