Rod Collins

Advertising during the Art Deco period must rank as by far the most stylish yet seen !
It was whilst flicking through a 1936 copy of Country Life magazine that once again I was struck by just what a stylish period it was.
I think I’m slightly frustrated here in this world as I always find my self compellingly drawn to this period - possibly I’m displaced

The Art Deco period spans a time roughly between the mid 1920s and 1940 though I think early to mid 1930s was simply the Cat’s Pyjamas
The term refers to to a style of design which became so influential it defined a whole period in history. It really was a huge overhaul from the austere post World War I period. It covered every aspect of life from clothes to buildings and everything in between. We’ve dipped a toe into the artistic side before with the artist A.M. Cassandre

Although when we look back at any period it is largely defined in quite a narrow way and usually tends to ignore the more mainstream aspects of the period and ‘real life’ but there really was more style and panache about this whole period.
Looking through a couple of magazines showed that even adverts for everyday household items had a style as did those in them.

The men look smart and dapper and the women classy and stylish - walking through the town centre today certainly showed how times have changed - it’s no wonder I’m single !
A bit more old-fashioned Male Smartness and a bit of female elegance and chic wouldn’t go amiss (I wonder when it was so many people simply forgot how to dress or take any pride in their appearance)

The advert for the Alvis car is below and could be viewed at the showroom in St James’s St London S.W.1 - what an address - perfect for the period.
Both the car and artwork are simply sublime - in my opinion anyway.
Another point of interest is the price, the 4.3 litre Alvis cost £995 !
By way of comparison, in the same magazine you could also buy an 8 bedroomed manor house in Chiddingfold, West Surrey, complete with cottage, stables., garages and 6 acres of land for £4,000 - yes that’s right 4 grand !

I know you cannot turn the clock back, I’d buy that house if you could, but whilst time is irreversible other things surely are not.
How hard would it be to design buildings that are a bit different, how hard would it be to design clothes for the high street that didn’t make both men and women look like refugees from charity sales or people with a chronic allergy to any sense of style.

Bring back the likes of Ida Lupino say I

Opulently Yours
Rod

Alvis Car Advert from 1936