HAPPY BIRTHDAY
OUR 90-YEAR HISTORY TELLS THE FASCINATING STORY OF WOMEN’S CHANGING LIVES
W&H! WE’RE 90 AND STILL A BESTSELLER!
“A magazine of delightful suggestions”
1920s
“A MAGAZINE OF DELIGHTFUL SUGGESTIONS” is how w&h introduced itself in November 1926. Early issues reflected the lives of a generation of women running a home and family. With few labour-saving devices though, their time was pressured. A cookery course for “the busy woman” who “wants to be a good cook but has NO time for attending classes” strikes a chord with us today.
Beauty advice however has come a long way. “Miss Beauty” suggests using pumice stone and bleach to achieve smooth white legs! And the fashion pages in the first issue included a pattern so women can knit their own “dainty” lingerie.
Some things never change though... we were just as interested in the Royal Family then as now. One article about the baby Princess Elizabeth reveals how the Queen (Queen Mary) has been knitting “delightful white woollies for the baby princess” with her ladies-in-waiting.
1930s
WOMEN’S LIVES
ARE BEGINNING TO DIVERSIFY, AND W&H SHOWS THEM THE WAY. WITH THE EVOLUTION OF THE FEMALE EXECUTIVE THERE ARE HOME DECOR TIPS
FOR A “BUSINESS WOMAN’S FLAT”. PHOTOS INSIDE THE LIVERPOOL APARTMENT SHOW CLEAN, BARE WALLS, BOXY FURNITURE AND A DRESSING TABLE THAT’S “A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF MODERN THOUGHT AND EFFICIENCY.”
LABOUR-SAVING DEVICES ARE APPEARING WITH AN AD FOR THE ACME CABINET WRINGER-MANGLE WHICH “CENTRALIZES WASHING, WRINGING, MANGLING, IRONING, PASTRY MAKING, AND IS READY FOR ACTION EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK” BUT MANY QUITE ORDINARY FAMILIES HAD SERVANTS AND THERE’S ADVICE ON ETIQUETTE FOR THE MAID ABOUT WINE POURING AT DINNER PARTIES.
PRE-WAR, THIS IS ALSO A CARE-FREE TIME. IN A SERIES COVERING ADULT PARTY GAMES ONE IS TO SEE WHICH COUPLE CAN THREAD THE MOST PEANUTS ONTO A STRING!
1940s
DURING THE WAR YEARS A SHORTAGE OF PAPER MEANS ISSUES OF W&H ARE SLIMMER. THE WORLD OF WORK CHANGED FOR WOMEN DURING WORLD WAR II AND W&H PROFILES FEMALE PILOTS, WREN SIGNALLERS AND THE LIVES OF LAND GIRLS.
THE PROBLEM PAGE TACKLES WARTIME DILEMMAS. A YOUNG GIRL DEALING WITH THE UNWANTED ATTENTIONS OF AN OLDER MAN WHO HAS INVITED HER TO THE CINEMA IS
TOLD NOT TO LOOK EMBARRASSED BUT SAY “I DON’T CARE ABOUT MAKING PLANS FOR MY DAY OFF, AS I MAY FEEL LIKE RESTING INSTEAD.”
W&H WAS ALSO LEADING THE WAY AS FEMINIST ATTITUDES STARTED TO AWAKEN. ONE COLUMNIST WRITES: “THE OTHER DAY I READ THAT AMERICANS ARE THE MOST ORIGINAL AND INTERESTING WOMEN OF ANY NATION. WHY? BECAUSE, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO LEAD THE KIND OF LIFE MEN LIKE, THEY LEAD A LIFE WHICH THEY THEMSELVES LIKE.”
THE WARTIME W&H READERS’ INTEREST IN FASHION REMAINS. ONE COLUMN NOTED: “FASHION TODAY, THOUGH PARSIMONIOUS WITH SHAPES AND TRIMMINGS, IS RICH WITH COLOUR.” WHETHER ANYONE SUCCESSFULLY MADE A BRA FROM OLD NET CURTAINS, AS SUGGESTED IN AN ADVERT FROM WASHING POWDER BRAND LUX, IS ANOTHER MATTER…
1950s
HOW life – and w&h – has changed since the war years! The 1950s woman is broadening her horizons at work and in her leisure time, and w&h is here to inspire her. A regular column called “What Shall I Be?” focuses on the range of careers available to women, while adverts even start to feature men in the kitchen.
