“Hats Off to Our Troops” Refurbished Vintage Compact

During WWII, metal became increasingly precious, and so plastic compacts were produced. Carboard replaced metal lipstick tubes and a popular novelty compact came in the shape of a uniform hat, produced in different colors with relevant cap badge, for the various US services, and made entirely from plastic.

Shortages might have led to recycling and reduced packaging, but the United States War Production Board still declared cosmetics to be “necessary and vital” to the war effort.