March 16th, 2010

The 1955 Dodge La Femme ad

Who says car companies rarely market to women? Well, they did in 1955 and 1956. The Dodge La Femme was specifically built and marketed just for women. Granted in the day the car was considered a failure. Now however it is quite the collectors item. On their brochure it reads: To her majesty, the American woman.

The car came with everything an all-american 1950’s stereotype housewife could ever want. The colors range from a two-tone “heather rose and sapphire white” to “regal orchid” to “misty orchid” and some boasted an interior detailed in gold.

The car also comes with accessories, and what woman doesn’t love accessories! It comes with a rain cape, rain boots and umbrella. Listen, who knows when you might get caught out in the rain. It also comes with a matching bag in a rose leather to match the interior! In addition, in the back of the car there are pockets where you can keep all your La Femme accessories.

Granted the La Femme seems to play to every female stereotype however in the day the car was really about a new sense of freedom for women. In the 1950s Chrysler noticed more women were influencing decisions, more families were getting 2 cars and less women were staying at home. Thus they decided to capitalize on this new untapped market. Unbelievably, 60 years later and car companies still can’t figure out how to do it right!

Well, American women and women all over the globe, we still believe you are all royalty and you deserve to be treated and marketed to like the queens and princesses that you are!