Why does nobody talk about the color palette of old pharmacy signs?

I was looking at some photos from a trip to Savannah and noticed all the vintage drugstore signs used the same three colors... a specific red, a cream, and a dark green. Found an article that said it was because those pigments were the cheapest and most lightfast for enamel paint in the 1920s. Has anyone else seen this combo pop up in modern branding as a nod to that era?

3 comments

3 Comments

mia_park3mo ago

Notice how that old color combo feels both classic and weirdly fresh now. I mean, you see it on coffee shop logos and craft beer cans all the time. It's like brands are using that specific history to feel authentic without saying a word.

robinson.holly2mo ago

Honestly it reminds me of my uncle's old bowling shirt. That exact color scheme, mustard and brown. He wore it every Saturday for years and we all thought it was the ugliest thing. Now I see it on a bag of fancy coffee beans and suddenly it's cool. Makes me wonder what we're wearing today that'll look terrible in ten years, then get brought back as vintage.

the_sam3mo ago

Wait, you're seeing this on craft beer cans now? That's wild. It used to be the most dated look from like, every cheap motel in the 80s. Brands are really digging deep for that "vintage" feel. It's a smart trick, makes you trust them before you even know what they're selling.