Caboodles first hit the market in 1987, inspired by a photo of Vanna White using a plastic fishing tackle box to store her cosmetics. The idea clicked. Instead of raiding the garage for dad’s tackle box, girls could now grab one in pink, purple or teal — designed just for them. The design was simple but smart: tiered trays, roomy compartments, and a sturdy handle made them portable and easy to use. It didn’t take long before they were everywhere — from the shelves at Wal-Mart to the pages of Seventeen.
As the ‘90s rolled in, Caboodles expanded their styles and colors, with versions made for travel, vanity tops, or serious beauty collectors. They even had some competition — Sassaby launched their own line of sleek organizers, often seen in ads featuring teen TV stars like Shannen Doherty. But Caboodles remained the go-to name. They were like a little badge of independence — your own space to stash lip gloss, hair clips and glittery eyeshadow, even if you were still years away from your first apartment.
We’ve gathered a collection of vintage photos, ads and articles that show off the full Caboodles experience from back in the day. See how these once-essential beauty boxes helped keep things together — literally and otherwise.
Sassaby cosmetics & jewelry organizers (1991)
New hit series of cosmetics and jewelry organizers! It has to be a Sassaby!
Ad features Shannen Doherty from Beverly Hills 90210
What if you organized your face the way you organize your makeup? (c1989)
How can you look beautiful when your makeup is scattered all over? Organize it with Caboodles beauty organizers — the secret of top models and actresses.
Caboodles organize oodles of cosmetics, jewelry and accessories in one clever box. Choose from four fashion colors and eleven on-the-go models.
Caboodles are smart. So you can be beautiful.
ALSO SEE: 50 popular perfumes from the ’80s & 115 popular perfumes from the ’90s
Caboodles TV commercial (1988)
Retro Caboodles makeup & beauty organizer boxes (1991)
You’ve got it… together!
Get all your make-up and accessories together with caboodles! Easy-to-carry beauty organizers, caboodles come in fantastic fashion colors, with just the right spaces and places for everything!
There’s only One Caboodles. (1992)
But fortunately, it comes in 23 fantastic styles and 52 different colors.
Watch the possibilities opening up right in front of your eyes. A tray for eye pencils & room for 6 lipsticks… A girl could get spoiled.
Never enough jewelry, always enough space. Cushioned, too. Caboodles thinks of everything in so many ways, you can see why we say…
Caboodles. It just handles everything.
An entirely new species of organizers — Sassaby (1991)
Introducing a whole family of exotic, innovative, wildly unique organizers for cosmetics and jewelry.
Cleverly designed with secret compartments, deep trays and extra-long trays for super-long pencils. Full-size bottles and brushes travel with ease.
Ingenious lipstick keepers hold lipsticks upright. Removable dividers keep everything in right.
When it comes down to getting organized, it has to be a Sassaby!
MORE: Vintage beauty cases & train cases: See luggage with fold-out trays from the olden days
Retro 90s Caboodles ad (1992)
Vintage blue Caboodles accessories organizer (1992)
NOW SEE THIS: Peek inside vintage jewelry boxes, including some with spinning ballerinas & wind-up music
Beauty organizers you can buy today!
- CABOODLES ON-THE-GO GIRL COSMETIC CASE: You’ve got places to be and things to do. Conquer the chaos with a Caboodles On-The-Go Girl Makeup Case! Inspired by the tackle box, this iconic makeup...
- SPACIOUS STORAGE: At 8.0” x 12.83” x 5.94”, this case has room for all your glam essentials. The bottom has plenty of space for larger items like brushes, while the top contains a 3-compartment...
- SECURE AND PRACTICAL: Equipped with a flip-lid, auto-open tray and mirror, the On-The-Go Girl is the perfect travel case for makeup mavens and neat freaks. The secure latch and sturdy design make it...
- CABOODLES - the inventor and leader of on-the-go cosmetic organization since 1987
- CABOODLES CARE PACK + LIL BIT SET: Two mini-cases for double the fun, double the storage. The Caboodles Care Pack + Lil Bit Set's travel cases are mini, but mighty, portable makeup organizers.
- COMPACT COSMETIC STORAGE: They may be mini, but the Care Pack + Lil Bit Set cases are spacious enough to discreetly store hair accessories, feminine products, jewelry, and more. Care Pack: 5.75"L x...
- Modular Drawer System:Ditch the clutter! This train case features 3 detachable compartments and 2 quick-access drawers – reorganize your makeup in seconds without disassembling trays. Keep...
- Convertible & Travel-Ready:The top compartment transforms into a standalone makeup bag with a padded shoulder strap – perfect for touch-ups on flights or client visits. Adjust the telescoping handle...
- Pro Organizer Trays: Store tall nail polish bottles, upright in the spill-proof bottom tray, or remove it to stash hot tools like curling irons. The middle tray’s removable dividers let you...
- CABOODLES TAKE IT TOTE COSMETIC CASE: At 5.75" x 8.13" x 2", this travel makeup case is just the right size for touch ups on the go, when you need to add a little glitz to your glam.
- SLIM & COMPACT PROFILE: This travel friendly case is small enough to fit in a tote, gym bag or backpack, but big enough for your makeup and hair essentials.
- TOUCH UP ON THE GO: Includes a large built-in mirror and an auto-open tray, perfect for blushes and lipsticks with a lower compartment for makeup brushes and compacts. A convenient case to take your...
- CABOODLES PRETTY IN PETITE HARD COSMETIC CASE: Everything is cuter in miniature form, including Caboodles. The Pretty In Petite collection is the smaller version of our iconic On-The-Go Girl case –...
- SMALL BUT MIGHTY: At 5.5" x 9" x 3.8", this makeup organizer offers plenty of storage for a mini glam collection. Stash larger brushes and mascaras in the bottom and organize nail polish and lipsticks...
- SECURE AND PRACTICAL: Equipped with a flip-lid, 2 swivel trays and mirror, the Pretty In Petite is the perfect travel case for makeup mavens and neat freaks who need a smaller solution. A secure latch...
- CABOODLES CARE PACK LIL BIT SET: Inspired by the two witches from the Wicked 2024 film, these Caboodles limited edition travel cases are mini, but mighty, portable makeup organizers.
- COMPACT COSMETIC STORAGE: They may be mini, but the Care Pack Lil Bit Set cases are spacious enough to discreetly store hair accessories, feminine products, jewelry, and more. Care Pack: 5.75” x...
- TRAVEL READY: Ultra portable and travel friendly. Fill your organizers with your favorite hair ties, lipsticks, or other glam essentials and easily stash in a small purse, backpack, or gym bag for...
- Enough Capacity: 12" storage organizer box size: 12" x 7" x 6", build in 3 layers with 2 trays, each tray also has compartments, which perfectly help to arrange items and this zone is enough to...
- Wide Applications: Featuring 3 layers and different compartments, this multi-purpose craft box is perfect for store any piecemeal scattered small pieces items such as sewing supplies, art supply, kids...
- Premium Quality Cute Color Options: Made of durable pp material, lightweight, build in a handle on lid which is very easy to carry, there are five super lovely color for selecting, not only kids but...
- Caboodles - the inventor and leader of on-the-go cosmetic organization since 1987
- Perfect cosmetic travel Kit to hold all your cosmetic accessories while on the go
- Spacious interior storage with 4 Auto-Open trays
One Response
I loved Caboodles cases. I used mine for makeup and I could just grab my case and put on my make up anywhere. My father would tease me about having my makeup in a “tackle box” but that was the best tackle box ever!