Many women are experiencing their first taste of travel and w&h’s suggestions for foreign adventures range from open-air cafés in Lucerne and drinks by the Rialto Bridge in Venice to croissants for “elevenses” in Paris.
Daring new foods are also making their way to Britain. In the July 1957 issue w&h introduces “Avocados – A Great Delicacy”, with tips from a cordon bleu chef on how to serve “this exotic fruit at its best”. In a later issue, the problem page tackles a reader letter asking “What is scampi?”
Interest in the Royal Family remains – a picture special of the Queen’s life celebrates her accession to the throne – but w&h celebrates its readers’ changing lives with advice for women finding love in their forties and encouragement to celebrate birthdays over the age of 50 as “red letter days” rather than treat them as a guilty secret.
1960s
IT’S THE SWINGING SIXTIES AND W&H OFFERS GLAMOUR AND STYLE WITH INTERVIEWS WITH MOVIES STARS SUCH AS SOPHIA LOREN, DRESS PATTERNS SO READERS CAN REPLICATE AUDREY HEPBURN’S WARDROBE IN How To Steal A Million AND AN “AT HOME” WITH VIRGINIA MCKENNA, STAR OF Born Free, AND HER HUSBAND (AND Born Free CO-STAR) BILL TRAVERS. FASHION AND FOOD, BOTH UNDERGOING HUGE CHANGES, ARE PRINTED IN COLOUR, AND TRAVEL FEATURES FOCUS ON PREVIOUSLY UNHEARD OF HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS, SUCH AS THE ALGARVE.
ARTICLES COVER DEEP-FREEZING GARDEN PRODUCE AND THE LATEST ELECTRIC FOOD MIXERS. THE MAGAZINE OBSERVES, “THE PRE-WAR HOUSEWIFE WOULDN’T HAVE BELIEVED IT IF SHE COULD HAVE PEEPED INTO THE FUTURE AND SEEN ALL THE GADGETS, POTS AND PANS IN A PRESENT-DAY KITCHEN.”
WRITING SHORT STORIES FOR W&H WAS ROSAMUNDE PILCHER (NOW 91), WHO WENT ON TO WRITE The Shell Seekers, WHICH SOLD FIVE MILLION COPIES WORLDWIDE AND
1970s
A TIME OF GROWING RIGHTS FOR WOMEN AND W&H IS AT THE FOREFRONT. W&H
DOCTOR, HILARY WORTH, TACKLES PREVIOUSLY TABOO HEALTH TOPICS INCLUDING PERIODS, THE MENOPAUSE AND BIRTH DEFECTS.
THE MAGAZINE’S MONTHLY “CAREERS WITH A CHALLENGE” COLUMN INTERVIEWS WOMEN JOCKEYS AND RACING CAR INSTRUCTORS. THERE’S NOW ADVICE TOO FOR READERS
WHO WANT TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS. EXERCISES TO COMBAT STRESS BEGIN TO FEATURE WITH A ROUTINE CALLED THE WAVE, A SEQUENCE BASED ON YOGA POSTURES AND DESIGNED TO “EASE THE TENSION THAT THE PACE OF MODERN LIVING CAN BUILD INTO OUR MINDS AND BODIES”.
HOME TRENDS INCLUDE THE ARRIVAL OF THE DUVET, KNOWN AS A CONTINENTAL QUILT, AND FOR THE FASHIONABLE THERE ARE PATTERNS TO MAKE YOUR OWN KAFTAN. VERY SEVENTIES!
MEANWHILE, ADVERTS FROM THE METRICATION BOARD, ENCOURAGE READERS TO THINK IN CM, RATHER THAN FEET AND INCHES, WHEN SHOPPING FOR CLOTHES. >> WAS ADAPTED FOR THE STAGE BY TERENCE BRADY AND CHARLOTTE BINGHAM.
