Vintage Maybelline Marcel Wave,

My grandmother, Evelyn, and her two sisters, Verona and Bunny, spent their whole lives decked-out from head to toe and learned the art of finger waving a Marcel Wave, in 1927.

Having the right tools, a lot of gel and strong fingers were the secret to having the perfect, Marcel Wave.

My great aunt Verona and Bunny were experts at finger waving each other's hair, into ideal Marcel Waves. 

Bunny, the youngest of the sisters, was a spitfire, with a personality that jumped right off the page, and

 was always head of the curve, when it came to

the latest fashion craze

Here are the three girls in 1929, all Maybellined up, with Marcel waves, and chic little hats, going to lunch at

 The Italian Village, a new restaurant that just opened

 in Chicago, in 1927.

Keeping up a fashionable appearance took a great deal of time and energy, not to mention expense, but for City Girls, it was second nature.  I grew up with my grandmother, Evelyn, (Nana,) teaching me to pin curl my hair when I was 6 years old.  I remember her scolding me when I complained, about how hard it was.  She'd say "It hurts to be beautiful darling."  I suppose she was right.  It was worth it to be beautiful, as I look back now. 

Here's Verona and Bunny walking State Street in Chicago, shopping for more, more, more fabulous shoes, hats, coats, dresses and of course Maybelline, as they head into the 1930's.