Right Dress, from the Parasol Drills series (N18) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

This is a lithograph trade card, "Right Dress," made by Allen & Ginter of Richmond, Virginia, as part of their “Parasol Drills” series to promote their cigarettes. Produced in the late 19th century, the image depicts a woman in an elaborate military-inspired riding habit, complete with a jaunty hat and parasol. Trade cards like this one offer a window into the visual culture of the Gilded Age, where advertising strategies increasingly intertwined with social ideals. This card reflects the era’s fascination with militarism and the appropriation of military aesthetics into women's fashion. The "Parasol Drills" series presents a satirical take on military precision, as parasols replace rifles in a mock display of feminine discipline. The absurdity underscores prevailing notions of gender roles, even as women began entering public life in new ways. To fully appreciate this image, we must look at period fashion plates, advertisements, and social commentaries. Through such resources, the historian can understand the trade card as a complex artifact reflecting the anxieties and aspirations of its time.