Judge, 1919-11-15 · page 13 of 36
Judge — November 15, 1919 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Fashion Article Satire, Judge Magazine (1919) This fashion article satirizes rapid changes in women's fashion and social conventions post-WWI. Author Anne Rittenhouse observes that 1918-1919 styles hide nearly everything—ears, mouths, chins, noses—except ankles, which were formerly considered scandalous but are now fashionably displayed. The joke targets the absurdity of shifting modesty standards: what was shameful becomes acceptable and vice versa. The accompanying cartoons reinforce this theme. One shows a traffic officer stopping a woman driver; another depicts a man with a broken nose, making light of physical mishaps. The "Modern" section mocks economic anxiety (praying about going into debt) while "Good Bait" jokes about an engagement ring's resale value—cynical humor about marriage and materialism. Overall, the page satirizes post-war social upheaval, women's changing visibility in public spaces, and the superficiality of fashion-driven morality.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
An Exclusive Fashion Article By Our Own Anne HE fur coat-collars and the new I Directoire neck-stuff will this year, take it from the Women's page writers, reach the high-fur mark touched in the 1918 Fall fashion freshet. You'll remember that the chins and mouths went out, and the noses were barely saved; the hats will again play the part of ey inguish- ers; the hair mattresses will continue to obliterate the ears, It will be a mighty intuitive husband who can this winter recognize his wife on the street, unless he knows her by her ankles. All is not lost, for we did manage to save those in the general mix-up. Women hide as shameful, nowadays, things that formerly were held to be quite blameless. There are ears. “Where?” yells the man we planted there for the purpose. “For instance” is what we mean. Ears? We confess we've always been partial to the curly little things; women’s particularly, with a few stray tendrils hovering about, seem adorable to us. But in these days they're considered quite risque, almost in- decent. Mrs. Black says to Mrs. White: “Isn't that To walk into RItTEN House Green woman the most brazen thing! a respectable house like mine with her ears perfectly nude. And the children right there in the room!” Also the females of the day cover as much of their Drawn by J. K. Bryans Hero—¥ve had my nose broken in two places. 11-15-19 eet Thing—Well, you shouldn't have gone into those places, 13 Drawn by Pavt REILLy Trafic Oficer—You can't stand there, madam—you'll hafta move the car! My husband went into a store—I can't drive so very well, and— ll have to sit in and hold the baby. eyes as possible with hair and hat, saving only a corner of one in an endeavor to keep from running into fire-plugs and tripping over dog-leashes. Chins and mouths are gone, noses only, among the features, are still considered respectable, but probably no better than they should be, and the less shown of them the better. People simply are not doing it. On the other foot, however, ankles, which used to be taboo, are now all the go. All the women have ‘em and act as if quite expansive proof of their presence were required. Our grandmothers had no ankles, nor feet even. They'd have been scandalized and no doubt had the vapours if accused of such incriminating possessions. Oh well, other days, other way P. S.—The Editor thinks he detects a note of regret for the days that are gone. Nota thing to it. For our part we want all the ankles to be on hand and shouting “Present” loudly. They beautify the landscape. P. Well, on foot, then. Don’t be so finicky! Modern (At the family dinner-table) Mother 5 ote eldest son)—Harry, will you say grace? aa Lord, for what we are about to go in debt for, make us duly resigned! Good Bait “After being my afhanced for five years she breaks the engagement and sends back the ring.” “Well, that engagement ring has doubled in value. Wouldn't wonder if you could get a better girl with it.”