Behind the Shade: Bésame Cosmetics 1941 Victory Pink
It’s 6 am and your alarm clock is singing louder than the birds. You slowly open your eyes, groggily getting accustomed to your brightly lit room. You continue to have not fairly gotten use to waking up at this hour. Gone are the glamorous events and dancing the evening away to Moonlight Serenade by the ever widespread Glenn Miller. Now you’re a lady of the workforce, certainly one of many who’ve grown accustom to rigorous labor. You’re taking satisfaction in your new profession, fortunately doing all your half for the continued struggle. You stroll to your closet and select your outfit for the day— an olive inexperienced Marine Corps Uniform. With confidence you place in your uniform, fastidiously adjusting the jacket so it lays easily. You pull your hair again and tuck your curls up away out of your shoulders earlier than putting your cap upon your head. Subsequent, a easy swipe of pale powder on the face, a tender pink rouge for the cheeks, thick brows, and lengthy luscious lashes. Lastly, your navy issued lipstick – a brilliant, vibrant crimson that completely matches your uniform’s trim. It’s your favourite shade, good for the assured, patriotic girl of the Nineteen Forties.
The Nineteen Forties was an period brimming with patriotism, optimism, and daring crimson lips. America had simply entered the second World Battle and ladies’s roles within the office started to be redefined. The Thirties noticed ladies as nurses, faculty academics, and homemakers. Nonetheless, with males off at struggle, the Nineteen Forties girl might now work in factories, on meeting traces, and even be part of the navy. On the urging of Eleanor Roosevelt (the primary girl on the time), and Basic George Marshall, the primary ladies’s department of service was established in 1941— the Girls’s Auxiliary Military Corps (later to be generally known as Girls’s Military Corps).
With ladies changing into an increasing number of concerned within the struggle effort, one would assume make-up was a misplaced precedence. Nonetheless, in the course of the decade “magnificence was your obligation” and thought of an act of patriotism. Pink lips symbolized victory, optimism, and impacted morale. Pink lipstick was seen an appropriate shade for any event: at residence, within the office, and even energetic obligation.
Within the early Nineteen Forties, well-known make-up artist, and ladies’s activist, Elizabeth Arden was approached to create a lipstick particularly designed for ladies in service. In 1941 “Montezuma Pink” was created. It was a brilliant, vibrant crimson, and completely matched to the crimson piping and chevrons on ladies’s navy uniforms. Montezuma Pink was issued to navy ladies in an official package which included the gorgeous crimson lipstick, an identical cream rouge, and nail polish.
As the recognition of Montezuma Pink blossomed, the general public demanded a shade of their very own. Elizabeth Arden created “Victory Pink”, amongst different reds, so any girl might proudly honor her nation.
Impressed by the power, and optimism of the Nineteen Forties girl, Bésame’s very personal “1941 Victory Pink” is a trustworthy copy of the crimson lipstick as soon as issued to navy ladies. Whereas magnificence is probably not thought-about a “obligation” for right now’s way of life, this shade will perpetually be linked to the assured and galvanizing ladies of the Nineteen Forties.
picture courtesy of @MissVintageLady
picture courtesy of @missgolden_lady
picture courtesy of @mikalakitty
Sources:
Hernandez, Gabriela. Basic Magnificence: the Historical past of Make-up. Schiffer Publishing Ltd, 2017.
Historical past.com Workers. “American Girls in World Battle II.” Historical past.com, A&E Tv Networks, 2010, www.historical past.com/matters/world-war-ii/american-women-in-world-war-ii.
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