29. The Max Factor Ice Mask (1930s)
In the glamour-obsessed golden age of early Hollywood, makeup artists and skin specialists went to terrifying lengths to preserve the complexions of film stars. Concocted by the legendary Max Factor, this device—officially called the “Hangover Mask”—consisted of a plastic facial mold embedded with dozens of hollow metal cubes.
The cubes were filled with water and frozen solid before the mask was strapped tightly onto an actress’s face between filming takes. The idea was to quickly reduce puffiness and refresh a tired face under hot studio lights without ruining the star’s cosmetics. Looking back, the Hannibal Lecter-style aesthetics of this freezing plastic mask stand in stark contrast to today’s simple chilled gel packs.
Photo Credit: UW Digital Collections/ Wikimedia Commons
30. Spruce Veneer Wooden Swimsuits (1929)
In 1929, a group of innovative designers in Hoquiam, Washington, launched an aggressive marketing campaign to promote the local logging industry. Their big idea? “Spruce Girls” modeling swimwear crafted entirely from thin, flexible sheets of genuine spruce wood veneer. Advertised as highly fashionable, inexpensive, and practically unsinkable, these rigid garments were guaranteed to hold their shape even when soaked. Unsurprisingly, the wooden swimsuits never caught on commercially due to their tendency to give swimmers massive splinters and severely restrict movement. Today’s hyper-engineered, flexible athletic fabrics make the concept of wearing stiff building materials into the ocean look beautifully absurd.