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This website is an educational project and visual study of cult women’s items from the Soviet era.
This website is an educational project
You cannot place an order or make a purchase here. The project was created as part of the Citadel school curriculum.
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Moscow
RED
fragrance of time
Red Moscow perfume is perhaps the most recognizable scent of the USSR. It first appeared in the 1920s at the Novaya Zarya factory and quickly became a symbol of solemnity, celebration, and rare luxury. The bottle with its golden cap was treasured like a family heirloom and only taken out on special occasions: weddings, graduations, and holidays. The scent was rich and long-lasting, with notes of jasmine and violet—the fragrance of a time when everything was rationed except dreams. Even today, when you open the old bottle, you can smell the breath of that era — a little powder, a little hope, a little eternity. Krasnaya Moskva perfume is perhaps the most recognizable scent of the USSR
Their scent became the hallmark of an era and remains in the memory of several generations of women
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The perfume recipe appeared back in 1913 and was created for the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov under the name “The Empress's Favorite Bouquet.” After the revolution, it became “Red Moscow”
The diamond-shaped crystal bottle was handmade in glass factories. Its design remained virtually unchanged from the 1920s to the 1980s. For many women, after use, the bottle became a vase or a relic that stood on their dressing table for many years.
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lipstick
Red
secret weapon
The first mass-produced lipstick in the USSR appeared in the 1930s at the Svoboda factory. Red was the only shade available, but what a shade it was! Women applied it before going to work, dancing, or the theater. It disappeared from stores instantly, and the only way to get it was through connections. For many women, lipstick was not just cosmetics, but a sign of inner dignity — "yes, it’s hard, but I’m still beautiful." Red lips became an unspoken manifesto of strength and optimism — a bright spot among gray coats and everyday work.
In a country of scarcity, it became a symbol of confidence, femininity, and a small personal celebration
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In the 1930s, the Svoboda factory produced the first Soviet lipstick—red in color. It was considered a sign of femininity. Even during the war years, women found ways to color their lips with charcoal or the remains of old lipstick.
Good lipstick could only be bought through connections or from abroad. Many people melted down old leftovers, mixed them with petroleum jelly, and poured them into homemade cases.
The first cases were metal, heavy, and often lasted for years. Women treasured them like precious jewels, replacing only the rod. Sometimes the case was decorated with engraving or lacquer—a small luxury in a gray everyday life.
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boots
Red
bold move
Red boots were almost legendary. They were brought in from Yugoslavia, Poland, or East Germany, and could only be obtained "through connections" or from abroad. Made of soft leather, with heels and a glossy sheen, there was something provocative, almost cinematic, about them. A woman wearing such boots instantly became the center of attention — and the object of envy. They were cherished, cleaned with toothpaste, and stored in a box with newspapers. Red boots were not just comfortable — they gave a feeling of celebration that was lacking in everyday women's life.
The dream of every Soviet fashionista — a scarce, bold, and impossible symbol of personal triumph
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Red boots often appeared in films as a symbol of female dreams and audacity. In films, such boots spoke without words — about freedom, the desire to be noticed and to live beautifully, despite the dullness of everyday life.
In the 1970s, red boots became a symbol of boldness and confidence. They appeared in fashion magazines and in the pages of the Berezka catalog. Even though few could afford them, everyone dreamed of owning a pair.
To buy imported boots, you had to be quick off your feet. Sometimes people would queue up overnight and pay through acquaintances. These purchases became family stories that were remembered for decades to come.
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tights
THIN
desired gift
Stockings were rare in the USSR, especially nylon ones — they were brought by sailors or acquaintances from socialist countries. Women washed them by hand, dried them on a towel, and darned them if a run appeared. Over the years, an entire art of "repairing stockings" emerged — with transparent thread and patience. Wearing them for a holiday or a date was almost an event. They made your gait light, your posture straight, and your mood festive. Stockings had it all: femininity, modesty, and a little bit of daring that every woman could afford, at least for an evening.
A fragile luxury that was treasured like a precious gem and brought out "on special occasions" or from abroad
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Real nylon stockings were most often brought in from East Germany or Poland. A pair could cost an entire month's salary, but that didn't stop people from buying them — after all, they were part of the dream of femininity and a little luxury.
Thin stockings were saved for special occasions—weddings, New Year's Eve, or rare trips to the theater. Even one such evening was worth dozens of stitches and kilometers of queues, but the feeling of femininity was worth it.
Despite everyday difficulties, women strove to look elegant. Sheer stockings added lightness and composure to their appearance. It was a touch that made everyday life a little more beautiful.
epochal
color
Some of the materials are taken from open sources for non-commercial purposes and belong to their owners.
