In the 1920's the American frontier had been explored, and cities were now the epicenters of discovery. New technology demanded an expanded workforce. Women defied their stay-at-home roles. With the freedom of their own money, they behaved differently. They even started smoking.
Massive advertising campaigns by Lucky Strike Tobacco Company lured women as well as men into smoking with the slogan “It’s toasted!” After all, what could be more pure and aromatic than toasted, golden leaves?
The public fell for it. With product placement in the first self-serve grocery stores—the Piggly Wiggly chain—it was easy to develop a smoking and Maybelline habit over night.
No one could stop their little purchases, which included beauty-products. The era when only performers and prostitutes wore make-up had passed.
The age of cosmetics had begun with Lash-Brow-Ine in 1915, which became Maybelline in 1916.....
Read all about it in my book, The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.....
