How Much Does Your Umbrella Cost?

Mar 05, 2008 @ 2:45pm

I spend money on shoes, Natalie shells it out for beauty products and Brett splurges on cashmere - but we just discovered a friend who put her extra funds toward a coveted umbrella.

Said umbrella - in signature Burberry plaid - still boasted it's choke inducing price tag: $100.00, and I used all of my self control to not scream, "Seriously?!"

Then I remembered my last year of college. I worked at a little store in Harvard Square where we sold Lulu Guinness umbrellas which actually sold out at the bargain price of $65.00.

I have a pretty cute umbrella myself - it's bright yellow and it has a duck on the handle, but I'm pretty sure I got it at CVS for $7.99. I get compliments on it everywhere I go - which is weird since it's an umbrella - and in the two years I've had it, it's never flipped inside out.

Would you really spend $100 on an umbrella to try and make a fashion (logo) statement? Or is this completely insane?

posted by syako

Mar 05, 2008 2:50PM

While it is a bit insane, there's a darling one by Moschino that has cats and dogs on it and it says "it's raining cats and dogs" I wouldn't buy it myself but would be REALLY HAPPY if someone gave it to me as a gift... do you hear that honey? ;)

posted by syako

Mar 05, 2008 2:50PM

and I must note, my current umbrella cost me $5.

posted by mpw

Mar 05, 2008 2:54PM

I tend to lose my umbrellas all the time, but they're usually from the guy on the corner who magically appears when it rains. Maybe if I spent 100 bucks on one, I'd keep a better eye on it, but it still sounds insane.

posted by swankenstein

Mar 05, 2008 3:01PM

a little nutty. i have an amazing umbrella that my boyfriend bought for me at a garage sale in Chicago. he shelled out a massive $3 and received a beautiful brown with yellow and orange flowered umbrella complete with a wooden and brass handle. I would say it is more of a statement then any logo splashed piece.

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2008 3:02PM

I did... Three years ago I paid about $130 for an umbrella at Barney's. I have it with me today! I remember eyeing on their pastel striped umbrellas for some time. They were so charming. I finally caved in and bought it. It is orange-lavender-yellow stripe, high quality twill, bamboo handle, made in Italy. I love it and every time I bring it to office, people stop to admire :) Because it's pricey, I get mindful and it's my longest stretch without losing an umbrella. I say it's totally worth it. Barney's still carries the line (every time I'm at the, I check the umbrella rack out). They're even more expensive now. However, I'm still going to buy my next one there.

posted by Lindsaysue12

Mar 05, 2008 3:07PM

Effing insane if you ask me. Such a waste.

posted by FWD

Mar 05, 2008 3:09PM

My dad cherishes his custom James Smith & Sons umbrella. I don't know that I've ever seen him carry it; it might just be the midlife acquisition of a boy who loved The Avengers.

Despite my avatar, mine are all $5 foldies from the street umbrella guys. I once had a magnificent umbrella, though. It was a big, plain black classic-shape umbrella with a pretty curved handle, and the underside was a bright blue Magritte sky.

It was fantastic, because you'd only ever open it if the real-world weather was bad. I loved it, but lost it. I'd be willing to pay largish sums for another one.

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2008 3:17PM

I "invested" in a $30 leopard-print J. Crew umbrella. It has a great looking wooden handle, I love it too much to leave it places, and, since it functions as an accessory, I always remember to take it out on those "it is not raining now but it probably will later" days.

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2008 3:18PM

I don't think it's that much more strange to pay 100 dollars or something for an umbrella than 700 dollars for a pair of shoes. Personally, I've always wanted a luxury umbrella for some reason but I couldn't really reason a buy like that to my parents. There's a really beautiful white and green one from Lacoste though that "only" costs about 30€... might buy that one...

posted by A Girl

Mar 05, 2008 3:19PM

I own said Burberry umbrella...I recieved it as a gift during the holidays. It is the mini Burberry one that comes in a sunglass looking case.

