For a lady or gentleman on their way to a picnic in 1871 the proper accessories were absolutely essential.
Most of all, you need a hat to protect your skin from the summer sun.
Men and women could go for something practical, with a nice, wide brim:
Hat, 1871-1874, Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Hat, 1870-1879, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Boater Hat, 1860-1870
Bonnet, 1868, Metropolitan Museum of Art
But, more commonly, women would go for very fashionable, but completely impractical, tiny bonnets perched on the top of their heads:
Clearly, green and brown were very popular colours for headwear in the late 1860s and early 1870s, though I have found a few examples in other shades, such as this lavender trimmed lovely, and I’m quite in love with this dark blue bonnet.
All this ornamental headgear would necessitate that the women also carry parasols, to shade their skin where the hats did not.
I’m quite enamored of this fetching fringed aqua example:
Parasol, American or European, 1860-1870, Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Lace was a popular choice, and an excellent way to show your wealth:
Parasol, American, 1855-1870, Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Of course, most women had to settle for much simpler parasols, such as these examples:
For footwear, men would wear leather boots, and women would wear leather or cloth side or front fastening boots:
Boots, 1865-75, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Children, both girls and boys, would wear similar boots:
Child's boots, 1860s, Metropolitan Museum of Art
