Behind the Colour: 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 evening away to Moonlight Serenade by the ever well-liked Glenn Miller. Now you’re a lady of the workforce, considered one of many who’ve grown accustom to rigorous labor. You’re taking satisfaction in your new profession, fortunately doing all of your half for the continuing 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, rigorously 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 smooth pink rouge for the cheeks, thick brows, and lengthy luscious lashes. Lastly, your army issued lipstick – a vivid, vibrant crimson that completely matches your uniform’s trim. It’s your favourite shade, excellent 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 Struggle and girls’s roles within the office started to be redefined. The Nineteen Thirties noticed ladies as nurses, college academics, and homemakers. Nonetheless, with males off at struggle, the Nineteen Forties girl might now work in factories, on meeting traces, and even be a part of the army. On the urging of Eleanor Roosevelt (the primary girl on the time), and Normal George Marshall, the primary ladies’s department of service was established in 1941— the Ladies’s Auxiliary Military Corps (later to be often known as Ladies’s Military Corps).
With ladies turning into increasingly concerned within the struggle effort, one would assume make-up was a misplaced precedence. Nonetheless, in the course of the decade “magnificence was your responsibility” and thought of an act of patriotism. Crimson lips symbolized victory, optimism, and impacted morale. Crimson lipstick was seen an acceptable shade for any event: at residence, within the office, and even energetic responsibility.
Within the early Nineteen 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 crimson, and completely matched to the crimson piping and chevrons on ladies’s army uniforms. Montezuma Crimson was issued to army ladies in an official equipment which included the gorgeous crimson 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 girl might proudly honor her nation.
Impressed by the power, and optimism of the Nineteen Forties girl, Bésame’s very personal “1941 Victory Crimson” is a trustworthy replica of the crimson lipstick as soon as issued to army ladies. Whereas magnificence will not be thought-about a “responsibility” for as we speak’s life-style, this shade will eternally 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
