Accesories: Why bring a Parasol?

Parasols are a common accessory for all four of the Lolita styles, and for a wide range of the styles inspired by these. Originally, a parasol was intended to keep the sun off noble women of old times so that their skin would remain pale. Pale skin was considered very attractive in those days, as it meant you could afford not to work out in the sun and thus, all the paler women were more attractive. These days, a parasol is simply a cute accessory perfect for any Lolita preparing for a day out in the sun.

Of course, just because a parasol is a great addition to a Lolita outfit does not mean you can bring just any parasol. A parasol for a Sweet Loli may look awfully out of place for a Goth or Classic Loli. When choosing your parasol, it is important to consider what style of parasol you are bringing with you.

For a Sweet Lolita, any parasol in lighter colours such as whites, pinks, yellows and pastels is perfect. If it has a pattern, such as cats or strawberries or other such appropriate things, then all the better, and it'll be even more adorable if you can co-ordinate the patterns with your dress or other accessories. Be careful with lighter coloured parasols, as they will stain more easily if you don't treat them with care.

Gothic Lolitas should indulge in their darker side. Yes, you can bring a simple black parasol, but there are a lot of places to go beyond that. Extra lace and bows will add to your cuteness, while any more Gothic patterns will help accentuate your inner darkness. All in all, just remember to balance both elements and you should be able to find the best one for you.

Classic Lolitas have a much easier job. Simply pick solid colours or intricate Victorian patterns, using darker colours than the Sweet Lolis. Other than that, the very fact it's a parasol suits your more refined aristocratic air, so little effort is really required.

Punk Lolitas, on the other hand, may have a little bit of a harder time. You might want to either give this a miss or use an umbrella as a substitute, as punk patterns such as tartans and spikes will be more to your liking. This punk style makes an interesting clash with the parasol, so if you don't mind the lack of punk-style patterns you may be able to pull this one off.

All in all, I highly recommend parasols to any and all Lolitas in the days of summer when the sun becomes blazing hot. It's not only practical for being a handy portable patch of shade, but it makes a good addition to most any Lolis composition. You can mostly find parasols for personal use online or in gothic shops (though the Sweet Lolitas would have a hard time in those).