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The modern woman, perhaps, is no longer surprised by anything. Huge shopping centers with boutiques and showrooms are open from morning until late at night, delighting customers with an abundance of goods.
Online stores provide the opportunity to order the item you like from anywhere in the world. No wonder our grandmothers complain that “shops are growing like mushrooms.”
But a few decades ago, women could not even dream of such a thing. Everyone went in the same dresses, painted with the same cosmetics and was scented with “Red Moscow”.
Fashion items and foreign cosmetics could only be bought from black market dealers for unimaginable money. This did not stop fashionistas, they gave their last money, risked their reputation. For such behavior could be expelled from the Komsomol.
Girls who were afraid of sidelong glances, and also earned little, could only dream and cast envious glances at more courageous and wealthy persons. Below is a rating of scarce things that all women in the USSR dreamed about.
10 Watch “The Seagull”
These watches were made in the Soviet Union, but not every Soviet woman could afford them. They were very expensive. Producer – Uglich watch factory. They were very popular not only in the Union, but also abroad.
Watch “Seagull” even received a Gold Medal at the exhibition of the international fair in Leipzig. The clock not only fulfilled its direct function, it was a wonderful decoration. An elegant metal bracelet, a gilded case – that’s what all the girls dreamed of.
9. Decorative cosmetics
Of course, cosmetics were sold in the USSR. Blue shadows, spitting mascara, Ballet foundation, lipstick, which was used to paint lips and used instead of blush.
The leading cosmetics manufacturers were Novaya Zarya and Svoboda. Nevertheless, domestic cosmetics was an order of magnitude lower in quality. In addition, the choice was not pleased with the variety.
Another thing is foreign cosmetics, French ones were especially appreciated. However, Polish cosmetics were sometimes sold in stores. Then women had to spend a lot of time in long lines, but having bought the coveted tube or jar, they felt the happiest.
8. Fur hat
A fur hat was a thing that emphasized status. This is a kind of indicator that a woman is successful. Each wanted to become successful, so women saved up money for a long time (such a hat cost about three monthly salaries), and then went to the other end of the city to exchange hard-earned money for a piece of fur.
Mink was highly valued, as well as arctic fox, silver fox. The ultimate dream was a sable hat. Surprisingly, they did not protect from frost at all. Hats were worn in such a way that the ears were always open.
Indeed, they were worn not even for warmth, but to demonstrate their position. By the way, if a woman managed to get such a hat, she never took it off again. Women in hats could be seen at work, in the cinema, even in the theater. Perhaps they were afraid that a luxury item might be stolen.
7. Boots stockings
In the mid-70s, women learned about a new wardrobe item – stocking boots. They immediately became wildly popular with fashionistas. Soft boots fitted the leg to the knee. Quite comfortable, the heel was low, wide. They were very expensive, but queues formed behind them.
Soon the production of boots was established, although then they had already gone out of fashion. All the same, half of Soviet women flaunted in stocking boots for a long time.
Denim tight boots were an unattainable dream of fashionistas. Even Soviet actresses and singers did not have such, what can we say about mere mortals.
6. American jeans
They were the ultimate dream not only of Soviet women, but also of many Soviet men who followed fashion. Domestic manufacturers offered denim trousers to customers, but American jeans looked much more advantageous.
These were not pants, but a symbol of success and cherished freedom. For wearing the “capitalist infection” it was possible to “fly out” from the institute, the Komsomol, they even went to prison for them. They were very expensive and hard to get.
Soon the Soviet people found a way out, and varenki appeared. Soviet jeans were boiled in water with the addition of whiteness. Divorces appeared on them, jeans looked a bit like American ones.
5. Bologna cloak
In the 60s in Italy, namely the city of Bolna, they began to produce a new material – polyester. Products from it were distinguished by a long service life, low price and bright colors. However, Italian women did not like Bologna products.
But production was established in the USSR. Soviet women were not spoiled, so they happily began to buy up fashionable raincoats. True, finished products did not differ in elegance and variety of colors.
Women had to get out, raincoats from Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia looked much more beautiful and pleased with bright colors.
4. French perfume
In those days there was not such a variety of flavors as it is now. The women took advantage of what they had. The ones that were able to get it.
“Red Moscow” is the favorite perfume of Soviet women, simply because there were no others. The girls dreamed of something completely different. Climat from Lancome is the most desired gift. In the film “The Irony of Fate”, Hippolyte gives these perfumes to his beloved. There was also a legend that in France these spirits are used by women of easy virtue. This made the perfume even more desirable.
3. Afghan sheepskin coat
These sheepskin coats occupied a certain place in world fashion. Everyone wanted to be like the members of The Beatles, who appeared in public in the 70s in short sheepskin coats.
Colored sheepskin coats with patterns were a real rage. By the way, men did not lag behind, they, along with women, “hunted” for sheepskin coats. Products were brought from Mongolia. At that time, many Soviet specialists and military personnel worked there.
In 1979, Soviet troops entered Afghanistan. Often, military personnel brought things for sale. Women of fashion were ready to pay three or four average salaries for a sheepskin coat, it was an impressive blow to the wallet, but people spared nothing, they wanted to look stylish and fashionable.
2. Nylon tights
In the 70s, nylon tights appeared in the Soviet Union, they were called “stocking leggings.” Tights were produced only in flesh-colored. All over the world then black and white tights were very popular.
Soviet women of fashion tried to dye the “breeches”, but often the tights could not withstand such manipulations. Nylon tights from Germany and Czechoslovakia sometimes went on sale, to buy them you had to stand in lines for a long time.
1. Leather bag
A modern woman can not imagine how you can do without a bag. In Soviet times, a bag was a luxury item. In the 50s, France launched the production of capacious leather bags, women of the Soviet Union could only dream of such.
Soon in the USSR, women were offered a replacement – fabric or leather bags. Again, their design left much to be desired. Moreover, they all looked alike, and fashionistas wanted to get a thing that would make them stand out from the crowd. Bags from Vietnam in different colors have become the ultimate dream for many women.