Life, 1889-12-12 · page 14 of 16
Life — December 12, 1889 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily an **advertising page** from Life magazine, not a cartoon or satirical piece. It consists entirely of commercial advertisements targeting affluent women in the late 19th/early 20th century. The ads promote **high-end fashion services**: tailors, dressmakers, and fabric merchants in New York City (notably Fifth Avenue and Broadway locations). They emphasize imported goods, particularly from Paris ("Paris Modistes"), custom fitting, and luxury materials like silk. Several ads highlight mail-order services for customers outside New York. The page also includes advertisements for hotels (Hotel Vendôme in Boston) and premium cigarettes (Première Qualité by Wm. S. Kimball & Co.). **For modern readers**: This reflects the era's luxury retail landscape—before department stores dominated, wealthy women relied on bespoke tailors and imported fashions. The repeated emphasis on Paris fashions shows American dependence on European style authority. The mail-order options reveal emerging infrastructure for serving geographically dispersed wealthy clients.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
REDFERI LADIES’ TAILC TAILOR. Mantles of Novel Design, Fur Trimmed and Fur Line: GOWNS ano COATS For WINTER WEAR. Ladies living away from New York and desirous of ordering can have samples and sketch free by mail—fit guaranteed on all mail orders. 240 Fifth Avenue, "ss" 1132 Broadway, New York. ° et fone HOTEL VENDOME,BOSTON. COMMONWEALTH AVENUE. Unsurpassed by any hotel in the country for the beauty of its surroundiny the excellence of its accommodations, high order of its patronage. Most desirable for families and tounsts, C,H. Greenleaf & Co., Pro- Pw eROFILE’ HOUSE, White Mountains, N. H. The largest summer resort hotel in New Engla: (Late with Krakaver.) LADIES’ TAILORS AND DRESSMAKERS, 26 West !9th Street. Our latest importation of goods enables us to make up stylish Gowns, Jackets and Ulsters, also Carriage and Evening Dresses. Ladies residing out of town can have their garments made without personal fitting. Riding Habits « Specialty. PREMIERE QUALITE CIGARETTE A superb article; the standard of purity and ex- cellence. The faultless union of two matchless tobaccos pre vents that dryness of the throat usually produced by smoking other brands. Do not allow prejudice to prevent you from giving this incomparable cigarette atrial, It is simply perfection, and a luxury, and not a low priced article. Our Vanity Fair and other Smoking Mixtures are the finest for the pipe. WM. 8. KIMBALL & CO. 18 FIRST PRIZE MEDALS. STERN BROS. direct attention to a SPECIAL SHIPMENT of the Latest and Choicest Styles London Tullea«Party Dresses, which they will offer at Very Attractive Prices. In addition, they beg to direct attention to their superior facilities for making to order Walking, Carriage, Dinner, Reception and Evening Costumes, Riding Habits, House Robes and Tea Gowns, embodying the ideas of the leading PARIS MODISTES from whom they are receiving continually, the latest models and designs. With a staff of fitters, accustomed for years + producing the best class of garments, they are pesition to give the utmost satisfaction, prices will beas low if not lower than those other reliable and leading establishments 32-34-36 West 23d Strect. it AN OFF IGE BUILDING OR OTEL AS MUCH A NECESSI- SILK FABRICS. In addition to the advar tages which a large and jud: ciously-selected stock alway secures to buyers in gettin what they want, as well a what is represented, both i value and character of good: we shall offer the followin specialties this week: Black Silks at $1.00, $1.1! $1.25, $1.50 and $2.00. Colored Silks at $1.0¢ $1.25 and $1.50. And a large lot of Fane Silk Cloaking at half price. JAMES McCREERY & CO., Broadway and 11th St. New York. Ainold, Constable & Cec SPECIAL IMPORTATION: SILKS,— Régence Satin Unis, Bengaline and Vel tine in new shades. Brocaded and Damassé Stuffs. Broché and Metal Effects. EVENING DRESS STUFFS.— Novelties — Crép Grenr.tines, Gazes and Marabout in Broché, Damassé # Plain Cotors. Very handsome styles landed this week. Broadway & 19th St. comicbooks.com