The Wasp — 1889 — page 197: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts two figures in conversation. The caption identifies them as **Miss Blossom** and **Mr. Van Quick**, discussing a suit of clothes. Ms. Blossom compliments the suit's style; Mr. Van Quick replies he doesn't know—his tailor hasn't used the pattern yet. The satire likely mocks **fashionable pretension and social climbing** in Gilded Age society. Van Quick's response suggests he wears cutting-edge styles so new that even tailors haven't adopted them—a humorous exaggeration of wealthy individuals obsessing over exclusive, ahead-of-the-curve fashion to distinguish themselves socially. The joke targets vanity and the competitive display of wealth through clothing.