Life, 1920-08-12 · page 26 of 44
Life — August 12, 1920 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes men's fashion absurdity through mock-earnest descriptions of ridiculous garments. The subtitle—"Advanced Styles for Those Who Would Rather Be Dead than Unfashionable"—establishes the joke: exaggerated compliance with fashion trends. The illustrated styles parody exotic and impractical fashions marketed to wealthy men, including ornate robes with Freudian references, pajamas styled as "Happy Bridegroom" costumes with machine guns, and sporting outfits with "shorts" of olive drab pongee. The satire targets 1920s fashion culture's absurdity: designers presenting impractical, ostentatious clothing with pretentious descriptions. By describing these obviously unwearable garments as sophisticated choices, the magazine mocks both fashion designers' overreach and fashionable men's willingness to adopt whatever is deemed trendy—even unto death ("Rather Be Dead").
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
-LIFE.: What the Well Dressed Man Won’t Wear Advanced Styles for Those Who Would Rather Be Dead than Unfashionable Afternoon suit of blue, unfinished wor sted’ with inner lining A l THe “Awbeead of genuine lizard. The . This model of th entire success of this ‘dress iauit, par esee little garment is duc ‘ lence conbines thE to the sophisticated ; conservativene touches of white at custom with the the throat and wrists. = tinctiveness of t Cane, spats and boater dividual. The bulging hat (with appropriate front is designed. to ribbon) are not neces = ‘ obtain the ultimate sary but desirable from the festive so the belled tr show a flair—or flare for the unusual. The hat, full quart size, is adjustable Refreshing as the evening breeze from the upper deck of a Coney Isiand steamboat are these slumber robes of batik. That on the gentlemannequin a motif of scarlet poppies, richly en cruste shimmering background of Hunter's ‘een number two. The other has the motif of the Freudian complex in B flat. Fudge by the Stickham Sisters’ Gift Shoppe ; ukulele by Cowperthwaite “The Happy Bride This is our favorite groom.” Thesepajamas sport model, called de luxe for the tired “Hercules.” The form business man are con- fitting hip boots are sidered the most suc of canary suede, over cessful of their kind which are " shorts” of ever seen off stage. Of olive drab pongee, The a decidedly Oriental sash at the waist is turn, the trousers are Roman, and the bolero caught at the ankle and (of crimson chiffon) is above and below the worn over a white silk knee with black velvet shirtee, open at. the ribbon. The sleeves, neck. “The hat is of adorned with tassels of straw, with strawberry old gold, are kimono Streamers. The cro cut. With each “Happy guet mallet in. the right Bridegroom” goes a ‘oreground is retro fully equipped machine- active, gun squad