1932 - Everyday Life

Everyday Life

Paris couturière Nina Ricci, 39, opens her own establishment after 17 years of designing clothes for the haute monde. Specializing in fashions for the mature, elegant French woman, she will also design ball gowns and entire trousseaus for younger patrons and create perfumes (notably "L'Eau du Temps") that will be sold in 140 countries.

Elsa Schiaparelli introduces the padded shoulder (see "zipper," 1926). By 1935 she will be a leader in haute couture.

Tabu perfume is introduced by Dana.

Revlon is founded March 1 by New York cosmetics salesman Charles Revson, 26, with his brother Joseph, 28, and chemist Charles Lachman, 35. His employer Elka Cosmetics has rejected his ultimatum that he be made national distributor, so young Revson rents a loft in the garment district, borrows $300 at 2 percent interest per month, and with Lachman's help develops a superior opaque nail enamel which he promotes with exotic names such as Tropic Sky rather than with the descriptive identifications dark red, medium red, pink, etc., that have been traditional. Focusing on beauty salons, Revlon uses intimidation to obtain distribution. Volume for the first 10 months is only $4,055.09, but Revson will start selling through drugstores in 1937, employing salesmen who "accidentally" destroy displays set up by the competition; by 1941 Revlon will have a virtual monopoly on beauty salon sales.

Johnson Glo-Coat floor wax is introduced by the 46-year-old S. C. Johnson Co. of Racine, Wis.

Hartz Mountain Industries is founded by German-born entrepreneur Max Stern, 33, who arrived at New York 6 years ago with 5,000 singing canaries. His company will grow to supply millions of canaries, parakeets, hamsters, tropical fish, and goldfish, becoming the world's largest manufacturer of pet foods and pet supplies.

Chewing-gum pioneer and Chicago Cubs owner William Wrigley Jr. dies at Phoenix, Ariz., January 26 at age 70; safety razor pioneer King Camp Gillette at Los Angeles July 9 at age 77 after 3 decades in which beards have become increasingly unfashionable.