This is when things really get interesting. Legend has it that the women who marched and protested against suffrage wore red lipstick to symbolize their mission and continue the fight. More specifically, it is said that Elizabeth Arden, the businesswoman and beauty connoisseur who transcends boundaries, handed out red lipstick to suffrage advocates as they marched past the store in Boulevard. her number 5, because she herself is a staunch supporter of the cause.
Here’s the thing, though. It is difficult to find evidence of this. As Parsons put it, “Women in the suffrage movement would use lipstick as a means of rebellion, power, and feminism if that were to happen.” I wanted to know more, so I went straight to the source: Elizabeth Arden, the same global beauty brand founded by maven cosmetics of the same name.
Janet Curmi is vice president of education and global development at Elizabeth Arden. She says that Elizabeth Arden pioneered the introduction of red lipstick into the American beauty trend. “Before 1912, most American women didn’t accept makeup, and it was usually just worn by performers and people alike,” she said. “On her first trip to Paris in 1912, Elizabeth Arden noticed the city’s fashionable elite—women who attended the theater and opera, with their glossy lashes and rosy cheeks. When she returned to New York, she wasted no time in creating the first colored blushes and powders, as well as mascaras and eyeshadows for American women. fashion magazine published an article suggesting that ‘a little blush, used discreetly, can make women look healthier and younger’. Soon after, makeup became the pinnacle of fashion in American society, with Elizabeth Arden pioneering the industry in the US to meet growing demand.”
