Given how long The Far Side ran for, it’s no surprise that Gary Larson would occasionally tackle some unexpected subjects. Larson has portrayed everything from the war between cats and dogs to alien invasions and seemingly everything in between. Enter the world of fashion, which Larson has had a great deal of fun exploring, sometimes examining the repercussions of a fashion faux pas, and other times enjoying twists on classic tropes.
The Far Side takes everyday things that people often take for granted and combines them into a unique blend of humor and observation. This includes a person’s wardrobe and the daily battles one faces when picking what to wear. It’s the sort of thing that shouldn’t be funny, but Larson makes it work.
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The Far Side Shows Feline Fashion vs. Canine Couture
First Published: Dec. 12, 1991
“If pets wore hats: a study in animal personalities and styles.”
The battle between dogs and cats has been ongoing for generations, and it’s safe to say that it has been well-documented by The Far Side. However, Larson took their battles to a different form by introducing fashion. Okay, nobody really expects cats and dogs to don fashion items as a means to one-up the other species, but it’s still pretty funny to think about.
This Far Side comic portrays two tomcats trapped in a tree, and they’re living up to their tomcat status. They have fancy little fedoras, complete with feathers (possibly stolen from the bird in the window). Meanwhile, the dogs are all sporting backward baseball hats, which are also pretty on-brand. They’re happily running around with their tongues out and seem content to be doing their thing.
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Barbed Wire Dresses Are Fashionable in The Far Side
First Published: June 2, 1987
“Do I like it? Do I like it? … Dang it, Thelma, you know my feelings on barbed wire!”
Many Far Side comics have explored the Wild West and cowboys, but they haven’t always shown them in this light. Given that cattle ranchers frequently use barbed wire to keep their critters on their property, it’s easy to see why a cowboy might be crazy about barbed wire, but it’s hard to imagine that anyone would like the barbed wire ensemble shown here.
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That’s the foundation for this Far Side comic, which depicts a cowboy who disapproves of his wife’s new outfit. The wife, who is named Thelma, is sporting a barbed wire dress. It seems like a simple joke on the surface, but there’s a layered story here. Did Thelma’s choice hint at relationship problems? It’s the kind of moment only Larson can deliver.
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Delicate Bird Hats Are All the Rage in The Far Side
First Published: Apr. 14, 1983
“I just can’t go in there, Bart! … Some feller in there and I are wearin’ the same kind of hat!”
There are all sorts of complicated rules in fashion and design, and many people hate being caught wearing the same thing as someone else in the room. That feeling can be even worse when time and care went into choosing something believed to be unique or eye-catching. It’s what fuels the stereotype about wearing the same dress twice.
In this case, it’s not a dress, but a memorable hat. Complete with a white bird and red and pink flowers, it definitely doesn’t fit the rest of the bar, and it’s not what anyone would expect to see in a saloon like this one. The Far Side loves to subvert expectations, and it continues that trend here by showing two men in the same outlandish bird hat.
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The Far Side Shows a Fashion Faux-Pas
First Published: July 26, 1983
“I judge a man by the shoes he wears, Jerry.”
Dating can be rough. There’s a lot that goes into it, from finding someone to go out with to figuring out where to go, what to eat, and what to wear. In this Far Side comic, the guy kept things pretty standard for his date: white shirt, tie, blue pants. The problem is that his over-the-top shoes don’t match the outfit. That might not have been a big deal if not for one thing: his date judges men by their shoes.
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To be fair, it would be challenging to pair these wacky shoes with any outfit. Maybe he was going for a bold look, and if so, mission accomplished. Just imagine the sound they make with every step, horns clacking against the floor. Hopefully, the rabbits don’t squeak or do anything equally ridiculous.
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Some Far Side Outfits Can Kill
First Published: Dec. 15, 1981
“Excuse me, Harold, while I go slip into something more comfortable.”
Leave it to Gary Larson to find a way to combine multiple tropes and puns into one singular comic. In this Far Side comic, readers can see a couple settling in for the night. The man is comfortably seated on a loveseat, while the woman is elaborately dressed, to say the least. One might say that she is dressed to kill, pun intended. Her wardrobe has all sorts of dangerous tools, including a chainsaw and a crowbar.
