WWII Beauty: All it Takes is a Bar of Soap

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Camay Soap, February 1945

Beauty routines were so much simpler in the 1940s. According to this Camay soap ad from the February 1945 issue of Ladies’ Home Journal magazine, you could have lovable, softer, smoother skin with just one cake of Camay! The glowing wartime bride, Mrs. William H. Geyer of Nutley, N.J., showed off her apparent skin care results.

I like the fact that the Camay Mild-Soap Diet emphasized cleansing without irritation. One minute, morning and night, is all it took. No fussing with astringents, toners, scrubs and masks. People have a lot of sensitive skin issues these days (myself included), and it’s wise to adopt a simple cleansing routine. I’ve done the same recently, and it really has made a big difference in my reactive skin.

~Marilyn

Washing Clothes the Wartime Way with DUZ!

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Vintage 1945 DUZ Soap for Wartime Washing

Laundry is eternal, even during wartime. This is a great vintage 1945 ad for DUZ laundry soap, on how wash all your clothes during those trying days. DUZ cleaned grimy overalls, dirty towels and pretty undies with equal ease. Women everywhere called DUZ a washday wonder!

I like the suggestion to use just a little of DUZ, and not be wasteful as it contains vital war materials. Of course, the happy homemaker is drying her laundry out on the clothesline, which also saved energy. This is how I do my laundry today; use little detergent and ALWAYS air-dry! 🙂

~Marilyn

Coty Does the 40s Pin-Up Red Lipsticks in the 70s

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The Pin-Up Reds by Coty Originals, 1972

In the early 1970s, there was a definite ’70s does ’40s makeup and fashion trend. This 1972 Coty Originals ad is a great example. Coty was celebrating the 29th anniversary of the Coty American Fashion Critics Awards, and saluted the jitterbug, the upsweep, the funnies, short shorts and the oomphiest reds since ’43.

With a beautiful pin-up girl painting by “Horn”, it advertised Coty’s deep red lipsticks and blushers reminiscent of the 1940s. The lipsticks came in two new frosteds: Fireside Coral and City Scarlet. And two new creams: Plunging Pink and Rouge Red. The blusher had its own tinted glossy highlighter and came in Brave New Red & Shine and Rare Mauve & Shine. And they’re all as wonderful and sweet and terrific as candy stores, 78 RPM records, the Brooklyn Dodgers and 35 cent movies.

~Marilyn

Knit a Vintage 60s Big Chunky Fluffy Wool Side-Closed Coat – Free Pattern

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Side-Wrapped Coat, Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 1968

I love this beautiful knitted coat pattern from the Spring/Summer 1968 issue of Vogue Knitting magazine. It looks very current for being 51 years old! Soft, fluffy white wool with a fleck of white in it. Knitted up on big, fast needles into a straight, side-closed coat. Knitting instructions are below – click on photo to enlarge.

~Marilyn

Vintage 1940 Elegant Modess Sanitary Napkins Ad

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This charming Modess sanitary napkin ad is from the October 1940 issue of Woman’s Home Companion magazine. It was likely at the start of their long-running advertising campaign of using elegantly dressed models and subsequent “Modess…because” tag line.

This ad uses “Soft as a fleecy cloud” caption, with emphasis put on the comfort and security of the napkin. Sanitary napkins were relatively new on the market, and they tried to show how you could dress nicely and be protected. I’m sure it was revolutionary for women as the most commonly used napkins, up until then, were cloth rags that you had to wash.

~Marilyn

Crochet a 1960s Mondrian Style Afghan Throw – Free Pattern

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This is a fantastic vintage 1960s Mondrian style/stained-glass effect blanket to crochet! Afghan-stitch throw is worked on a giant-size hook with two strands of yarn. Five strips, each with six colors are joined for a stained-glass effect. Afghan has single crochet edge: 54″ x 62″. Instructions are below. Click on image to enlarge.

~Marilyn