Thursday, May 15, 2008

Umbrellas

singin' in the rain - the classic umbrella movie

Recently in one of my favorite little shops to pop into here in dc, TABLETOP, I came across these WONDERFUL umbrellas unlike anything I had seen before. Not bulky and cheaply made in basic boring colors but beautiful prints and colors with marvelously elegant, thin, leather covered handles. They are from a company called PARE umbrellas out of Seattle (how fitting!).
this one is 'sonnet' -i think the white handle is very lady-like
'mia' -this one is fun!
Umbrellas (and also parasols) used to be used as fashion accessories. My grandparents had a collection of all sorts of really cool old umbrellas to match the occasion and their outfit -all so frail though now that they were falling apart and couldn't be used anymore unfortunately. These days you are lucky to get an umbrella that isn't boring black and that will last more than 4 uses! Pare is there to change that!
'mod-leaf' - a contendor for my favorite!

the unusually shaped square 'trixie'
The founder was inspired by one of my all-time favorite movies, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg!!! Anyone inspired by a classic old movie is all-right in my book!
movie posters from the umbrellas of cherbourg
the beautiful Catherine Deneuve in her mother's umbrella shop - check out those handles.....on the umbrellas, you pervert!!!

While she designs these umbrellas as works of art for women -I think a few of the designs are suitably unisex, right? I especially like THIS black striped one called de fafa - green is nice though too!
So one of these days when you see me with a super stylish umbrella, now you'll know why! A life worth living is found in the details, afterall! (yes, you may quote me on that!)

10 comments:

pve design said...

It is raining here today and I need one of those.
Love "de fafa." Ba da di da, singing in the rain....

Marie Louise said...

Wow - look at Catherine Deneuve! She's so young in this film - I'll have to check it out as I love french films. Just saw Avenue Montagne the other night which is one of my favorites with a great cameo role played by director Sydney Pollack.

ArchitectDesign™ said...

Ya, thats my favorite one too, PVE! After all the rain we had this past weekend I was really in an umbrella mood! Expecting more rain THIS weekend!

ArchitectDesign™ said...

This is one of her early movies, ML, the movie is BEAUTIFUL, not just her! You'll love it! Great music too.

Pigtown*Design said...

Change... I have the most beautiful architectural umbrella from one of my "aunts". It's a beautiful red, and has the most intricate support structure. I should take a picture of it.

ArchitectDesign™ said...

Wow, I would love to see that P-D!! Take a picture!

An Aesthete's Lament said...

The black-striped one is so damned chic. I've always wanted an umbrella like the one Pauline de Rothschild reportedly once had ... a pearl-gray umbrella by Hermès ... she had the walls of her sitting room in New York painted the same color ...

ArchitectDesign™ said...

That is so eccentric to paint the walls of a room the color of your umbrella -I LOVE IT!

Loda said...

Mabye I'll pick one up when I'm in Seatle next week!!!! My favorite is the green and brown one.

ArchitectDesign™ said...

Yes, thats the most modern one really -it's cute, Loda!