Life, 1927-07-14 · page 8 of 40
Life — July 14, 1927 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes wealthy, fashion-obsessed society women of the early 20th century. The top cartoon, "New York-to-Paris—If Most of Us Tried It," mocks the pretensions of the ultra-rich by contrasting their luxurious lifestyles with ordinary Americans from small towns like Bloomfield, Indiana. "The Society Leader According to the Advertisements" describes a woman who buys only the finest luxuries—expensive perfume, exclusive jewelry, and French fashion—while maintaining an air of effortless sophistication. The accompanying illustration shows her among other wealthy women. The satire targets how advertisements shape and define social status, suggesting that "good taste" and distinction are manufactured concepts sold to the wealthy to justify their consumption and maintain class distinctions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
~ " “. New York-to-Paris—If Most of Us Tried It “THAD TO COME “No, You'RE ABOUT A MILE DOWN FOR GAS, AND A MALE Is THIS NEAR parts?” FROM BLOOMFIELD, INDIANA.” The Society Leader According to the Advertisements SHE is modish, in the vanguard of fashion and decidedly different, unbelievably aristocratic of the foremost people of to-day, a matron + one perennially yout ind usehold in contour from at for reeus- terations to but the best, ks for the name in the selvedge, knows that good style 1 silk lining, and has that subtle touch called freedom in underwear, and the royal raiment of to-day made by tomed buy nothi requires charm, new a famous Parisian of the wool in finest the and creator camel ’s-hair prevailing patterns, 1 luxurious fifty styl- sed by “empire the world exelusively trig irresistibly low-priced and inimitably coats born to life, ists, chosen by fa builders sold tailleurs over, and by smart She wears simple sports frocks that strike rect note for country wear, the cor- gowns fashioned by ex- per- sonalities of their own, and perts with exquisite 1 slipper for every ocea- the half-tint be- rose and beige, a sion in tween supporting undergarinent that per- suades the body into lines of beauty, furs of exceptional importance, and a permanent wave of distinction. When it’s a matter of good taste Mother: 1% MY DAY WE NEVER THOUGHT OF DOING sUCIt THINGS. Marie: weit, pox’r, you wisit you Wap? she buys the costliest) perfume in the world with three thousand roses in one flacon and a new exotic flavor which stirs the sophisticated pulse, bath salts in ten fashionable odors, jewelry from a firm with a priceless gesture, and facial preparations of immaculate purity, and she drives only the distinctive car of the hour of which all E with the cert reputation can assure, munches only the aristocrats of boxed chocolates which interpret the accepted usage of the day essence of canned tomato soup. WW. Scott. rope has approved nty only established and drinks only supreme The Two of Us AUD: Did you have a nice time last week-end ? Isanen: And how! — Saturday night we went canoeing on the lake and sang all the old love songs un- romantic until der a gorgeously We didn't come ashore midnight. Mavp: moon. after That's queer. I was told by some one who saw you that you were canoeing all alone, I was. hen where do you get the “wer? Isvnen: From Lind- bergh Definitions from an Archaic Dictionary I UMB—Lacking speech. Applesauce—Sauce made from apples. Washout earth by flood Bologna—City in Italy. Cop—Top of a hill. Boner—Instrument boning fish. of Erosion for Dramshop—Vlace where liquor is sold Gas—Matter in form state. Gold-digger avri- Digger in gold mine. Marriage The Ultimate TORTH: No doubt some day there will be one Life union, I West: Do you suppose we'll one for every filling station? ever have comicbooks.com