I probably wouldnt have purchase it for myself, but it was a gift and I felt quilty returning it. Its cute and smaller than most umbrellas and shrinks down to basically a pair of sunglasses -so I cant complain too much!

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2008 3:21PM

I personally wouldn't spend that much on an umbrella, but if you think about it, an umbrella can pretty much be just another accessory. You would spend three times that on a handbag, why not something else you carry around?

posted by fashionursta

Mar 05, 2008 3:22PM

Yes, but not a logo one. Your umbrella is part of your look, so it has to make a statement, the same as your clothing and accessories. I have several black and white patterned ones, inexpensive cheap ones from H and M, (I bought 4), a black and white polka dot one from the gap, a black and white polka dot Marimekko one, and a black one with white stripes along the spokes. I choose my umbrella for the day, just as I choose my footwear and outerwear. (I know, totally crazy) But then there's always the black folding one that I keep in my desk drawer for the emergency rain, and that always looks good.

posted by ashleydc

Mar 05, 2008 3:26PM

Last month I was in Paris and bought a midly expensive umbrella at Laudree on an impulse because the inside print of the umbrella is little pastries.

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2008 3:48PM

syako, the New Yorker magazine makes an umbrella that has cats and dogs with "it's raining cats and dogs on it."
http://www.thenewyorkerstore.com/product_details.asp?mscssid=6WE6KV8BXVXU9PAXXP61P0XD5WB76F97&sitetype=1&affiliate=ny-storetop&sid=124418&did=8§ion=gifts
:)

posted by sarahchivonne

Mar 05, 2008 3:50PM

i live in michigan, where pedestrians are few and far between. my umbrella is my car. so yes, very expensive.

posted by Nathalie

Mar 05, 2008 4:03PM

My umbrella comes in around $200 (florals, wood & gold), from Marc Jacobs collection two years ago. It was a gift from my lovely mother. For on the run, I use my MBMJ.

posted by porscha

Mar 05, 2008 4:06PM

i have an umbrella from target that was like $6 four years ago. it's the only one that hasn't broken or that i haven't lost. i doubt i'd ever really invest in anything more than $10-$15. unless i lived somewhere rainy, like seattle, maybe.

posted by syako

Mar 05, 2008 4:11PM

Thanks guest at 3:48!! The Moschino one is way cuter though ;) sigh...

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2008 4:42PM

this post makes me sad, as i just lost my favorite umbrella today! it was like 20 bucks from the gap(random i know)

posted by crod

Mar 05, 2008 5:17PM

i actually have been craving
a burberry umbrella just like the one
posted up there/even though here in the south side of California you dont
realy need it but i still want it
FOR SHOOOO ima get it!!!!

OhhH!! and by the way i agree with Guest 3:18 sOOO tRue..
:DD

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2008 5:48PM

I have that Lulu Guiness umbrella, which I bought on ebay for $10

posted by piccolina42

Mar 05, 2008 5:52PM

I always lose mine too. That's why I've given up and I instead opt for the 'newspaper over your head' variety. Cheap, disposable, and makes you feel like you're in an old movie.

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2008 6:02PM

I bought a really classy Coach umbrella for close to $75, and it flipped inside out at the slightest breeze, snapping three of the 'ribs' in the process and rendering it useless. I bought a boring but durable Tumi one for $60. I won't necessarily score any compliments, but at least I know that, in the off chance that I'll need it again (in LA), I'll be able to depend on it.

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2008 6:05PM

I have a gorgeous Lulu Guinness umbrella! I got it at TJ Maxx for $2. :)

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2008 6:51PM

FWD - the MoMA has that umbrella in their gift shop! I think it's like $40.

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2008 6:57PM

I have a Burberry umbrella, a large one with a wood handle. I got it on sale for $80 and it holds up nicely in the wind. A good investment if you ask me, I use it more often than some other expensive purchases I have made!