This leads to the next part of the joke, as she happily declares to her companion that she’ll go ‘slip into something more comfortable.’ This is a favorite phrase in pop culture, with sitcoms and romances using it so often that it’s become a bit dull. At least it has a fresh perspective for this comic.
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Some Hats Should Stay With Their Owners in The Far Side
First Published: Feb. 16, 1985
“Well, I’ll be. You’ve snagged some humongous hat, Frank. … HAHAHAHAHAHA!”
Anyone who has spent any time fishing can attest to the fact that sometimes, fishers pull up garbage. Now, television and movies love to have these failed fishers pull up something like a tin can or, more often than not, a rotten boot. The sorts of things that society is always discarding, right? Well, in this Far Side comic, Gary Larson imagines what would happen if a fisherman took something that belonged to something too big for a fish hook.
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Here, a fisherman has successfully snagged and pulled up a massive hat. Seriously, the scale of this hat is outstanding. He probably should have questioned why that size hat existed, and why it was at the bottom of the war. Maybe then he could have gotten away in time, but as it stands, that doesn’t seem too likely. One thing is certain, that hat’s owner is coming for it.
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Mummies Are Stylish in The Far Side
First Published: Aug. 3, 1991
“Oh my God, Rogers! … Is that? … Is that? … It is! It’s the MUMMY’S PURSE!”
There have been countless tales of the mummy’s curse, but what about the mummy’s purse?? Here, Gary Larson is asking the important questions, as two archaeologists have uncovered an ancient sarcophagus with an intact mummy inside. Their discovery has only just begun, as the mummy is sporting a vibrant red purse, the color as pure as the day it was carefully packed away.
Once again, this is a Far Side comic that combines two jokes into one. First, there’s the obvious pun, with Larson swapping out a single word to get a different imagery. He’s also poking fun at how people tend to have a favorite purse, especially mothers who frequently have so much to lug around with them. There’s a reason those big purses work!
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Even Fish Have to Deal With Laundry in The Far Side
First Published: Feb. 16, 1988
Laundry days are probably the worst days of the week, for some people, at least. It would seem that in the world of The Far Side, that statement also applies to fish. Apparently, even fish need to worry about keeping their clothes nice and clean, which seems a bit counterintuitive, but then again, this is Larson’s world. It wouldn’t be the first or last time something like this has happened.
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The fish in question seems to be quite impatient, as she keeps glaring at her clotheslines of dresses. All have been neatly hung, but they’re probably taking their sweet time to dry. Why would a fish care if the dresses are wet or dry? Putting them on will simply saturate them again, surely? At least the clothesline has been neatly arranged.
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Questionable Taste Saves Lives in The Far Side
First Published: June 1, 1988
“When the monster came, Lola, like the peppered moth and the arctic hare, remained motionless and undetected. Harold, of course, was immediately devoured.”
They say that there’s no such thing as too much of a good thing, but people are usually quick to retract that statement when it comes to excessive floral prints. It can be overwhelming. On the bright side, that overwhelming nature may just be what saved Lola’s life. The same cannot be said for Harold, whom the monster quickly found and ate.
In this Far Side comic, monsters apparently go door-to-door, eating those foolish enough to answer. Harold was probably doomed regardless since he was the one who opened the door. Even if he hadn’t, he didn’t have the same advantage as Lola. See, Lola perfectly matches her surroundings. The same flower print is everywhere, including on Lola. Poor Harold, for more reasons than one.
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These Far Side Sharks Are Dressed to Kill
First Published: Aug. 7, 1985
“Well, if you’re almost ready, I’m dressed to kill.”
It’s not uncommon for Larson to repeat themes, as evidenced by the sheer number of comics revolving around fashion choices. It’s also not unheard of for him to revisit puns, as is the case with ‘dressed to kill.’ This joke has come up a few times, such as when Harold’s date was all dressed up. This is another iteration of the joke, and it’s just as terrifying.
This Far Side comic features two sharks, who are presumably getting ready for a fancy evening. While one is struggling to get the final touches on his tie, the other is all dolled up and ready to go. In her own words, she’s dressed to kill. Perhaps she means that literally, as it’s hard to imagine what else a shark couple may be doing for fun.
- Writer
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Gary Larson
- Publisher
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Universal Press Syndicate
- Artist
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gary larson
