The Cosmetics Executive: How Does She Do It and Still Remain Cute?

THESE DAYS, MANY women are choosing to have careers in a man’s world, meanwhile juggling babies at home and a good social life by the sides of their successful husbands. Sound like magic? Okay for the next fellow, but not for you? Think again! In 1976, 5,000 women earned their own spending money; in 1977, 10 million did. Yes, the world is changing faster than we realize. Of course, poor women have been at this a long time; but it’s the rich ones we really want to know about! How do they “juggle” a successful career and the demands of a family? How parlay femininity into financial power? How do they get all of us to envy them? Here is one such woman’s story. Josephine Darnell is a woman of incredible—almost Oriental— charm as she invites me into her office, and yet all steel once you cross her, say her worried enemies.

Q: Could you tell us a little bit about your personal fashion philosophy?

A: You see, I am fragile, and really, almost like a little fairy. So I try to wear plenty of synthetic fabrics, and I favor the flowing, sari-like dresses that I can pin on myself any way I want—just be creative. For example, I can go tailored to a board meeting, like this, and then before you know it, presto!—I’m a beguiling slave girl! Then, too, I love turbans, love the turban look. And I have these jetblack eyes. Now, to set off my pallor, and that awful fragility, I try to stick to warm flesh tones—wholesome, nostalgic, “country” colors, I call them. That means plenty of oranges and golds. This gold-andorange shag carpeting you see was made by hand by a very dear old friend, a painter, Mr. Pablo Picasso. For he said, “Josephine is an autumn day.” As I’m petite, though, I have to be especially careful. In fact, I generally keep a fresh pantsuit folded right here in my desk drawer.

Q: What a fabulous idea!

A: (laughs) “Can Do” is my middle name.

Q: Why do you do it, though?

A: You see, Betty, in this business there are many impromptu meetings, as new discoveries are made. And believe me, the men in this business! As soon as those doors close—and I am a very attractive woman, Betty—a lot of powerful men try to pinch and kiss me.

Q: This is so interesting!

A: Betty, this is what this business is all about. Odors, textures, dreams, fantasy. That is what fashion people are all about—and fashion ... is me.

Q: But yet you seem so organized, so . . . “business.”

A: Yes, Betty, but I am—deep down— just a little quivering piece of dew.

Q: Frankly, how much money do you have?

A: (laughs gaily)

Q: My readers will want to compare your income with their own.

A: Let’s just say I don’t have to worry about buying a dozen or so big houses. Any time I feel like it.

Q: Wow. Well, let’s see, I’m sure all are curious about your family life, whether there is a great deal of competition, for example, and, like, whether you ever let him use any of your money.

A: Irv and I have a wonderful, wonderful type of marriage. He is, of course, a successful agent out in Hollywood. Yet we have dinner together every night without fail. And—he’ll kill me for this—but he keeps a fresh pantsuit folded up for me in his desk drawer. After ten years of marriage, I’d consider that pretty good, wouldn’t you?

Q: I just love that story. By the way, when you get together for dinner, who does the cooking?

A: Our Haitian.

Q: Incredible. Obviously an incredible amount of thought has gone into devising this modern life-style.

A: Well, Betty, we think it’s worth it.

Q: Are you and Irv “workaholics”?

A: Oh, definitely. I feel that if I’m going to do something, I might as well do it better than best, and be remembered in the industry that way.

Q: Hm! Now, did you and Irv consciously decide not to have children, Miss Darnell?

A: No! We have our little Jason!

Q: Excuse me!

A: Oh, he’s quite a little man already. You know, however busy I am, I always just dash home in the evening for a few minutes after he’s asleep, to simply feast my eyes on him. Irv says I’m an incurable romantic.

Q: No!

A: Frankly, Betty, I don’t think there’s a more important job in life for a woman than that one.

Q: Oh, I agree. Now, Miss Darnell, if I may ask, what’s ahead for Princess Josephine Industries?

A: Oh, now you have really made me take you to my heart! We are now on the verge of an exciting new phase. You see, Betty, to some, Princess Josephine is more than a line of, of beauty products— it is really ... a way of life. Women’s Liberation has done so much for so many! Oh, I’m not speaking of braburners! But women are beginning at last to feel proud—proud that they are women. What was that great song by that wonderful Women’s Liberation singer?

“I am woman, hear me roar”

Well, not roar, but you know what I mean. Life is not just pots and pans, as women are beginning to realize! Life is beauty—looking as beautiful as you feel you really are! And if you don’t like your husband, fire him!—that sort of thing. Well—every day we get thousands of letters from our customers—literally begging for advice, guidance. “Princess Josephine, can you help me? Princess Josephine, what should I do?” These poor gals—well, maybe they are fat, or they live in small towns, or they are women who simply feel foolish and don’t know why. It is to these women that Princess Josephine will reach out. Our “Princess Jo Mobile Seminars” will travel to remote towns, offering study groups in . . . well, here is our new brochure. Take several.

Q: Oh, thank you. Very attractive. Seminars in “Womanhood,” “Make-up,” “The Danger of Sports.”

A: We are very excited. The response has been terrific.

Q: It looks like a marvelous opportunity for many women. Marvelous. Tell me, is your husband, Irv, involved in this in any way?

A: (giggles) He asked if he could drive the van sometimes for a laugh. Irv’s incorrigible!