Life — August 8, 1907 — page 20: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a straightforward advertisement, not satire or political commentary. It promotes "Feathersilk," a newly developed taffeta fabric for petticoats. The ad emphasizes the material's qualities—lightweight, strong, and colorfast ("Pure Dye")—and its affordability. The key sales pitch appears in the middle: garments made from this inexpensive fabric will "look and wear as if they cost four times as much as they do." The illustration shows a petticoat's ruffled hem. The trade mark warning indicates authenticity concerns were common enough to require prominent labeling. Priced at 35 cents per yard, it was marketed through lining departments in stores, targeting budget-conscious consumers seeking quality appearance without high cost.