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The following image is from the September 1976 issue of St Michael News. The title ‘Hands Off’, along with the woman’s reproachful look at the man touching her presumably brand-new M&S, and her rather powerful stance, hints at, and acknowledges, women’s increasing independence and professionalism in society.
When compared with the following image from the October 1962 issue of St Michael News, M&S’s move to incorporating more ‘masculine’ features into their clothes becomes apparent; for instance, the structure of the jacket below is much less pronounced than those above.
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You may also be interested in videos of M & S advertisements broadcast on television throughout the 20th century. To find out where you can access these videos, click here.
Source: Marks & Spencer Company Archive