BUT CAREERS ADVICE REMAINS A PROMINENT FEATURE WITH AN ARTICLE ON “STARTING AGAIN AT 35-PLUS”, SUGGESTING TRAINING AS A PROBATION OFFICER AND HOW TO BECOME A GOVERNMENT DRIVER.
“90 years on and w&h is the bestselling women’s monthly magazine” Happy Birthday woman&home & thank you to all our brilliant readers!
1980s
THIS IS THE DECADE THAT PRINCESS DIANA BECOMES A HOUSEHOLD NAME AND W&H SUGGESTS HOW TO BREEZE THROUGH PREGNANCY LIKE THE YOUNG PRINCESS. HER FASHION STYLE IS REFLECTED IN OUR COVER STAR MODELS WEARING PIE-CRUST COLLARS.
IT’S PERHAPS NO SURPRISE THAT IN THE DECADE OF LIVE AID AND AN EMERGING
HIV CRISIS, W&H ALSO LOOKS AT SERIOUS ISSUES OF THE TIME. THERE ARE HARDHITTING FEATURES ON SUBJECTS LIKE THE IMPACT OF TV VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN AND THE ETHICAL QUESTIONS RAISED BY TEST-TUBE BABIES – DEBATES THAT ARE STILL RELEVANT 30 YEARS ON. NOW HEALTH COLUMNS NOT ONLY SHOW HOW TO DEAL WITH STRESS BUT ALSO COVER THE ISSUE OF EATING DISORDERS.
2000s
This is the decade when Sue James becomes editorial director and our readers multiply to make us the best-selling monthly women’s magazine. Our first celebrity cover is with Catherine Zeta-Jones and, as now, we ask famous names about the off-screen aspects of life we can all identify with as well as their on-screen successes.
Female friendships are celebrated and the changing lives of women after 40 are recognised – whether that means a late baby, a first marriage or staying single. Fashion looks at how shape and age is no barrier to style.
1990s
IT’S THE ERA OF GIRL POWER, AND W&H CHAMPIONS WOMEN DOING IT THEIR WAY. OUR FAMOUS NEW DIRECTIONS COLUMN ARRIVES, FOCUSING ON 40-PLUS WOMEN FINDING NEW WAYS TO LIVE AND WORK. THE MAGAZINE COVERS WOMEN JETTING OFF ON SOLO HOLIDAYS AND THERE ARE INTERVIEWS WITH HIGH PROFILE, INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN – SUCH AS THE FIRST FEMALE SPEAKER
OF THE COMMONS, BETTY BOOTHROYD. FAMOUS NAMES SUCH AS RUTH RENDELL AND CAROL SHIELDS ARE WRITING FICTION.
SOCIAL CHANGES IN WOMEN’S LIVES ARE MARKED BY DEBATES ABOUT HOW TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SECOND MARRIAGE AND THERE’S A GUIDE FOR WOMEN WHO ARE PLANNING TO RETURN TO WORK OVER 40. TECHNOLOGY STARTS TO CHANGE ALL OUR LIVES – W&H IS TESTING THE BEST VIDEO RECORDERS, AND EXPLAINING THE JARGON WITH A “CAN DO” ATTITUDE. WHETHER TO TAKE HRT IS AN ISSUE AND ADVISING ON ALL THINGS MEDICAL IS DR ROSEMARY LEONARD WHO IS, OF COURSE, STILL SHARING HER WISDOM WITH W&H.
2010s
Now w&h covers feature exclusive shoots with icon Helen Mirren and a UK monthly magazine first with a cover and interview with Hillary Clinton. We won industry accolades with Magazine of the
Year and Brand of the Year at the BSME awards, in 2007 our website womanandhome.com launched and woman&home became international with a franchise in South Africa.
But it is your lives which are at the heart of the magazine and we address the more difficult side of life too, as when one woman told her story,
“My husband became a woman”.
Top-notch fashion and beauty advice gives our 40-plus readers the confidence to look downright fabulous!