Several of the 1930s and 1940s cover illustrations were updated by Rudy Nappi for this change, depicting a Nancy of the Kennedy era, though the stories themselves were not updated. The change was to reduce production costs.
In 1962, all Grosset & Dunlap books become "picture covers," books with artwork and advertising printed directly on their covers, as opposed to books with a dust jacket over a tweed volume. The change, due to a printing ink error, was considered so favorable that it was adopted in the text. Nancy's hair color was changed from blonde to strawberry-blond, reddish-blond or titian by the end of the decade. Nappi gave Nancy Peter Pan collars, a pageboy, (later a flip haircut), and the occasional pair of jeans.
Nappi was asked by Grosset & Dunlap's art director to update Nancy's appearance, especially her wardrobe. Rudy Nappi, the artist from 1953 to 1979, illustrates a more average teenager. She appears to be a bit taken aback by what she sees, but she looks as if she is still in control of the situation." However, although Nancy "expresses surprise, she is not afraid. Her mouth is often open in surprise, and she hides her body from view. Instead, she is likely to be observing others. Gillies also designed the modern-era trademark as a spine symbol: Nancy's head in profile, looking through a quizzing glass.īeginning in the 1940s, and continuing throughout the 1950s, Nancy is depicted less frequently in the center of the action. Gillies used his wife for a model, and Nancy reflects the conservative 1950s, with immaculate waved hair and a limited wardrobe–she wears similar sweater, blouse, and skirt ensembles on most of these covers. Sweater or blouse and skirt ensembles, as well as a pageboy hairstyle, were introduced in 1948, and continued with new artist Bill Gillies, who updated 10 covers and illustrated three new jackets from 1950 to 1952. Following the postwar trend for young people to have their own casual style, instead of dressing the same as adults, Nancy becomes less constrained. Beginning in the early 1950s, Nancy's look was updated.