Life, 1928-03-08 · page 5 of 43
Life — March 8, 1928 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **not a political cartoon but a cosmetics advertisement** for the "Azurea Ensemble" by Fiver, a luxury French beauty brand. The ad targets "the modern woman—sophisticated, exquisitely critical" with a coordinated beauty line featuring blue and silver coloring. Products include perfume ($4.50), cold cream ($1.50), powder ($1.00), vanishing cream ($1.50), and a twin compact ($2.50). The satire is subtle and embedded in the copywriting rather than visual caricature. It gently mocks the "modern woman" as someone obsessively concerned with perfect grooming and matching accessories—a critique of emerging 1920s consumer culture and feminine beauty standards. The humor lies in the exhaustive product coordination presented as necessary for the discerning woman.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
\ ae WwW | ANNOUNCES T The Azurea Envemblie- For the modern woman -— sophisticated, exquisitely crifical, trained in the art of creating a single perfect impression ir each costume —the woman who will not permit the smallest jarring note in her accea- sories, her jewels, her perfumes— Piver announces the Azurea Ensemble. A single colour-scheme for her dressing table—blue and silver in four clever variations. A single odeur that expresses every complex mood. HER COLD CREME—A miracle of efficiency — jast this minute launched in Paris, Carrying a very high percentage of perfume, so that the sinks to [i deep wrapped in the same subtle Arurea fr» mace. In an azure and silver container —$1.50. HER POWDER — Adherent and almost invisible, ts the mode demands. In five perfect shades to care for every complexion—including the taabrowned skin, ultra chic at the moment...Sabuly impregnated with the same Azurea perfume—$1.00. HER PERFUME—Elusive, light, fresh! Sweet but not ingenue. With a bit of spice to pique the imagination. A hint of coquetry—not easily won ++. Azurea iteelf, in its blue and silver box. $4.50. HER VANISHING CREME—Equally new. So light it disappears absolutely, leaving a delicately scented but invisible film to which her perfumed powder clings, and clings, all day. Azure and silver, too, but the shape has been cleverly varied. $1.50, HER NEW TWIN COMPACTE-In silver, with blue enamelled tracery around the edge, the shape of this twin compacte is distinctive, and it fits the hand as no compacte has ever done before. Rouge and Powder, in shades for every complexion, delicately acented with Azurea. And 2 mirrors... Price, $2,50, comicbooks.com