ADVERTISING: The Man's Glossary

The smooth, smart advertising copywriters at Manhattan's R. H. Macy & Co. last week had their little annual joke on themselves and all other writers of smooth, smart department-store Christmas advertising. Macy's bought a six-column ad in the New York Times for a cartoon of a befuddled, determined male saying to a glamorous second-floor dummy: "I'm looking for the Renoir peignoir with the fabulous moonbeam bow." Underneath, Macy's printed "The Man's Glossary (revised 1944 edition) of Unfamiliar Words & Phrases—As Used by Advertising Writers to Describe Female Apparel and Appurtenances." Sample definitions:...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!