The magazine was launched by Angelo Rizzoli in 1933 with the title Lei: rivista di vita femminile as a weekly.
[6] During the initial period it targeted the bourgeoisie housewives[2] and featured articles on beauty, fashion, cooking, domestic decoration, and current events.
[1] In November 1938 it was renamed as Annabella due to the opposition of the Fascist authorities over the use of Lei as a magazine title.
[2] Filippo Piazzi was the sole editor of the magazine in the period 1933–1938 when it was published with the title Lei.
[2] In an article dated 31 July 1960 Scerbanenco stated that going to the movies alone was not a proper activity for women particularly during the daytime on working days due to some risks of attacks by men.