This post was most recently updated on September 23rd, 2019
Tonight, we’re still kicking it ’80s style in my series on Vintage Home Decor Ads.
With its over-the-top floral frou-frou and crazy crimped hair, the 80s certainly had its share of bad taste. As we’ve seen over the past few posts, nowhere is this better documented than in the decade’s (now vintage) advertising.
But for all it’s cringe-worthiness , the 80s also had style.
In fact, it was the decade that the world would meet it’s most famous taste-maker.
“I invented ‘It’s a good thing’ before you were even born.”
– Martha Stewart
It was in the ’80s, that Martha Stewart really rose to fame. After a series of successful home-making books in the early to mid 1980s, Martha debuted as K Mart’s “entertaining and lifestyle consultant” in 1987 with this ad…
1988 K Mart Ad, Source: “Found in Mom’s Basement”
In 1989 Martha was already well-known enough to make her first appearance on the David Letterman Show (Source: YouTube)! When she visited again just two years later in 1991, Dave was calling her “the world’s foremost authority” on “gracious living”. Go Martha!
Looking back on some old clips, I couldn’t help but notice how much more relaxed she seemed back then.
Check out this 1991 vintage David Letterman clip of Martha and Dave carving two 500 pound pumpkins with chainsaws! I love how she laughs at his antics but still maintains her classic Martha polish.
Love her or hate her, there’s no denying that Martha Stewart is the queen of creating million dollar style on a penny budget!
Personally, I happen to love everything that she (and her now very large staff, lol) creates!
Only a few more ads left to come.
Oh how I’ll miss you “31 Days”!
See you tomorrow.
KL
PS I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE getting comments! So, come on peeps, don’t be shy! 🙂
Yes, I’m with Alana…you should do a weekly feature where you do one vintage ad. These are terrific!
I admire Martha, just because she gave some respectability back to Homemaking, which had been diminished by the feminist movement. Mostly she’s responsible for showing that you can care about your home AND your career! She is a pain, in some ways, for sure. But she sure knows her stuff!
Thanks for cheering the series on Carol-Anne! It was fun. And, yes, I think I might continue it in some (albeit smaller, lol) way. Great insight on Martha too – i.e, how she was responsible for making home-making an important career again after the feminist movement. I love how these ads are also great little history lessons! (Yes, I’m a geek, haha). Have a great day! Kerri
You’re right–she is much more relaxed with Dave. Good for her.
I’m going to miss this series. What do you think–Could you do an ad once a week?
Oooh, what fab idea Alana! I think I just might! I’m glad you liked the series! It was pretty fun, wasn’t it? ~Kerri