Tangee, Evening in Paris, and 19th century primers

Posted by Woodchuck on November 12, 2002

In Reply to: War, women and lipstick posted by ESC on November 04, 2002

: WAR, WOMEN AND LIPSTICK - The slogan for Tangee lipstick during World War II. "The 'uniform lipstick' was worn - and endorsed - by women from all walks of life, from Women's Air Service Patrollers to 'Rosie' the factory worker and pinup girls." A interesting feature of Tangee - although orange in the tube, it "changes color to accentuate a woman's natural skin tone. The color becomes uniquely your own." From "The Vermont Country Store" Christmas 2002 catalogue.

: This ad caught my eye because my mother wore this kind of lipstick.

My family ran an old fashioned country store in Vermont for over 100 years and I am a huge fan of Vermont Country Store for carrying all those old brands I remember from childhood.

They are also stocking "Evening in Paris" perfume this year and their ad says the scent survived the Great Depression due to "savvy marketing by Chanel. This beloved scent in its memorable cobalt blue bottle was sold in dime stores for 25 cents while the department store version was sold in expensive Baccarat bottles with crystal stoppers. Thus all women could indulge in 'The Most Famous Fragrance in the World.'"

My aunt, however, was unimpressed and quipped, "Her 'Soir de Paris' smells like 'Night in Winooski.'" (Winooski is Abnaki for 'wild onion place.')

One of the most interesting items in the catalog is hidden at the bottom of page 48 opposite the order form:

"McGuffey's Readers and Speller were the books from which children learned to read and write. They are still wonder-filled sources of adventures, stories, fables, and poems. As they read, adults and children see how their forebears lived and worked in the 19th century. Seven hardcover volumes filled with the beautiful writings of literary giants such as Byron, Whittier, Irving, Lamb, and Defoe, with wonderful woodcuts and pen-and-ink illustrations. "