Life — May 12, 1927 — page 14: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical illustration depicts fashionable women in an exotic/jungle setting, with wild animals (leopards or similar predators) visible above them. The title "The Survival of the Fittest" references Darwin's evolutionary theory, but applies it to human fashion and social competition rather than biology. The cartoon likely satirizes: - **High fashion's fierce competitiveness** among wealthy women - **"Jungle" aesthetics in 1920s fashion** (animal prints, exotic styling visible in their clothing) - The irony that civilized society's most brutal competition occurs in fashion and appearance rather than actual survival The exaggerated, stylized figures and geometric Art Deco design are typical of Life magazine's sophisticated visual humor targeting upper-class fashion culture and the pretensions of high society.