1. Cologne Sample Ads

Cologne sample are bar none the best style of magazine advertisement. I can remember my brother, sister and I either sharing or tearing apart those ads to smell and try to rub on our shirts when we found these in magazines, even though we weren’t the tartget market. While other advertisements are visually appealing, or engage your imagination, or project a message: cologne and perfume samples in magazines influence your sense of smell as well. Men’s Health, Vogue, Allure and many others had these foldout panels that would have cologne on them that smelled absolutely incredible (for the most part). The target market is for basically anyone who is interested in great sense, with the call to action being to purchase a larger bottle, much like the makeup sections at department stores.

2. Marlboro Man Magazine Ad

Everyone knows the Marlboro Man advertisement. Long gone are the days of awesome cigarette ads that definitely influenced me to smoke cigarettes for over ten years and claimed the life of every Marlboro Man from lung cancer, but goodness does it paint a cool image. This ad is oozing with machismo that the everyman cigarette smoker relates to. Marlboro Red 100’s, a product in the line of Marlboro Reds even picked up the cute nickname “Cowboy Killers”. Awesome! The target market is towards men over 18 – 45, with the call to action pushing them to smoke, with the Marlboro Man being the figure head that represents how badass you look smoking it. The sad part is, they are telling the truth. The value proposition is an awful one, as it enforces a disgusting, fruitless habit, but is definitely an effective ad for what it aims to embue.

3. Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg Bic Ad

BIC paired Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart to promote the EZ Reach lighter as part of a multi year campaign that began in 2021 and leaned into the duos chemistry through their baking show. The page is split into two bright stages, blue on one side and orange on the other, and the contrast makes each half feel like its own little scene.

Snoop Dogg gives a knowing look that suggests he has other plans for the lighter, and that glance is the joke the whole ad is built around. Martha Stewart plays the straight person to that joke, and their chemistry turns a mundane product into a tiny comedy bit. The image balances charm and cheek without spelling out anything explicit (marijuana). The campaign used short, cheeky spots and social content to show the lighters long wand and safety features while letting the personalities do the heavy lifting. BIC extended the partnership across product drops and events that blended lifestyle moments with playful nods to Snoop’s persona which helped the brand reach new audiences. You can tell that an ad is successful when it’s being spread as a legitimate meme.

4. Adidas Centerfold Workout

This spread looks like a magazine that decided to work out, and its one of those ads that you notice and smile, then play with a couple of times, just to see what happens. Two pages are lined up so the gutter becomes a spine (kind of fun), and the athletes are stitched across that seam, which makes the flip feel like a single, ridiculous motion. The visual gag is the point of entry, and the call to action is quiet and confident: the headline FOREVER SPORT and the Adidas badge nudge the reader to check out the new Forever Sport clothesline to try the gear that looks as good in motion as it does on the page.

The ad sells a simple value proposition. It promises athletic performance wrapped in clean, modern styling so the gear feels useful and desirable in everyday life. The layout, the negative space, and the cropped photos all signal that this is for people who care about function and form, people who want gear that performs in an exercise setting as Adidas doesn’t always focus on gym clothing, but sometimes sports attire as well. The campaign has been aimed at active adults with a strong focus on women in the 19 to 49 age range, which explains the editorial placements and the playful, accessible tone.

5. Max Face Shoes

This ad looks like someone dressed their shoe for a night out, with two fingernails as eyeballs… and the foothole(?) looks like its screaming. Below, a hand in a red jacket sleeve holds a polished brown leather shoe so the shoe reads like a person, shoulders back and chin up, ready to walk into a room and take charge. The plain white background keeps the focus tight on the shoe and the little performance it is putting on, so there is no mistaking the point. The headline, “You Are What You Wear”, sits above the brand name MAX SHOES and advertises a simple promise: solid craftsmanship, and classic styling. What I do enjoy most about this ad is that they’ve made several iterations, and I find all of the faces amusing and worthy of my attention.

I believe this ad is aimed at professional men, roughly 25 to 45, who care about build quality and understated style, plus anyone who prefers a straightforward, lighthearted pitch over fluff or overexaggerated style. The value proposition is clear, practical, and easy to act on buy a durable, well-made shoe that looks sharp. The call to action is equally plain check them out in store or online, try them on, and buy the pair that fits your life. Place this in men’s lifestyle and business mags, or targeted social ads, and product pages where the image can link straight to purchase or a store locator.