Arden, Elizabeth

Arden, Elizabeth

 orig. Florence Nightingale Graham

(born Dec. 31, 1884, Woodbridge, Ont., Can.—died Oct. 18, 1966, New York, N.Y., U.S.) Canadian-U.S. businesswoman who founded a chain of women's salons. Graham moved to New York c. 1908, where she opened a beauty salon under the name Elizabeth Arden. She was instrumental in making cosmetics acceptable for respectable women. In 1915 she began to market her cosmetics products internationally. At her death there were over 100 Elizabeth Arden salons throughout the world.

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Arden, Elizabeth (b. Florence Nightingale Graham) (1878–1966) beautician, business executive; born in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada. She moved to New York City in 1907 and under the name Elizabeth Arden opened a beauty salon that launched an international business empire based on salons, hundreds of "scientifically formulated" beauty products, and an exclusive image—all packaged in her trademark pink. With her rival Helena Rubinstein she made makeup acceptable to "respectable" American women, to whom Arden introduced eyeshadow, mascara, and lipstick tinted to match their outfits. As Elizabeth N. Graham she operated Maine Chance Stables in Kentucky (1930s–early 1960s) where the 1947 Kentucky Derby winner was bred.