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!



"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?