Life, 1921-06-30 · page 31 of 41
Life — June 30, 1921 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **full-page advertisement**, not a cartoon or satire. It promotes Phoenix brand silk hosiery using ornate Art Nouveau decorative borders typical of early 20th-century magazine advertising. The ad makes commercial claims about silk's strength—comparing it to steel cable—to market hosiery for "men, women and children." The appeal emphasizes durability ("mileage resistance"), aesthetic appeal ("shapeliness"), and value ("economy and lasting elegance"). There is no political satire or social commentary here. The decorative flourishes and formal typography reflect period advertising aesthetics meant to convey luxury and quality. Modern readers would note the era's approach to hosiery as a significant consumer good worthy of premium positioning, and the inclusive marketing across gender and age categories.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
= | A rope of silk is almost as || strong as a cable of steel. The longest and stoutest filaments that resourceful nature has || produced go into the making | of Phoenix silk hosiery. That || jis one reason why Phoenix || has great mileage resistance | | and a shapeliness that | jendures. For men, women | | and children, it leads in sales '| today because of the happy team-work of its downright || economyand lasting elegance. | PHOENIX HOSIERY comicbooks.com