In my in-text citations, how do I distinguish between several advertisements known by a description?

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook. For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook.

In your works-cited-list entries for the advertisements, begin each description differently. For example, if you are describing product advertisements, instead of beginning each description with the words Advertisement for, you could start with each product’s brand name:

Bottega Veneta handbag advertisement. Vanity Fair, Apr. 2019, p. 17.

Dior lipstick advertisement. Vogue, Apr. 2019, pp. 31-33.

As always, key your in-text citation to the first element of the works-cited-list entry:

Comparing an ad for a handbag (Bottega Veneta) with an ad for lipstick (Dior), we see that pink is everywhere this year.