This month, Caboodles celebrates 25 years of organizing your so-called life
In honor of their 25th anniversary, Caboodles is reissuing its very first case. The big boxy, peaches & cream carryall, aptly named “My First Love”, was first turned out in 1987 and will be available for $25 through the Caboodle Facebook page. Funny story behind its creation, too. The initial model was actually inspired by Vanna White (yes, that Vanna White). Folks from the Plano Molding Company, makers of fishing and hunting supplies, spotted a photo of the celebrated letter-turner in People magazine and noticed Vanna used a regular old tackle box as a make-up carrier. Plano then ingeniously recycled the design of their own storage boxes, sweetened them up with a pretty paint job, and “Caboodles” was launched. You can really see tackle box influence in “My First Love”, which features a big bin and small, compartmentalized drawers. Soon after, the shape changed and became more curvacious, like the more recognizable “On-the-Go-Girl”, which has also been reissued with contemporary updates.
Here is an original print ad from August 1988:
By the 90’s, Caboodles had added cosmetics to their repertoire, with a make-up line aimed at pre-teens.
Evenutally, Caboodles grew up, ditched the colorful visage and turned a little less daring (much like many of their owners) but there are plenty vintage models available on eBay, most priced very affordably, and coincidentally, at around $25. Though I think it’s much more fun to hunt for them at thrift stores and flea markets.