The Reaganettes, brought to you by Tab

February 25, 2014 2:07 PM

I am looking for TV commercials from the 1980s that feature mothers, women and girls conforming to yuppie, conservative, WASPy ideals of beauty and behavior.

I need a load of these for an art project. I am hoping to find blondes in particular, and if this helps jog any recollections loose, I'm also hoping to find some in Laura Ashley style conservative attire. YouTube links MOST welcome!

posted by Ambrosia Voyeur to Media & Arts (15 answers total)

I think this Summer's Eve commercial should fit the bill.
posted by agatha_magatha at 2:09 PM on February 25, 2014

Oh yeah, Tampax is another source of what you want...
posted by agatha_magatha at 2:11 PM on February 25, 2014

"And they told two friends, and so on, and so on, and so on."
posted by Melismata at 2:14 PM on February 25, 2014

Basically, any feminine hygiene commercial seems to work Like this Massengill one.
posted by agatha_magatha at 2:14 PM on February 25, 2014

Diet Pepsi.
posted by Mchelly at 2:15 PM on February 25, 2014

Another "and so on" with a different actress.
posted by Melismata at 2:15 PM on February 25, 2014

Body on Tap shampoo commercial with a young Kim Basinger.
posted by mefireader at 2:17 PM on February 25, 2014

Response by poster: melismata, bonus points for something that weirdly underlines the ubiquity and interchangeability of the type!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 2:37 PM on February 25, 2014 [1 favorite]

It would take some sifting, but you might want to look at the Vintage Ads community on LiveJournal. Here's the 80s tag. There are lots more tags down the left column, but the tags and titles are up to the submitter, so they're not perfect.
posted by jocelmeow at 3:01 PM on February 25, 2014

Toy commercials should be a good source.

My Little Pony, complete with hair ribbons and bicycle baskets.
Easy Bake Oven (looks like a Laura Ashley jumper)
Cabbage Patch Kids (check out the tiny roses/berries on every item of clothing the girls wear)
posted by mochapickle at 3:05 PM on February 25, 2014

Perfume and pantyhose are two fertile topics.
CotR Enjoli
Wind Song
Nuance
Fatale
Estee Lauder Beautiful
Hanes "Cinderella"
13 minutes of pantyhose ads, mostly 80s (with bonus racism of the silk-type pantyhose ads using Asian actresses).
posted by jocelmeow at 4:47 PM on February 25, 2014 [1 favorite]

Some friends and I had to wear iconic Laura Ashley bridesmaid gear at our pal’s wedding in 1987. (We groused a lot among ourselves about how ugly it was – it felt at the time like a domesticated form of Stevie Nicks style. Doubly horrible.) I wish I had videos to send you, but I don’t.

Five years after the occasion it wouldn’t have seemed so bad: just pair the dresses with clunky lace-up boots and everything would have been beautiful. Your project sounds so great and I wish you the best.
posted by sophieblue at 5:23 PM on February 25, 2014

Downy
Calgon, take me away
Mama's got the magic of Clorox 2 (featuring one of the WASP-iest families ever committed to film)
posted by mhum at 6:09 PM on February 25, 2014

Doublemint Gum was famous for this.
posted by SLC Mom at 7:08 PM on February 25, 2014

Response by poster: These are great!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 8:28 PM on February 25, 2014