ladygaga-parasol2

(Lady Gaga, Flynet)

Catherine, Britain's Duchess of Cambridge, visits the Kranji Commonwealth War Cemetery in Singapore

KATE MIDDLETON

parasol2

(Leslie Kirchoff for Vogue)

After a friend attended a New Orleans wedding, she raved not about the crazy heat or the fun music, the Mardi Gras parades or the delectable food, but rather the umbrella that the bride had held at the wedding. In New Orleans, newlyweds use an umbrella to lead their guests from the ceremony to the reception, the bride carries the custom-made sunshade, while the guests follow waving crisp white handkerchiefs.

In China, umbrellas act as protection and shield from harm, in one Chinese myth, a loving wife fashions a parasol to keep her husband’s food from getting wet as he walks.

 

parasol3

(MaluMalu Swartjes, TheStylishConfessions)

parasol1

(STEPHANIE WILLIAMS, GREENWEDDINGSHOES.COM)

It is a shame that parasols are rarely used in the U.S. When we see someone pop open an umbrella, we become worried that a sudden downpour will materialize. However, especially in the summer, a cute parasol could be used to complete an outfit as well as keep you cool.

The unlikely accessory is extremely practical and could also provide a whole new avenue for fashion. Designers could whip up stunning conversation pieces that would have similar effects as the revered fascinators in England, or hats at the Kentucky Derby. Having said that, not everyone might desire a cumbersome and over-the-top parasol like Lady Gaga’s, so a simple polka dot or classy stripe would suffice. Instead of the generic clear bubble shaped umbrellas, people could use them to pick up an accent color in their outfit or to display a funky pattern that may be too tricky to be pulled off in dress or skirt form. So instead of saving parasols for a rainy day, why not pull them out while the sun is still out?

Check out these other stars and their exquisite accessories!

duchessofcornwallparasol

(Duchess of Cornwall, getty images)

 annehathway-parasol(Anne Hathaway, J. Garcia/Startraksphoto.com)

Sources:

http://www.neworleanscvb.com/weddingsite/new-orleans-wedding-umbrellaandhankerchief.html

http://kaleidoscope.cultural-china.com/en/137Kaleidoscope56.html