Home » The Story of the Umbrella: a Fashion Accessory

The Story of the Umbrella: a Fashion Accessory

The lowly umbrella: an often forgotten accessory. Despite its rugged tenacity and reputation as a tool to be used against mother nature, the umbrella has for centuries been a part of fashion culture – from peasants to royalty.

The ancient Egyptians used parasols (a lightweight umbrella) as protection from the sun, decorating them to coincide with their apparel. The Chinese made use of the parasol for the same reason, taking it a step further by associating the style, color and use with social standing.

Jumping forward to the 1900s, the umbrella became a vital part of pop culture in movies, books and TV. Gene Kelly’s iconic umbrella served as dance partner in the 1952 movie-musical Singing in the Rain, while Mary Poppins used hers as a method of transportation in 1964. The Penguin from Batman Returns (1992) loved the umbrella so much, he weaponized it.

Dapper Belgian detective Hercule Poirot was never seen without one in Agatha Christie’s novels, Scarlett Johansson caused a mild frenzy for the translucent “Bubble” umbrella after appearing beneath one in the 2009 film Lost in Translation, and today’s savvy New York business person would not be caught without one, lest they find themselves soaked for a midday meeting.

The umbrella, while often underappreciated, has earned its place in fashion history.

More Fashion Fabula

Work From Home Attire

One of the most attractive things about working from home is the opportunity to wear whatever you want to the “office.” But while it’s tempting

The Best Jackets For Spring

Allow us to introduce you into the world of “transitional dressing”. This is your definitive guide on deciding how to dress when the weather is

A Lesson in Layering

Fall is here, temperatures are dropping, and the time for piling on clothes has arrived and, with that, the dreaded fear of looking like an

In Trend: Falling Flat

This spring designers seem to have jumped on the comfortable shoe bandwagon for good! On the runways we are seeing flats (and sneakers), and our

Be Bright, Wear White!

Summer after Summer, an all-white look remains an absolute favorite for all fashion-lovers. Why not beat the heat and look effortlessly stunning! It’s the perfect

Product of the Month

HERSCHEL SEALTECH LAWSON BACKPACK This bag is almost as smart as you are. Herschel’s new Sealtech Backpack brings together the best of waterproof technology and

The History of Blush

Blush. Blusher. Rouge. Whatever you may call it, it still serves the same purpose; to provide a healthy flush of color to the cheeks. Blush

Shop 10 Day Dresses For Spring

It’s the perfect time to shop for must-have day dresses for Spring. We are seeing colorful patterns and flowing silhouettes from all of our favorite

5 Summer Tops You Can Wear to Work

Dress codes for work are already challenging enough and with rising temperatures it may seem almost impossible to dress appropriate. While in the colder months,

Work Week Style Hacks

Ah, Mondays. The quintessential day of work that actually ends up being the most dreaded day of the week. When your brain’s operating on fun

How to Wear White Denim

Style can sometimes mean stepping outside of your comfort zone. And let’s face it when it comes to denim, this means going beyond the everyday

Layering Combinations for Winter

After a fairly mild winter beginning it’s easy to forget how bitter a cold snap can be, which is why we highly recommend mastering the

Los Angeles: The Garment District

If the tag on your clothing reads made in Los Angeles, they more than likely come from the Fashion District. Hollywood costume departments have custom

On Trend: Animal Prints

Animal prints are a huge trend right now for Spring/Summer 2015. It’s a fun and simple way to make a bold statement! Leopard and snakeskin

What to Wear to a BBQ

5/23/2016 With Memorial Day right around the corner, barbecue season is here. Officially! While great fun, BBQs can be tricky to style for. They are

Latest Fashion Coupons

There are no coupons currently available

Fashion Brands

Login

Use a social network:

Or:

Feedback/Suggest Brands

Again, welcome to Your Brandzaffair. Our goal is to be your daily source for immediate access to all your favorite brandz with their best offers, in addition to providing insights and reviews in your lifestyle interests. We want to always continue to improve your experience. Please tell us what you think and what we can do better.

Spread the Word