Umbrellas...

I love umbrellas.  I think they are absolutely fabulous.  I suppose living in the Pacific Northwest, a love for umbrellas comes in handy (though we actually get a lot less rain than most people believe); however, I don't just use umbrellas for rain.  I also use them in the summer - to protect myself and my little family from the sometimes harmful (and damaging) sunshine.

All that said, I've noticed my umbrella collection isn't very... Well... It just isn't very pretty.  All of my umbrellas are either black or are on the stripy side of life.  What I mean by stripy is every other umbrella panel is a color like red or blue, while the other panels are white.  That is just as boring as black.

So, I'm on the hunt for prettier umbrellas.  Something that is fashionable and fabulous.  Unfortunately, I'm finding fashionable and fabulous is also a bit too expensive for my tastes.  However, here a few of the umbrellas I'm drawn toward...

How cute is this Merimekko White Omena Umbrella?  I think this one would be perfect for Dawn.

I'm loving this Union Jack Umbrella from Brollies Galore in the United Kingdom.  But, I'm also loving this umbrella from the same site...

 It's orange! How can I NOT like it?!?!

Hand's down this umbrella would be perfect for Mum.  It reminds me of a dress - a dress from Victorian times.  Not that Mum loves dresses or even Victorian times, but she does love the color purple.  This umbrella is feminine, classy, and fabulous... much like Mum.

How about you? Is there an umbrella out there that you like but haven't purchased yet? What do you like about umbrellas (besides they keep the rain off you)? Are you the collapsible umbrella type, or do you prefer the long stick kind?