Life, 1900-12-01 · page 43 of 44
Life — December 1, 1900 — page 43: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **product advertisement** for Lion Brand collars, cuffs, and shirts by United Shirt & Collar Co. (Troy, N.Y.), not a political cartoon. The visual shows a man in formal attire emerging from an oversized collar—a playful demonstration of the product's size range and fit quality. The accompanying copy emphasizes that proper collar fit is essential to looking dressed and feeling confident. The advertisement lists specific collar styles (Stanmore, Linden, Dakota, Tanus, Samoa) in various heights and sizes, highlighting the brand's precision manufacturing. The sales pitch argues that buying coordinated collars, cuffs, and shirts from one brand ensures they match properly. This reflects early 20th-century menswear standards where detachable collars were common, and fit was genuinely complicated. The humor is gentle and product-focused rather than satirical—the exaggerated collar serves as visual proof of the brand's range and quality workmanship.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
rnal. y inter makes in the mo bis 10 beat SR EARS TY SPS SEE TOE ET SO ELLE TIS 'U cannot feel dressed if ill at ease. You cannot be at ease if your collar doesn’t fit. Your collar cannot fit you unless it fits the shirt, and you cannot get collars | and shirts in one brand fitted to each other, with cuffs to match, unless you buy “Lion Brand collars, cuffs and shirts. They exhibit the best of workmanship applied ! to the finest goods. Two collars or two cuffs cost 25 cents. It doesn’t pay to pay more. Shirts cost $1, $1.50, $2, depending on the kind you want. If you cannot get them from your furnisher, we will send the address of one who can supply you. Do not send us money. This collar is made in quarter sizes and five heights as marked. |UNITED SHIRT @ COLLAR CO., Makers, Troy, N. Y. ET EO : ak