The London Lounge

Being in California, they don't really get much attention.
When it rains people run for cover.

I guess my fascination with the umbrella began with The Avengers. John Steed.


I owned many umbrellas, and carried them very rarely.
When I went to France (2002) and found myself in a downpoor, I finally took the plunge. I was in a shop called old England and saw my umbrella (brolly), I picked up a Swaine Aideny Brigg.
A one piece walking stick umbrella with a oiled steel frame. It looked royal and was right for my height.

At Versailles I was surrounded by a myriad of people with umbrellas that fit in their bags or collapsed to fit in a pocket, many turned inside out with the high winds.
I had to check it in at the Paris Opera House and Versailles (I love checking things at the door).

My Umbrella/walking stick stayed together and held off the rain.

here are a couple companies that still know how to make a good umbrella. I am thinking about getting a Wangie handled Fox umbrella in the future.

http://www.james-smith.co.uk/
http://www.foxumbrellas.com/

I like the fedora and Trench coat... sometimes I like to go 20's and pull out the umbrella and bowler (or in the case of Steed 60's mod).

Mr. Deckard,

I too have a whangee handled umbrella from Swaine, Adney & Brigg, though mine has a wooden shaft - I purchased it a few years ago at the (now closed) factory store in Trumpington, Cambridge. It stands up very well indeed to the forceful winds that come down from the Fens - far better than the more “modern” umbrellas I see others battling with.

If you are ever in London you must visit James Smith & Sons. To step into the store is to take a step back in time. The people in the store are knowledgeable and polite, and it is obvious that those who made the umbrellas really took pride in their work. They are also able to cut the wooden umbrellas to size.

Spinola

I have three Swaine umbrellas that have served for nearly twenty years. One oversized black silk in the boot of each auto, and a disassembled travel umbrella that's kept in my pre-packed "leave for a week" bag.

I've never had good luck with the couple of Brigg umbrellas that I've had. However, the ones from James Smith are great and very sturdy.

Has anyone tried Madeleine Gely in Paris?