Life, 1888-03-08 · page 16 of 20
Life — March 8, 1888 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **fashion advertisement**, not satire or political content. It promotes Redfern, a high-end ladies' tailor with locations at Fifth Avenue and Broadway in New York. The page displays three illustrated women modeling fashionable 1888 spring clothing—gowns, coats, habits (riding outfits), and hats. The text emphasizes Redfern's exclusivity: they hold royal warrants from European monarchs (Queen of England, Empress of Russia, etc.), import fine cloths exclusively, and coordinate designs simultaneously with London and Paris to offer the latest fashions. Notable detail: the advertisement stresses their riding habits feature "skirt cut on approved safety principles"—reflecting late-Victorian concerns about women's safety while horseback riding in restrictive clothing. This represents aspirational marketing targeting wealthy American women who wanted European sophistication and royal approval.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LADIES’ TAILOR. By Special Appointment to |. The Queen of England. . The Queen of Denmark. . The Empress of Russia. . The Queen of Italy. tee=s. Spring Season, 1888 HE MODELS of GOWNS and COATS designed by the Messrs T REDFERN for the ensuing season are now on exhibition, and, without doubt, are the most successful they have ever originated. There being frequent interviews and a continuous exchange of ideas between the members of the firm managing the various branches here and in Europe, ladies patronizing this house are assured that, by arrangement, the latest creations of London and Paris are placed before them here simultaneously with their production in those cities, thus ensuring a constant successeon of models, avoiding repetition, and bringing the styles right up to the latest date. Their stock of Imported Cloths is one of the largest in the United States and embraces every variety suitable for tailor-made garments—most of them are made exclusively for the Messrs. Redfern and are dyed specially to meet their re- quirements. Their Riding-Habits, with skirt cut on approved safety principles, are acknowledged by some of the fore- ° most horsewomen of both Continents to be unrivaled for style, fit and wear— every make and color of cloth suitable for these garments are to be found in their stock. Costumes furnished with appropriate Hat or Bonnet in which the prevailing colors and character of gown or coat are artistically embodied. 210 FIFTH AVENUE, «° 1132 BROADWAY, N_Y comicbooks.com