California has had quite a rainy winter, for a change, which made me think of umbrellas. But what about the fancier, prettier alternative for sunny days? Parasols have been used just as long, maybe longer than the rain-repelling variety, having been used in ancient Egypt, China, and India. It wasn’t until the mid-18th century that parasols came into fashion among the European upper-classes, so we start to see them in some frock flicks. Of course, they’re plentiful in historical costume movies and TV shows set in the 19th century. As long as they’re not the cliched Battenburg lace, we like ’em! Let’s look at some frock flicks that have especially pretty or unusual parasols.
The Feast of All Saints (2001)
What I like here is how the character of Marie (Nicole Lyn) seems to have a matching parasol for every outfit of her 1840s wardrobe. It shows how she’s been taken care of and is being set up for a life of luxury.
Her parasol is lined, & the joint where the stick folds has a decorative ruffle.
Pink parasol for her pink outfit.
Similarly, her friend Anna Bella (Bianca Lawson) has a grey striped parasol to go with her grey gown (though that neckline is weird for daytime).
Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (1974)
Covering the life of Lady Randolph Churchill (Lee Remick) from 1873 to her death in 1921, this miniseries has a lot of parasols, just going to show how that was such a typical accessory in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Fringed & striped parasol in the early 1870s.
Carrying a simple white parasol with an ensemble reminiscent of Tissot, c. 1874.
Holding a black striped parasol inside in the late 1870s.
A pink printed parasol for a carriage ride in 1885.
A cream-colored parasol on a boat in the 1890s.
Is that a repeat of the pink 1885 parasol, now in a boat during the 1890s?
And as she ages, around 1914, she’s still carrying a proper parasol.
The Gilded Age (2022)
Snark all you want, but this newer TV series did a decent job with the accessories. Mostly the younger characters were shown outside and carrying parasols, and they were often of the tiny conspicuous-consumption variety suited to these ridiculously wealthy types.
Carrie Astor (Amy Forsyth) at Newport with a parasol Photograph by Alison Rosa/HBO.
Sisters Ada (Cynthia Nixon) & Agnes (Christine Baranski) carry parasols during their carriage rides.
Marion (Louisa Jacobson) has a variety of parasols for her strolls. Photograph by Alison Rosa/HBO.
So does Gladys (Taissa Farmiga), like this one with lace.
Here’s one with fringe. Photograph by Alison Rosa/HBO.
And one at Newport.
Mary Poppins (1964)
Practically perfect Mary Poppins has a parrot-topped umbrella, and in the “Jolly Holiday” scenes, this morphs into a pastel parasol, which rates as a pretty impressive trick in my book.
Mary (Julie Andrews) having a pre-game chat with her bird ‘brolly.
Her full “Jolly Holiday” pastel ensemble.
Her sturdy black umbrella has become parti-colored pink & white with ruffles, & the parrot top has turned into a pale pink flamingo head.
Alas, the flamingo head had disappeared by the time the costume went on display.
The whole outfit had faded, especially the parasol’s colors.
The Portrait of a Lady (1996)
This is another frock flick that’s not so much filled with parasols, but it has one striking parasol that plays an important part in the plot. Isabel Archer (Nicole Kidman) carries this black-and-white stripe parasol while touring Italy. That’s where she meets and is seduced by Gilbert Osmond (John Malkovich), and her story goes awry from there.
Beautiful…
Haunting…
What parasols have you noticed in frock flicks?
Parasol porn! There’s one especially pretty one in The Age of Innocence. A young girl has a pink (silk?) parasol with a beautifully carved wood handle. Every time I see that, I experience parasol lust. :)
I just realized, I also have a thing for umbrellas. Coincidence?
I use an umbrella as a parasol when I have to walk in summer heat. Cooler than a hat.
This post reminds me of the natural form trousseau I’m very slowly making. Not sure if I should add a parasol to the still growing list of things to make.
Do it!!!! :)
Any, and all the lovely parasols in Downton Abbey! ;)