Gail Carriger

Received a missive yesterday, yes, Gentle Reader, in the Mail, all about parasols. What does it say about my character that I found this rather dry reading absolutely fascinating? My concerned correspondent was a member of the Victorian Society and had just attended, of all marvelous things, a parasol covering workshop.

• • early parasol ribs were made of bone, like corsets
  • parasols were particularly popular after the 1860's as hats began to decrease in size but the pale complexion was still de rigueur
  • handles started out short (under 28") and grew longer as decades passed, longest during the Edwardian era when the parasol could rest on the floor and handle came up to the lady's waistline (some parasols had handles that collapsed down for easy storage)
  • early Victorian fashion plates show parasols the size of handkerchiefs, with a 1-to-1 handled-shade ratio, diameters increased over time as well
  • the truly fashionable lady carried a different parasol for each outfit
  • a parasol was one of the most popular gifts for a lover to give his sweetheart, and was often part of the groom's gift to has new bride
  • they were made from lace, cotton, or silk
  • could be trimmed in anything from silk tassels, to cotton lace, to crystal beads 

Gail's Daily Dose
Your Pill of Cute:

Your Gel Cap of Smart:
Parasol Language: Carrying it elevated in the left had - desiring acquaintance. Carrying it elevated in the right had - you are too forward.
Your Writerly Vitamins:
When concocting a series title...

• Check Amazon to see if anyone else is using it
• Combine words that are uncommon (for google purposes)
• Keep it relatively short
• Try to emulate the flavor of the books (dark, funny, romantic, silly, Victorian, etc...)
• Try to evoke a brand-able image

Now do you see why this is so hard, Gentle Reader?

CAKE in Space:

Other People's Words:
"Conversation about the weather is the last refuge of the unimaginative."
~ Oscar Wilde