Gimpel Beynish the Matchmaker
(Gimpl Beynish der Shadkhn)
Yiddish Comics of the early 20th century

Many fashion revolutions have come and gone since the ones driving Gimpel crazy. I guess a matchmaker had to "keep up" in order not to earn the scorn of his young customers. Gimpel sometimes says "one has to modernize: if not, it's bitter."

I love the careful transliteration of the English slang word "dopey" into Yiddish.

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March 18, 1914: Even King Solomon wouldn't be a wise man when it comes to today's styles.

1. GB: A very fine young man, but what a get-up! He must be a fanatic "sport," but one has to try.
   
2. GB: Say, boy, you must know I'm Gimpel Beynish the matchmaker? I have a fine match for you.
   
3. GB: Give me your name and address, and I'll bring you a great bride before today's over.
   
4. The "young man": Say, mister, are you blind or dopey? You can't see I need a bridegroom, not a bride?
   
5. GB: A plague on Columbus with his crazy styles. Go try being a prophet and realizing this is a young woman, not a man.

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The black-and-white fashion plate is from 1912. The silhouette is unambiguous.

On the right, a sewing pattern envelope from 1914; these three ladies are wearing outfits more like the one in the comic strip. The dresses are much less revealing of the form inside the clothes, though the hats have bows and feathers.

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Labels: modernity, style