Behind the Shade: Bésame Cosmetics 1941 Victory Crimson

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 night time away to Moonlight Serenade by the ever in style Glenn Miller. Now you’re a lady of the workforce, one in every of many who’ve grown accustom to rigorous labor.  You are taking delight in your new profession, fortunately doing all of 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 set 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 inserting 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 vivid, vibrant pink that completely matches your uniform’s trim. It’s your favourite shade, excellent for the assured, patriotic lady of the Forties. 

The Forties was an period brimming with patriotism, optimism, and daring pink lips. America had simply entered the second World Warfare and girls’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 Forties lady may now work in factories, on meeting strains, and even be a part of the navy. On the urging of Eleanor Roosevelt (the primary girl on the time), and Common George Marshall, the primary ladies’s department of service was established in 1941— the Ladies’s Auxiliary Military Corps (later to be generally known as Ladies’s Military Corps).

With ladies changing into increasingly concerned within the struggle effort, one would assume make-up was a misplaced precedence. Nonetheless, through the decade “magnificence was your obligation” and regarded an act of patriotism. Crimson lips symbolized victory, optimism, and impacted morale. Crimson lipstick was seen an acceptable shade for any event: at house, within the office, and even lively obligation. 

Within the early Forties, well-known make-up artist, and girls’s activist, Elizabeth Arden was approached to create a lipstick particularly designed for girls in service. In 1941 “Montezuma Crimson” was created. It was a vivid, vibrant pink, and completely matched to the pink piping and chevrons on ladies’s navy uniforms. Montezuma Crimson was issued to navy ladies in an official package which included the gorgeous pink lipstick, an identical cream rouge, and nail polish. 

As the recognition of Montezuma Crimson blossomed, the general public demanded a shade of their very own. Elizabeth Arden created “Victory Crimson”, amongst different reds, so any lady may proudly honor her nation. 

Impressed by the power, and optimism of the Forties lady, Bésame’s very personal “1941 Victory Crimson” is a devoted copy of the pink lipstick as soon as issued to navy ladies. Whereas magnificence is probably not thought of a “obligation” for at this time’s way of life, this shade will eternally be linked to the assured and provoking ladies of the Forties. 

photograph courtesy of @MissVintageLady

photograph courtesy of @missgolden_lady

photograph courtesy of @mikalakitty

Sources:

Hernandez, Gabriela. Traditional Magnificence: the Historical past of Make-up. Schiffer Publishing Ltd, 2017.

Historical past.com Employees. “American Ladies in World Warfare II.” Historical past.com, A&E Tv Networks, 2010, www.historical past.com/subjects/world-war-ii/american-women-in-world-war-ii.