Judge — December 10, 1927 — page 21: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page satirizes the famous 1927 incident where actress **Mary Pickford** publicly appeared in a scandalous short skirt that revealed her knees—shocking for the era. The central figure shows a woman in the controversial outfit. The surrounding vignettes mock various male reactions: two gentlemen in top hats discuss it as a funeral excuse; characters debate whether to attend social events where she'll appear; a man worries his wife will adopt the style; another fears being "kicked" by the fashion. The satire targets both the absurd overreaction to women's fashion and the double standard of male judgment. The "five o'clock girl" reference suggests women visible in public at that hour, implying impropriety. Judge mocks the prudishness of society figures scandalized by modest hemline changes, while depicting men's anxiety about women's increasing independence and fashion choices in the 1920s.