I Can See Clearly Now

Posted by Shira, Editorial Assistant, Art

Long a fan of the clear umbrella, I picked up a cheap one for €5 in Florence a while back. It was small, with a white plastic cane handle -- truly adorable. But it was from a street vendor, so when the rust inevitably took over all the metal bits and pieces, we had to part ways. It’s been a few years now and I’ve longed to track down a replacement. Yet finding a sturdy transparent bumbershoot proved no easy task.

Until a week or two ago. I was waiting for the bus when a woman with a colossal clear plastic rain shield approached. After we boarded and were cruising uptown, I inquired about it. She told me she had Googled the words “clear”, “golf”, “bubble”, and “umbrella” and found a vendor near Philly. I wished the bus would get me home to my laptop faster.

After taking off my fabulous Wellies and shaking out my blah black umbrella, I sat down to start the hunt. Lo and behold, Frankford Umbrellas was the first search result. With 18 clear umbrellas to choose from -- including a purple one that nearly tempted me into buying two -- it was a tough call. In the end, I went all out. Clear vinyl, bubble-shaped, and golf-sized.

Sure, I could have stuck with the standard size, but I hate when a corner of my bag gets soaked because it peeks out beyond the protection of my dinky umbrella. I vowed to practice proper umbrella etiquette while sharing narrow sidewalks with numerous New Yorkers (that is, raising one’s umbrella to go over another’s to avoid the dreaded overhead bump).

Now if only it would rain so I can take my new baby out for a spin and feel all Scarlett Johansson in "Lost in Translation".

Comments

[Trisha from Omiru: Style for All]

Thanks, Shira, for the tip! I've been looking for a good clear plastic umbrella for ages, and I haven't found one that was just right. You've solved my umbrella problem!

I'm going to write a post about this umbrella on Omiru and credit you :)

[Anna G.]

Those are adorable and so reasonably priced! I'm in love!

[eye4style]

I love bubble umbrellas - they actually keep you dry! What a revelation.

[Jamie]

I just bought a clear Frankford umbrella last week! I love love love it.

[sami k]

hee, this reminds me of the episode of seinfeld where george couldn't understand why anyone bought umbrellas, because coffee shops always had a bunch of free ones available in the metal can by the door. *facepalm*

which may explain why i'm constantly losing umbrellas.

the moral of the story: guard yours with your life. :p