Little Paris: The World of Women’s Beauty and Fashion in Interwar Kaunas
In interwar Lithuania, women placed great importance on beauty and fashion, and Kaunas — known not only as the temporary capital but also as a style hub — was often referred to as “Little Paris.” The city’s ladies set impeccable fashion standards, followed the latest beauty trends, and actively participated in both social and cultural life.
Beauty Culture and Cosmetic Choices
During the interwar period, Lithuanian women embraced luxury and refinement. Their beauty cabinets featured products from the most prestigious brands of the time. Popular names included Florance, Sanitas, Berar, Laboratorija Regina, and Stela — offering a wide range of skincare products, decorative cosmetics, and perfumes that helped create a look of subtle yet unmistakable elegance.
Fashion and Beauty Rituals
Lithuanian women strove to keep up with Western European trends — newspapers and magazines featured the latest fashion directions, along with tips on skincare, haircare, and makeup. Many well-to-do women visited beauty salons, where they could receive modern treatments such as electrolysis, massages, manicures, and facial masks. Urban women often frequented hair salons, where styles like soft waves, short bob cuts, and gentle curls inspired by Hollywood stars were rising in popularity.
Beauty Routines and Economic Access
While all women aspired to look beautiful and stylish, their beauty routines often reflected their financial means.
Women in larger cities had greater access to luxury — they could afford imported perfumes, fine fabrics, and visits to prestigious tailors. Meanwhile, women in smaller towns and rural areas often turned to natural solutions — homemade facial masks, herbal rinses for their hair, and simpler but carefully maintained clothing.
Despite these economic differences, interwar women shared a common goal: to appear elegant, refined, and in step with contemporary fashion. Beauty culture was deeply intertwined with social life, and the desire to cultivate appearance and express personal taste became one of the defining features of women’s identity in interwar Lithuania.