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2008 7:11PM

it does seem pretty ridiculous to spend over $10 on an umbrella, but then again why is it considered ok to spend a fortune on any other accessory? Its ok to buy a $3 umbrella from a street vendor or at cvs, but certainly not ok to buy any other accessory there. Isnt it just another weird facet of the industry that we just blindly accept? why is it ok to say yes to the cheap umbrella, but refuse to walk outside the door in anything less than $300 sunglasses?

posted by hipstersdontlie

Mar 05, 2008 7:30PM

There are two things I don't spend money on: Gloves and Umbrellas. Because I'm always losing them.

Oh and hookers.

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2008 8:58PM

i totally have the same duck one. mine is purple. everyone loves it.

posted by Jacqueminette

Mar 05, 2008 9:42PM

Does anyone else not believe in umbrellas?

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2008 11:08PM

My most embarassing purchase ever, next to the Uggs I bought five years ago, was a forty dollar plaid umbrella from Jcrew. It's ridiculously cumbersome, badly constructed, with a very bulky, non-ergonomic handle. Given the fact that, at least in NYC, it doesn't rain very frequently, why get all bent out of shape over an umbrella. A sturdy umbrella is obviously better than a flimsy one that will self-destruct in the wind, but you can still get a good solid umbrella for under ten bucks. And can you really see people's umbrellas when it's raining really hard?

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2008 11:14PM

britt, sounds like mint julep to me :)

posted by Lola88

Mar 05, 2008 11:18PM

Lmao to hipsterdontlie, my umbrella is probably around $10

posted by guest

Mar 06, 2008 12:38AM

I have a Lulu Guinness umbrella that I got for $6.50! AND Marc Jacobs is selling $16 umbrellas on his website in the 'Special Items' section (although you have to order them from the store).

posted by staceyy

Mar 06, 2008 2:22AM

this is strange cause i was actually trying to decide if i could justify spending 50 dollars on this very nice umbrella from banana republic,
i have a 25 dollar gift card now though so i am thinking i will go through with it.

posted by messyrose

Mar 06, 2008 11:14AM

If you had asked me this six months ago, I would have said 'ha yeah right! I can't bare to take an umbrella with me, such a nuisance'...then the Moschino umbrella made its way to the pages of Vogue!

Aren't they just adorable? I spent 20 minutes in Harrods trying to decide which umbrella I wanted for my birthday...50 quid later ;)

And do you have any idea how many compliments I get? Besides the fact it looks like a weapon!

Go the designer umbrellas!! I'm all for it :)

posted by guest

Mar 06, 2008 1:12PM

I was tempted by a $125 pink with black faux fir trim Gaultier umbrella I found in Paris years back. But then I remembered that I live in Seattle and 1) the thing would be destroyed in no time, and 2) umbrellas are frowned upon here. For some strange reason, Seattlites refuse to carry umbrellas and having one is a big "I'm not from here" sign. I think it's just part of the ruse of convincing everyone that the rain doesn't bother us.

posted by 10hot

Mar 07, 2008 9:26AM

I have this amazing umbrella it's quite big and it's see-through so I feel like I'm in a cocoon! But the best bit is the rim of the umbrella it's leopard print! I always get compliments on it, it was reduced to £5 from Allders (English version of Bloomingdales) and it's never flipped out on me! We have been happy for two years!

posted by curlytop

Mar 09, 2008 4:55AM

for an umbrella, i like to just keep this one in one color: black. i don't also spend much for these. as long as it is good and durable then it's ok with me.

posted by guest

Mar 10, 2008 5:36AM

a good umbrella will keep you pretty while everyone else is staggering about with storm hair and soggy hemlines. well worth the investment, i say. especially if it's super pretty. my money wouldn't go on a burberry brolly though. james smith & sons in london - finest purveyors of umbrellas, canes and..er..swordsticks - are my vendor of choice. my priciest one from there was £100, though a gift of sorts - it's a men's brolly, and the fabric & print are unbelievable, as is its sturdiness. generally, i'll pay between £20 and £40 for a good umbrella - for that i get strength, lovely fabrics/prints, beautiful curved or cane handles, and a ton of compliments from other people. i hate folding ones - i've never found one that lasted.

that said, h&m do very nice see-through igloo brollies for £7...