Life — November 11, 1920 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Life" Magazine Page Analysis This page satirizes the consumption habits and social anxieties of the upper-middle class during the early 20th century. The main cartoon depicts a couple discussing household expenses, with the husband advocating financial discrimination between wants and needs—a practical stance. The wife counters that she always needs what she wants, highlighting the tension between restraint and desire in affluent households. The accompanying text mocks "Dresseurs"—apparently wealthy individuals who employ personal stylists or wardrobe attendants. The satire suggests these servants are essential social fixtures, their primary function being to enable constant wardrobe changes for opera, sports, and social events. The brief anecdotes that follow ("We Have with Us To-night," "Following a Fad") continue poking fun at upper-class pretension and the absurdities of maintaining fashionable appearances.