!960s Young Women’s Magazine and Artwork..
Petticoat, a weekly magazine for young women ran from 1966 until 1975. launched by Audrey Slaughter who recognised the shift taking place in Britain to a more open and liberal younger woman it quickly caught on in an already popular market. It was an exciting time to be a young woman in the sixties, the shackles which had held previous generations back were beginning to be unlocked and teenagers and young women could discuss taboo subjects more openly and freely.
The magazine like most others during and after the period offered the reader advice on love, sex, healthy eating, hair and make-up maintenance and a problem page ran by none other than the late Claire Rayner. Other contributors included Annie Nightingale and Janet Street-Porter.
Petticoat differed from other magazines of a similar ilk by publishing weekly. It was thinner than most others in its category with glossy pages and a cheaper, supermarket style feel to them.By the late 1960s the artwork accompanying the short stories (usually about love in all of its guises) stepped up a gear. There was a greater freedom of artistic impression afforded the artist and this shone through in their depictions. Despite the era it was still pretty fair in favour of the woman, yes, they still portrayed the innocent look in some pictures but in others they looked more assertive, lending a more positive outlook for their readers to follow.
Magazines have often had much to answer for in their portrayals of subjects and often the storylines were, and indeed continue in some cases, to be somewhat undermining of women in particular. I have never quite understood how women could and can write for and about other women in such a manner. But love sells and if you are going to write about it then you may as well illustrate it accordingly. The artwork is so of its time, there is a naivety to some, suggestive sexism in others but either way they are a part of our cultural history. Often the artist were not credited for their work, which is a shame.
Categories: Retro Heaven
retroculturati 
By any chance do they sell this magazines still?
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I’m not sure, perhaps anyone visiting this page might be able to help?
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I would really appreciate it, if someone knows where I can get a hold of these magazines.
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Ebay UK, but they are now so expensive. I started collecting them on Ebay about three years ago and could pick them up for £5 each. I was a teenager during the 60’s and these magazines bring back so many memories of my life in London during that time.
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Irene,
Welcome to the site and thank you for commenting. I am afraid that is the way with most things these days, especially on eBay!!
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By the way, I used to buy this magazine every week during the 60’s, for one shilling each, which would be 5 pence today! Some are now being sold for £95 each, but I won’t sell my collection!
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Irene, You should hold on to them! I am glad you found this article on here, what a lovely collection to have. Thank you for sharing your memories with us.
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Loved this magazine as a teenager in Ireland. Got it from the local shop until a relative told my mother it wasn’t suitable 😢
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I was chief sub editor of Petticoat in the early ‘70s and had the time of my life working there. I was 21 and living the dream
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Hello Julie
Great to hear from you! Hope this post brought back some happy memories for you, thank you for stopping by!
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Hi Julie: My name is Rosemarie Wittman Lamb, My story Oh My America, was published in Petticoat Magazine in the late 60’s. I wonder if you remember it? I am looking for the issues in which it appeared. Any suggestions? I actually live in America now…
my e mail is rosemariedeane102@gmail.com
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Hi Rosemary. I’m afraid I don’t remember that story. I have seen ideas on this site for buying issues of the magazine, sadly all mine disappeared on a house move many years ago. I hope you can locate your story.
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Hey, Jane Westcott here–how are YOU?
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Just found this page! I worked as a sub editor on Petticoat for a few months in 1966 before returning to New Zealand. Loved it. Great workmates. I was Sue Ling then. But I have not a single copy of the magazine — I shall now set out to rectify that if I can!
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Hello Sue and welcome to the site, that’s great to hear from you. They must have been great times. I hope you can get some copies!
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I still have the basic dressmaking pattern that I bought from Petticoat in the 60s. Also some of the instructions to adapt the pattern to make certain garments. Can anyone tell me which issues these were printed in? I think probably around 68/69.
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Hello Jean, welcome to the site and thank you for your comment. That’s great that you still have those! Hopefully someone will read this and have an answer for you.
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Hi. , all Looking for an edition with an advertisement on the back cover of the RAF.
This was my older sister , and it would be fantastic if I could get a copy of this one .
Any body got any ideas or advice
Many thanks
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Hi Kathy I have an issue dated September 14th 1968 with a WRAF advert for careers. Could this be your sister. Look me up on ebay daf_flo44777.
Regards
David
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