ChipChick is a blog about tech and gadgets from a chick's perspective. I LOVE this blog! I am a definite gadget-girl (or as much as my budget, my girlfriend and Canada Customs allows me to be). A recent posting shows Kodak cameras from the 1920's and 1930's; cameras definitely targeted to women. The post points to website where a number of camera examples and histories are described. What this web author has collected are not only great pix of the cameras, but the text from the ads for the cameras.
Newest of the Smart Gifts...for the Girl Graduate, the Bride, the Bridesmaid, the Birthday...distinguished, dainty, feminine...Bryn Mawr, Wellesley, Vassar, Smith ‘28 join Park Avenue debutantes in acclaiming these gloriously colorful Kodaks the loveliest gift creations seen in years.
Swagger...aristocratic...modernity at its best...those are words to describe what is probably the most momentous addition of the season to the correct ensemble.
Even before one snaps a picture, one carries a new and intriguing detail of custom-accessory exquisitely in key with the current trend toward color and novelty.
As a gift, the Vanity Kodak possesses a delightful freshness of appeal. The smart girl graduate of cosmopolitan taste welcomes it as a rare combination of utility and sophistication.
Visit your dealer at once and see these new Kodak’s of transcendent smartness. On sale June 1st, in five colors ...Redbreast ...Bluebird ...Cockatoo ...Sea Gull ...Jenny Wren.
I adore this language. "Girl Graduate" Like "Girl Detective". I know there are terrible stereotypes and gender-biases built into this. But I am still swept away by a ridiculous romanticism from this era. Gal Fridays working late at the newspaper and breaking a story that finally gets her promoted to cub reporter. Gloves. Hats. Sleek lines. Over-emphasized broad shoulders. (Even more 1930's fashion at costumes.org)
And the sales pitch is just a bit classier. Who doesn't want to be a smart girl graduate of cosmopolitan taste? Compare this to the current Virgin Mobile ad running here in Canada -- 5 cent Virgin to Virgin: a midget rapper with too much bling.
[original link via misbehaving.net, a multi-author blog about women and technology]