The Wasp — December 20, 1879 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis: Reception Costumes—Greek Style (December 1879) This page is **not satirical commentary** but rather **fashion journalism**. It presents two women wearing Greek-inspired reception gowns, a fashionable style for formal Victorian occasions. The text explains that Greek dress represents a return to classical simplicity after centuries of elaborate European fashion. It describes the garments' construction in detail—draped fabrics, minimal ornamentation, and high necklines—emphasizing how the style prioritizes comfort and elegance over ostentatious display. The right column specifically details "The Queen of Spain's" elaborate costume, featuring silk, royal blue, gold, silver trim, and opal-colored satin, suggesting this was fashionable among European nobility. This is **educational fashion content**, not satire—typical of how *The Wasp* supplemented its political cartoons with lifestyle and aesthetic material.