Splish Splash

Looks like those April Showers are turning into May Showers...
The sun can't seem to get its way. All those summer clothes just dying to get out of the closet and strut their stuff ! But instead... rain, wind and cooooler temps... when am I going to get my spray tan ?
Instead, I pulled out my Burberry trench, bought decades and decades ago in London, my vintage Halston rain hat (I am very dangerous with an umbrella) and rain boots. Fine! All put together for the sake of a stylish photo....

Grant you...
I usually get caught in the pouring rain WITHOUT any of the above and end up looking more like this...

via Joe Photography

 actually... exactly like this ! 

 But, if it's going to pour, might as well get wet (or hopefully stay dry) in style with all sorts of accessories -  for your head...

Looking all daydreamy (and like a banana) in yellow plastic back in the 50's

just right for your bouffant hairstyles

the gardeners' choice

the classic, can't go wrong, fisherman look

my personal favourite...

leopard hat of course

and one last one for those who REALLY REALLY love to stand out in a crowd and hate carrying umbrellas...

you can have it all ! With this vintage Emilio Pucci space bubble helmet rain dome uniform hat made for Braniff Airlines (No kidding - pinky swear!)

Ha ! That's one look fashion needs not repeat !

Raingear to keep the ol'bod dry...

All Saran Wrapped with friends in the 30's

or alone but so glamourous like Michèle Morgan in Quai des Brumes

weather  whether you choose plastic; coloured or clear....

Burberry

or a more classical look...

laced up at Prabal Gurung

India inspired at Burberry

All Black like Marlène

or Burberry White...seeking shelter from the scorching desert sun....what ???

Or if you prefer wearing your authentic raincoat...

plus sexy à la Jane Birkin

Bathrobe style comme Gwyneth ( hey , do as you like, I won't judge...)

or incognito like Jackie O with huge shades

Whatever your style, there are tons of alternatives out there to pick from.

However....

When it comes to accessories, no one does it quite like Her Majesty ...

 

Did you know the Queen had her umbrellas customized to match her outfits?


But when it starts to rain , most of us, well probably most of you, not me remember... will grab an umbrella .

If I ABSOLUTELY had to, then I would love a man's umbrella; so Avengers, so John Steedish...

see...

              

Even the accessories for men's umbrellas are dashing...

Yes please...

Getting umbrellaphobic here... - Guy Bourdin photo

 I'm less crazy for the women's version...

so banal...

only works if you can fly and sing at the same time

Seriously. Umbrellas are very visual accessories, often present in artwork - 

Paris, A Rainy Day - Gustave Caillebotte

Golconde - Magritte - or another interpretation of "It's raining men, Halleuluia, it's raining men , Amen "...

Now that aint no sissy rain... Sudden Shower - Ando Hiroshige

The Singing Butler - Jack Vettriano

I love this painting, such a particular atmosphere. There is something exciting about dancing in the rain,

 But no one, no one, does it better than this guy...

EVER !!!

Umbrellas have inspired very creative artistic installations

Anna Burns and Thomas Brown - Pop Pop Bang installation - video

I encourage you to go onto You Tube and check out their video (sorry, I didn't succeed in including it here)...it's pretty awesome !

Suspended Parasols in Agueda, Portugal - Patricia Almeida photo

Umbrellas in advertising...then...

1952 Ad for Morton's Salt

Feminine Fifities

and now...

 Veuve-Cliquot tree in full bloom

What about "puddle jumping" ?

1934 - Martin Munkacsi and 1957 Richard Avedon's Carmen - a homage to Martin Munkacsi's A Portrait in Motion

Eliott Erwitt

and just plain puddle chillin'...

Rodney Smith photo

No matter how much you want it to rain,

Hopi Rain Dance via Legends of America

or how much you don't.

Woodstock - No Rain, No Rain -

Whatever you shield yourself with...

???????

St.Patrick's - who's raining on MY parade...

You know after the rain it will always end like this...

Rainbow over Paris - photo Kimberly de Geer

me - here - now

photo credits:-  Pinterest, Gentlemen's Goods - James Smith and Sons Umbrella Shop , London - Mom's Basement Blog - Wikipedia - Media, Photobucket.com - www.gurl.com - Vogue it. com - ebay.com - Ask the ebayqueen.com - trendhunter.com -.