Life — April 2, 1914 — page 18: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a fashion illustration page satirizing men's spring clothing trends. It depicts five male figures modeling various garments: evening coats trimmed with white fur, a cutaway jacket with plaid patterning, and elongated frock-coats. The caption notes that "fur is to be used freely as trimming." The satire appears to mock the increasing use of fur and elaborate ornamentation on men's formal wear—details traditionally associated with women's fashion. By showing men sporting generous fur trim, extended hemlines, and decorative elements with exaggerated poses, the illustrator is gently ridiculing what the magazine's editors considered absurdly feminine styling creeping into men's formal fashion. This reflects early 20th-century anxieties about masculine dress standards and gender presentation in clothing.