Judge — April 7, 1888 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Easter Bonnets (April 7, 1888) This satirical cartoon mocks excessively elaborate Easter bonnets worn by fashionable women in the 1880s. The two figures shown are identified as "Madame Cleveland" and "Miss Hill"—likely referencing prominent society women of that era. The joke centers on how outrageously oversized and ornate these bonnets had become. Each head sports an impractical tower of fabric, feathers, and decorative elements that dwarf the wearer's actual head. The captions express the women's vanity: one claims the monstrosity makes her "a perfect fright of herself," while the other dismisses concerns about practicality, insisting her style will "take better with the men." The satire targets both the absurdity of fashion trends and women's willingness to embrace uncomfortable, ridiculous styles for social status.