Life — May 25, 1916 — page 21: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical illustration depicts a group of fashionably dressed women preparing for what the caption calls a "summer campaign." The drawing style and clothing suggest early 20th-century fashion. The women appear to be gathering their resources—one holds what looks like a fan or parasol—in a manner that humorously parallels military mobilization. The satire likely mocks women's social activities during summer season, treating leisure activities and social engagements with mock-military language. This reflects Life magazine's characteristic humor in treating everyday upper-class social life as if it were military strategy or political maneuvering. The elaborate hats, dresses, and accessories emphasize the conspicuous consumption and social competitiveness among fashionable women of the era.