Life — March 2, 1911 — page 23: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

a i cele Life’s Fashion Reform League A Few Inconspicuous Citizens Criticise Use of Life Park HE other day there was a small mass meeting of citizens to protest against our use of Life Park (formerly Central Park) on the ground that it was PICTURE OF THE BEAUTIFUL MODEL oF LIFE'S FASHION LEAGUE, WHO WAS FOL- LOWED BY ONE HUNDRED MARRIED MEN, interfering with the rights of the people. Inasmuch as the rights of the people of this country are more bound up with the wearing of woman’s clothes than any- thing else, and inasmuch as we now con- trol the output of woman's clothes and determine the fashions and incidentally keep all the men in the country keyed up to the right pitch, the idea that a few acres of grass in the heart of a large city should be retained for the use of People who cannot afford to dress well, is certainly laughable. We speak of this incident, as it ilus- trates the fatal tendencies of a part of the American people to make a fuss over nothing. None of the daily papers took the mat- ter up, of course. One or two of them started to report the meeting, but we threatened to withdraw our advertising, and they quietly stopped. Fortunately, we have the right on our side. This is not a question of commer- cialism pure and simple, but of high art, as applied to clothes. Moreover, it is a question of patriot- ism. Hitherto we have been dominated by the Paris dressmakers, Now we stand firmly on our own talents; and we re- spectfully submit, that through this League, more smart effects in clothes can be seen every day than ever before in the history of the world. Only yesterday one of our models, walking down Fifth avenue, attracted so much attention that she was followed by several hundred married men, and had to appeal to the police to protect her. When, by a simple little eight hundrea dollar plush gown, with steel spangles: and rattlesnake slippers, you can produce an effect like this, what is the use of going to Paris, We originate our own styles. But this is not exclusive with us. On the con- trary, every American woman in this country, who has an idea, has only to submit it to us, and if there is any merit in it, we try it out. The Mall in Life Park is used exclusively for this purpose. We have in our employ a number of all kinds of men, husbands, men about town, bachelors, etc., and they judge all the latest gowns submitted. Our method is strictly scien- tific and artistic. It is designed to produce the most sensational effect on every man. Only in this way can wives re- tain the affection of their hus- bands. We have clothes for every- body. We can make a fat wom- an look like a glorious queen quivering with angelicism. We have searched the history of the worid, from Cleopatra down to Lillian Russell for start- ling effects. We do not copy, we assimilate. Whatever there is in Salome, we get into a gown. Whatever there is in Zenobia, we reproduce in its entirety. guarantee to produce milk-maid gowns that will make any man jump from a tenth story building into the heart of a fiery furnace to save the girl inside of it. Paris waits our hourly word. Another great beauty of our system is that it is elastic. It conforms to every pocket book. If you cannot afford to have your gowns made, our pattern de- partment will supply you with the smart- est effects for only a song. For eight or nine thousand dollars you can easily make your own spring clothes (not including hats). In the meantime, our hotel for patrons (formerly Metropolitan Museum of Art) is now open and is full. We are also engaged in erecting several mammoth dressmaking establishments in Life Park, where clothes will be made for all. We expect to get a subsidy from the government. If you have not already done so, join the League at once. Address all communications to Lire’s Rerorm Fasuion Leacue, Lire Souare, Lire Parx (formerly Central), WE CAN SUGGEST NO SURER METHOD TO RETAIN A HUSBAND'S AFFECTIONS THAN TO APPEAR IN ONE We also are past masters in simple bucolic effects. We OF OUR SMART BEAU BRUNMEL AT BREAKFAST, WALKING SUITS comicbooks.com