History of the Parasol

Parasols in the European world had become an important fashion accessory throughout the centuries. Parasols were expected to match the attire of ladies and soon became a symbol of the typical, wealthy woman. Parasols have been around since the ancient world and were mostly an accessory of aristocratic ladies and occasionally kings throughout history. Paintings and frescoes in history show aristocrats not being seen without some form of shade whether it be an umbrella or some form of cloaking device mostly carried by servants. The ancient Egyptians used parasols to protect themselves from the sun. Parasols have also became popular in Asia throughout history since, like the Victorians, Asian cultures such as India, China and Japan have traditionally favored pale skin as a symbol of beauty and high status. Just as some Asian cultures looked upon pale skin as a sign that ladies did not have to work in the hot sun, so did Victorian customs which dictated that aristocratic ladies should keep their skin pale at all times. It was not until the 1920s that having tanned skin meant being able to travel around the world and lounge around the beaches all afternoon.

Parasols were not only a fashion accessory, but they also served a practical use to protect women from light rain and even as a weapon to fend off attackers. Parasols have also come in the form of swords and clubs to surprise potential attackers. This type of parasol protection can be seen today with former French president Nicholas Sarkozy’s famous armor plated umbrella.

Parasols have made a comeback in recent years, especially in Asian countries like Japan where umbrellas are meant to protect women against the sun, a combination of ideal paleness and concern for skin damage and cancers.