02/08/2026
NATIONAL LIPSTICK DAY! - July 29th
FROM THE MILITARY WOMEN'S MEMORIAL COLLECTION
You never know what you are going to find when renovating. The Tinsley family of Grand Junction, Colorado, was renovating a former Italian grocery store (circa 1909 to 1963) when they found a tube of lipstick in the ceiling. It wasn't just any lipstick, but Elizabeth Arden’s 1941 “Victory Red.” After learning of its significance, the Tinsleys chose to donate their discovery to the Military Women’s Memorial!
During World War II, bright red lipstick became a symbol of patriotism and an expression of strength and confidence, especially given Hitler’s reported hatred of red lipstick and makeup. Spurred on by the US Committee on Military-Industrial Production, which declared that cosmetics “are not just necessary, but also vital”, cosmetic companies stepped up production of red lipstick. One such company, Elizabeth Arden, was approached by the Marine Corps to produce a lipstick for Women Marines.
The result was “Montezuma Red:” which matched the hat cord, scarf and sleeve chevrons of their uniform. “Victory Red” was the civilian version. Other companies joined in with lipsticks named Regimental Red, Fighting Red, Rocket Red, Patriot Red, and Grenadier Red. “It was patriotism you could carry in your purse,” as Ilise S. Carter wrote in her book, "The Red Menace: How Lipstick Changed the Face of American History."
