Corsets and Parasols and My Furry Dog and Birthdays!

So, today I turned 18! And, because I like my birthday, I decided to post some of the things that are making me happy today!

The first one is my new mid-Victorian corset! My old one was awful and it hurt. So, I spent all day yesterday making this new one to wear to a ball tomorrow. I made it out of that pink toile which failed as a graduation dress, but is perfect for corsets.

I know it's not perfect, and there are wonky wrinkles which will go away when I replace the plastic bones with spiral steel, but now, I am not afraid of corset-making. All those curves always scared me, which is why I loved my stays so much. But now, I feel like I can do this whole corset thing!

I am still afraid of setting grommits though. Those are metal rings covered by hand sitched eyelets. I wore this corset today and it was really really comfortably and the eyelets did not tear!

The second thing is this parasol! I got it for.... wait for it.... FIVE BUCKS!! FIVE! at an antique shop nearby. I think it looks to be from about 1890... what do yall think?

The cover has some rust stains on it-- the fabric is extremely fragile in these places-- and there are some small holes and fading. However, the frame is in good shape and I just love it!

And last but not least, my furry buddy Radar, who probably hates me for putting that stupid bow in his hair. XD

Purtyfulness, and a Brief History of the Parasol

When I was a little kid, I had the most fantastic red, green, blue, and yellow umbrella. I carried that thing around rain or shine, and pretended on a routine basis that it was a parasol. Last month, I bought my first real parasol, and decided to research their history. During the 18th century, parasols were useful for preventing sunburns or tans. Contrary to the orange fake-bakers of today, pale skin was considered very fashionable and beautiful!

Parasol frames were commonly made of wood or whalebone. Overall, the covers were rather simple, without ruffles, lace, or fringe, as seen in the 19th century.

The most common colour for 18th c. parasols was green, as seen in the above image and the 1777 Francisco de Goya painting below. Most 18th c parasols had a height of around 80 cm. The early-mid 1700s parasol pictured above can be seen here at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and is 82.3 cm tall.

Parasols for the Historical Costumer

Believe me when I say that there is a small amount of information available about parasols, and I don't know of any books on them. When seeking a parasol to complete your polonaise, your best bet is to buy vintage, but be warned-- many times, parasols can be pricey. The black and white striped parasol I bought yesterday cost me $40 after I'd haggled it down, and the condition is not perfect- the cover is faded to an almost greyish brown stripe and there are a few small holes. However, the frame and spokes (aluminum and wood) are in very good condition, which seems to be the main thing when buying. On the other hand, I bought a vintage 50's blue silk Asian style parasol for $7 and feel like I got a decent deal. So it all depends on where you look and what you find.

Essentially, as with any accessory you buy/make to complete your historical outfits, do your research! Some more resources on 18th c. parasols can be found here, here, and here! If anyone has anything to add, please let me know in the comments!