130 Years of Beauty and Empowerment

Avon is celebrating 130 years! In 1886, a book seller, David McConnell, recognized that women wanted financial independence, and leveraged their passion for beauty and love of networking. 

Check out Beauty For A Purpose for more information about Avon's history:

Beauty For A Purpose Celebrates 130 Years Of Avon

• From 1886 To 2016: An Inside Look At Avon’s Commitment To Research & Development
• #TBT: 5 Important Life Lessons From Avon Founder David McConnell
• #TBT: 5 Essential Business Lessons From Avon’s Very First Representative
• #TBT: A Look Back At 130 Years Of Avon’s Iconic Advertisements
• #TBT: Avon Celebrates 130 Years Of Iconic Color
• #TBT: A Look Back At The Rich History Of Fragrance At Avon
• #TBT: The Hundred-Year Evolution Of Lipstick At Avon

The Hagley Museum has Avon's full history: http://bit.ly/1Qg9HlC

130 years later, Avon is still working to empower women, help them work toward financial independence, and offering innovative beauty products to women around the world.

If I were a woman in 1886, I would want to become one of David McConnell's beauty representatives. The first representative was a woman from New Hampshire named Mrs. Albee.

Today, in 2016, I am a proud ‪#‎avonrep‬ working on my mission: help women find individual beauty, educate women wanting to create a beauty business, and fight domestic violence.

About My #tbt Selfie

I started taking brochure selfies last year, starting with campaign 18, and sharing on social with the #brochureselfie hashtag. This campaign, in honor of Avon's 130 year anniversary, I decided to go Victorian! This outfit is something that women in 1886 might have worn!

I originally created this look in 2009, when my husband and I attended a Dickens faire in Galveston, Texas. The entire outfit: a period cotton bustle, a cotton skirt with knife pleating and lace accents at the hem. A silk floral print overskirt. A period style corset. A velvet coat with hand sewn rosettes, cream lace sleeves and pearl buttons (the garment visible here). The hat, which was hand pleated and stitched and then accented with feathers and an owl cameo. I also created an men's outfit, including period trousers and waistcoat and matching vest. 

Campaign 6 is a special edition brochure celebrating 130 years of beauty and empowerment.

Anti DV Anthem

Madonna's "Unapologetic Bitch" might just be my new anti-domestic violence anthem.

There have been others...
Katy Perry "By the Grace of God"
Florence and the Machine "Shake it Out"
Dresden Dolls "Delilah" (a personal favorite, mainly because it's Amanda Palmer)
Foo Fighters "Best of You"
Alanis Morissette "Sympathetic Character"
Pretty much every song Ani DiFranco has written.

There are more. Why are there so many?

Why Empowerment Matters

Domestic violence is very real and very scary. It matters to each and every person who has experienced domestic violence. What is most frustrating about domestic violence is that it is very often hidden in private relationships. It is not always as obvious as a black eye. The signs of domestic violence are much more nuanced and subtle. That makes it harder to counter.

What many people do not realize is that domestic violence is not always about physical violence. It is often more about coercion in order to gain power and control over someone. It may have elements of physical assault, emotional manipulation, sometimes control over finances, or maybe social isolation. It’s complicated. 

Why does empowerment matter? Because domestic violence is real. It happens in every community, every class, every culture. It is frequently hidden or difficult to identify. The victim is often in a position where she has been manipulated into a submissive status, and she is afraid to communicate in any way that something is not healthy or simply may not know or acknowledge that what is happening is not right. There is a myth that this is a private issue; the relationship is private and it is none of our business. That myth needs to be shattered to tiny little smithereens right now. It is not private when it is not healthy.

• 1 out of every 3 women are or have been a victim of domestic violence.
• Women 18 to 34 are at the greatest risk for experiencing partner violence.
• Most domestic violence incidents are not reported.

AVON Empowerment

Part of my mission as an Avon Lady is to empower women. My goals are to:

1. Help women find or develop individual beauty through beautiful Avon products, 
2. Help women be empowered to begin their own beauty business if they choose, and 
3. Contribute to the fight against domestic violence.

For Campaign 6, I will be focusing only on launching my first Speak Out campaign. Then, I will continue to support local domestic violence resources, reach out to help women in need of personal empowerment, and continue to promote Avon’s Speak Out program. 

The Avon Foundation has Speak Out Against Domestic Violence Programs that directly contribute to helping victims of domestic violence. To that end, they offer empowerment products and a portion of the sale of those products goes toward the Speak Out programs. 

Empowerment Charm Necklace

Faceted faux stone and silvertone disc with infinity symbol. 

$4 with $1 donation

Empowerment Butterfly Link Watch

Silvertone with faux mother-of-pearl dial. 

$20 with $4 donation

 

Empowerment 2015 Tote

100% cotton

$7 with $1.50 donation