The Wasp — 1895 — page 844: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical illustration mocks the fashion trend of exaggerated "balloon sleeves" popular in the 1890s. The cartoon depicts two women in conversation—Miss Kittish and Miss Garrett—discussing a wedding where the bride's elaborate sleeves proved problematic. The joke hinges on the impracticality of the oversized garments: Miss Kittish had to abandon her church wedding attire because the balloon sleeves were too voluminous to fit through the doorway. Miss Garrett's response confirms the absurdity—the church doors weren't wide enough to accommodate them. The satire targets contemporary fashion excess, poking fun at women who adopted increasingly ridiculous silhouettes despite obvious practical drawbacks. It's a commentary on blind adherence to trends regardless of common sense.