Under My Umbrella

Burdened by a reputation of being an object of utility this beautiful accessory has never been accorded the ‘glam status’ that shoes, bags and belts enjoy and we find ourselves especially unenthusiastic about carrying one when we are all dressed up. While silk and chiffon parasols are definitely not for the roads there are quite a few interesting and more practical options available at city stores that vary from understated to chic just like everything else in your wardrobe. The umbrella is an embodiment of functional fashion that made its beginning as an indispensable element of English fashion. It’s not without reason that the women of the Elizabethan era chose to flaunt its stylish variant, the parasol as a dress accessory or the charismatic Gene Kelly used it as a prop in his timeless rendition of ‘I’m singing in the Rain’. More recently when it rained at the Golden globes last year, style icons like Mariah Carey, Penelope Cruz and several others gave it red carpet status by tastefully matching their Cavalli gowns and Armani blazers to carefully chosen umbrellas. There is nothing quite as sophisticated as the old fashioned steel tipped black umbrella (priced at Rs 200 upwards) that works particularly well for men. It gives you an air of mystique irrespective of what you are wearing. An umbrella can also be an easy way of infusing a burst of colour to a monochrome outfit on a murky day. Transparent umbrellas that were quite the thing last year (plain and polka dotted versions are priced at Rs 100 upwards) work when you want to make a statement but looks like they now have competition. Umbrellas in unusual shapes and ones that change colour we here are the hottest new additions to the market. More on this later.