Fashion brands (cigarettes)
Encyclopedia
Historically considered a masculine
habit, the feminization
of smoking
occurred in tandem with the advent of fashion brands or premium brands of cigarettes specifically marketed toward women who see the use of these brands as a way to increase or enhance their sexual appeal. Most often this is focused on young fashion-conscious professional ladies who are the target demographic
for these brands, which are differentiated by slimness and added length over traditional brands of cigarettes.
These brands include decorative ones like Eve
, marketed strictly toward women like Virginia Slims
, or as evening-out styles like Sobranie
Cocktail or Sobranie Black Russian. Many fashion houses have lent their name (through a licensing agreement) to cigarettes; Yves Saint Laurent is probably the most successful of these, (even though he admitted in a 1968 interview he smokes, but not his namesake brand, as he "does not like the flavour"), though many other brands have been marketed, from time to time, in select international markets: Givenchy
, Versace, Pierre Cardin
, Christian Lacroix
and Cartier
(a jewelry house).
In the 1980s and early 1990s, manufacturers created longer, 164 millimeter versions of several ladies' cigarettes, an example of which can be seen in the Madonna video "Vogue". However, finding only a small niche market
, the machines that produced them have since been dismantled.
With the anti-smoking
movement in the United States, cigarette manufacturers have turned to Asia, where there is a distinct market for female oriented brands, and to the nouveau riche
in Russia.
Masculinity
Masculinity is possessing qualities or characteristics considered typical of or appropriate to a man. The term can be used to describe any human, animal or object that has the quality of being masculine...
habit, the feminization
Feminization (activity)
Feminization is used to describe the practice, especially in female dominance, of switching the gender role of a male submissive. It is usually achieved through cross-dressing, where the male is dressed in female attire, ranging from just wearing female undergarments to being fully dressed in very...
of smoking
Tobacco smoking
Tobacco smoking is the practice where tobacco is burned and the resulting smoke is inhaled. The practice may have begun as early as 5000–3000 BCE. Tobacco was introduced to Eurasia in the late 16th century where it followed common trade routes...
occurred in tandem with the advent of fashion brands or premium brands of cigarettes specifically marketed toward women who see the use of these brands as a way to increase or enhance their sexual appeal. Most often this is focused on young fashion-conscious professional ladies who are the target demographic
Target market
A target market is a group of customers that the business has decided to aim its marketing efforts and ultimately its merchandise. A well-defined target market is the first element to a marketing strategy...
for these brands, which are differentiated by slimness and added length over traditional brands of cigarettes.
These brands include decorative ones like Eve
Eve (cigarette)
Eve Cigarettes, are manufactured in the USA as a product of the Liggett Group, the smallest of the major U.S. tobacco companies, as well as in Germany, as a product of Philip Morris International. Within the USA, they were introduced in 1971 as competition for rival Philip Morris corporation's...
, marketed strictly toward women like Virginia Slims
Virginia Slims
Virginia Slims is a brand of cigarette manufactured by Altria Group . The brand was introduced in 1968 and marketed to young professional women using the slogan "You've come a long way, baby." Some media watch groups considered this campaign to be responsible for a rapid increase in smoking among...
, or as evening-out styles like Sobranie
Sobranie (cigarette)
The Sobranie cigarette brand is one of the oldest tobacco brands in the world. Sobranie of London was established in 1879 by the Redstone family, when cigarettes had just become fashionable in Europe. Several generations of the Redstone family blended this tobacco from a secret formula.The...
Cocktail or Sobranie Black Russian. Many fashion houses have lent their name (through a licensing agreement) to cigarettes; Yves Saint Laurent is probably the most successful of these, (even though he admitted in a 1968 interview he smokes, but not his namesake brand, as he "does not like the flavour"), though many other brands have been marketed, from time to time, in select international markets: Givenchy
Givenchy
Givenchy is a French brand of clothing, accessories, perfumes and cosmetics with Parfums Givenchy.The house of Givenchy was founded in 1952 by designer Hubert de Givenchy and is a member of Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture et du Pret-a-Porter...
, Versace, Pierre Cardin
Pierre Cardin
Pierre Cardin Cardin was known for his avant-garde style and his Space Age designs. He prefers geometric shapes and motifs, often ignoring the female form. He advanced into unisex fashions, sometimes experimental, and not always practical...
, Christian Lacroix
Christian Lacroix
Christian Marie Marc Lacroix is a French fashion designer. The name may also refer to the company he founded.-Early life:Lacroix was born in Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône in southern France. At a young age he began sketching historical costumes and fashions. Lacroix graduated from high school in 1969...
and Cartier
Cartier SA
Cartier S.A., commonly known as Cartier , is a French luxury jeweler and watch manufacturer. The corporation carries the name of the Cartier family of jewellers whose control ended in 1964 and who were known for numerous pieces including the "Bestiary" , the diamond necklace created for Bhupinder...
(a jewelry house).
In the 1980s and early 1990s, manufacturers created longer, 164 millimeter versions of several ladies' cigarettes, an example of which can be seen in the Madonna video "Vogue". However, finding only a small niche market
Niche market
A niche market is the subset of the market on which a specific product is focusing; therefore the market niche defines the specific product features aimed at satisfying specific market needs, as well as the price range, production quality and the demographics that is intended to impact...
, the machines that produced them have since been dismantled.
With the anti-smoking
Smoking ban
Smoking bans are public policies, including criminal laws and occupational safety and health regulations, which prohibit tobacco smoking in workplaces and/or other public spaces...
movement in the United States, cigarette manufacturers have turned to Asia, where there is a distinct market for female oriented brands, and to the nouveau riche
Nouveau riche
The nouveau riche , or new money, comprise those who have acquired considerable wealth within their own generation...
in Russia.
See also
- Health effects of tobacco
- Smoking fetishismSmoking fetishismSmoking fetishism is a sexual fetish based on the sight or image of a person smoking. For many, the fetish appears to have had its roots in early childhood. It is classically conditioned and shaped by many variables. These could include seeing the smoker as a stereotypically sweet, innocent...
- CapriCapri (cigarette) Capri is a brand of cigarette manufactured by R.J. Reynolds. Introduced in 1987, it is the first widely-available cigarette having an extremely slim shape, at 17 mm in circumference and 100 mm in length, specifically marketed towards women as a way to increase or enhance their sexual...
- CigarilloCigarilloA cigarillo is a short, narrow cigar. Unlike cigarettes, cigarillos are wrapped not in paper but in whole-leaf tobacco. Cigarillos can be found for purchase alone or in packs, and are often made without filters...
- DjarumDjarumDjarum is an Indonesian kretek manufacturer and currently the third largest after Gudang Garam and HM Sampoerna. It was founded in 1951 by Oei Wie Gwan and has 2 headquarters in Indonesia and Malaysia.-History:...
- DunhillDunhill (cigarette)Dunhill cigarettes are a luxury brand of cigarettes made by the British American Tobacco company. They are usually priced above the average for cigarettes in the region where they are sold...
- MaxMax (cigarette)Max, introduced in 1975, was a brand of 120mm cigarettes produced by the Lorillard Tobacco Company of Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. The brand was discontinued in summer 2010....
- MoreMore (cigarette)More is a brand of cigarette which was originally marketed to both men and women and then changed its primary focus to women consumers. It typically has a dark brown wrapper and is typically 120 mm in length...
- Nat ShermanNat ShermanNat Sherman is the brand name for a line of handmade cigars and "luxury cigarettes." The company, which began as a retail tobacconist, continues to operate a flagship retail shop now located on 42nd Street, off of Fifth Avenue, in New York City...