Beauty became more than vanity — it was morale. The government encouraged women to maintain their appearance as a symbol of strength, stability, and national pride. “Looking your best” was framed as contributing to the war effort, boosting spirits at home and abroad. The 1940s were a decade of extremes for Canada — austerity, sacrifice,Continue reading “Canada in the 1940s: War, Work, and Post‑War Femininity”
Tag Archives: beauty history
Canada in the 1930s: Depression‑Era Practicality
The New York 1929 stock market crash hit the Canadian market, the Canadian economy, much like it did in America. Canada, like with America, entered The Great Depression. The 1930s re-shaped Canada more profoundly than many beauty and fashion histories acknowledge. The Great Depression hit Canada harder and longer than the United States, with unemploymentContinue reading “Canada in the 1930s: Depression‑Era Practicality”
Canada in the 1920s: Modernity Arrives, But Conservatively
The 1920s brought modernity to Canada, but not with the same roaring intensity seen in the United States. Canada was still deeply tied to British cultural expectations — modesty, propriety and social restraint. Urbanization accelerated in cities like Toronto, Montréal, Winnipeg, and Vancouver, and immigration diversified the cultural landscape. Women gained the right to voteContinue reading “Canada in the 1920s: Modernity Arrives, But Conservatively”
Canada from the 1920s to the 1990s: Social, Political, and Cultural forces that Curated Beauty and Fashion Looks
This is Canada from the 1920s to the 1990s: the social, political, and cultural forces that curated the beauty and fashion looks we recognize today. Understanding beauty and fashion history isn’t just about the products, the silhouettes or the trends — it’s about the world that shaped them. For years, I’ve walked you through theContinue reading “Canada from the 1920s to the 1990s: Social, Political, and Cultural forces that Curated Beauty and Fashion Looks”
Christian Louboutin: The Red Sole & the Erotics of Footwear
Christian Louboutin transformed the high heel from an accessory into an object of desire. When he introduced the red sole in 1993, he wasn’t creating a trend — he was creating a symbol. The red sole became an instant signature, a flash of colour that turned every step into a performance. It was glamour, confidence,Continue reading “Christian Louboutin: The Red Sole & the Erotics of Footwear”
Louis Vuitton: Travel, Modernity & the Birth of Luxury Branding
Louis Vuitton began not as a fashion house, but as a revolution in mobility. In 1854, Vuitton understood something no one else had: modern life would be defined by movement. Travel was becoming faster, grander, and more global — and it needed an elegance, style and luxury and so, Vuitton built it. His innovation wasContinue reading “Louis Vuitton: Travel, Modernity & the Birth of Luxury Branding”
