The London Lounge

As the spring rainy season is about to start, I find myself in need of a good umbrella. Can any LL member recommend a
good source for umbrellas, say on the Fox level, in
New York?

Google has returned one possibility in midtown, Rain or Shine, but there must be others.

I have found that really good umbrellas are marked up quite severely here. Even with the weak dollar, you are better off buying direct from London.

I recently bought a James Smith over the phone. It was shipped to me promptly, well packed. It is a lovely umbrella. I didn't have to pay VAT, but they did declare it, and I was assessed a small duty. The total price (with shipping) was less than $300, whereas a Brigg from Herzfeld runs (as I recall) $475.

There is a shop on 44th or 45th between Vanderbilt and Madison that has a small selection of Briggs umbrellas. You can also find some Briggs umbrellas at Cenci on Upper Madison. I would bet that Paul Stuart has some as well, but not certain.

I would echo Manton's comment but would add that a bit of due diligence be applied. If possible, take the time to test run a few models (BergGood Men's) so you know the height & handle you prefer, and a lesser made effort should at least give you this indication. Also, try to determine if your parapluie will play double duty as a walking stick. Let the stormy clouds chase...

There is a shop on 44th or 45th between Vanderbilt and Madison

That shop is, in fact, Rain or Shine. A small selection of Fox, Brigg from the UK and some
makes from France and Italy. Comparing several side by side was instructive,
and frankly I was surprised at the thinness on Fox shaft (the model had a metal shaft
and ribs, with a wood ferrule. Handles were various woods or leather wrapped).

The Fox was around $185, the Brigg around $300, and the others around $100. Both of
these English makes were very elegant compared to the others, sporting a slim profile,
with a tightly wrapped canopy.

The suggestion about height is a good one, and I seem to recall a post here describing a
LL member stopping off in a London shop after lunch and being measured for the right
length of umbrella.This begs the question -what is the correct length?

All the models I looked at were too long (at least they felt uncomfortable) - if I considered using ithem as a walking stick in addition to their primary use. For the models with metal frames, the only way to adjust this is to cut down the ferrule (which Rain and Shine would do), but to my eye this would compromise the visual balance with the handle.

If one orders a stick model, say from Smith as Manton suggests, would the height adjustment be made by cutting down the stick or the ferrule? I am thinking any adjustments would be made at ferrule, lest the canopy be too low, possibly compromising visibility, when the umbrella is open.

I'd get wet to get to Lord Willy's.

I have noticed that Smith and Brigg both sell umbrellas in 35", 36" and 37" lengths. There may be others, but I can't recall having come across them.

I believe 36" is standard. Add or subtract an inch if you are tall/short.

They are made and sold in a pre-determined length, not cut down based on the customer's wish.

If you are ever in London, James Smith & Sons make umbrellas to measure - they cut them to the correct length, and have a pleasing range, morover, they're less expensive than Brigg. My feeling is that the service is better too. Mr. Brown of 'Brown's bespoke' reviews them, and you can view their website: http://www.james-smith.co.uk/

Best wishes

Hmm, must be a difference then between the standard umbrellas and the one piece walking stick umbrellas. Both my older Brigg and my newer Smith are one piece, and those definitely were not adjusted on the spot, but sold in varying lengths.

I bought my Brigg from Sterling & Burke (http://www.classicluggage.com/). Price and customer service were both excellent, though the order took a long time as I requested a silver collar.

The actual proccess of cutting and fitting the collar is not time consuming - it is done while you wait. As far as I'm aware, it's simply a question of afjusting the standard product. To be honest, I wonder if it really makes a great deal of difference - but perhaps it has helped my posture, especially as I tend to take an umbrella with me at all times.