Life — September 11, 1931 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Life" Page Analysis The main cartoon depicts two men at a desk, with a box labeled "EMPRESS EUGENE'S HATS" visible. The caption reads: "But think of its future—pull off the feather and you got derbies!" This appears to be satirizing early 20th-century fashion trends. The joke concerns women's elaborate hats (associated with Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III) being so extravagant that removing decorative feathers would leave plain men's hats underneath—mocking the excess of women's millinery fashion. The surrounding text contains brief miscellaneous humor items typical of *Life* magazine's format, including quips about business, science predictions, naming conventions, and marital situations. The overall page exemplifies the magazine's satirical commentary on contemporary American society and fashion.