Life, 1909-03-11 · page 15 of 36
Life — March 11, 1909 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page lampoons early 1900s fashion and social customs through multiple cartoons and humorous dialogues: **"A Query"** mocks the disappearance of Victorian silhouettes—the exaggerated hips, bustles, and petticoats that defined previous decades' women's fashion. The poet asks where these curves have gone, satirizing rapid fashion shifts. **"Just the Figure for It"** depicts a mermaid as the "latest fashionable trim"—absurdist humor about adopting extreme fashion trends without practical consideration. **"Economy"** defines the term cynically: sacrificing something you want now for something you probably won't want later—social commentary on middle-class financial anxiety. **"Everything Helps"** ridicules both high fashion designers (Paquin gowns) and the Nazimova collar, which apparently rose so high it interfered with movement and hearing. The satire suggests fashion designers prioritize style over functionality. The final caption predicts women will copy men's hairstyles in 1909, reflecting gender-norm anxieties of the era. Overall, the page satirizes fashion's absurdity, consumerism, and society's willingness to endure discomfort for style.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Query HERE are the hips of yes- terday? Where is the graceful curve? here is the nipped-in figure, pray? So longer we observe Unnumbered petticoats a-rustle. here is the pad and where the bustle? ho! “ Long Lines"? m: tingué, 2 cre are the hips of yesterday? ie é se —John Paul McHugh. -- GOSH—ALL—HEMLOCK! WHAT—ER—ER—! Family jugs make family jars “MERELY THE LATEST YASHIONABLE TRIM, A 1A rooDLE.”” Economy Sox: What is the mean- ing of economy? Moriter: Economy, my son, is going without some- thing you do want in case some day you should want something which you prob- ably won't want. “ just THE FIGURE FoR 1T!”? Everything Helps HE new Paquin gowns leave no room for D.: Do you believe in First Aid to the improvement—nor anything else. Injured? Recent authorities on dress give it as their M.D.: Certainly. It makes the case more opinion that the ear will have to go. It is complicated for the physician when he ar- ‘inning to interfere with the movements __rives. of the Nazimova collar, which is steadily rising in the world. Several dressmakers have already recommended its painless re- soval. When it comes to a case of the ear “LADIES WILL COPY MEN'S FASII- crsus the collar, why hesitate? Tue gay dogs whine loudest in old age. 10NS 1N HAIR FOR 1909." © your duty, or your duties will soon do you. comicbooks.com