Christmas shopping ideas: Mums and Mother in Laws | The Umbrella Shop

Indian Buddhism features eight auspicious symbols, each individually associated with Buddha - and the umbrella is one of them. The umbrella is a traditional Indian symbol of wealth and status, as is any ability to shield oneself from bad weather. To Buddhists, the vertical handle supporting the dome of the umbrella represents the central axis that upholds the world. If the umbrella is over an important person, it indicates that the person or symbol below is the centre of the universe.

Now memorise and repeat this statement as you hand over that beautifully wrapped umbrella to you mum or mother in law and watch the dial whiz by as you rack up the popularity points.

And this year's selection of umbrellas at The Umbrella Shop will double your point score with a range of styles and colours that means they'll want it to rain every day, (except on the grandchildren). Take a look at these stunning examples;

These birdcage umbrellas are fantastic, and are very popular due to their transparent high grade PVC cover for ease of vision when walking. A favoured style of Her Majesty the Queen, this iconic dome shaped umbrella provides complete coverage for the head and shoulders. It has colour coordinated handles, terrule and tips. Also available in silver, navy blue, white, black and zebra pattern.

We love this attractive navy blue compact umbrella with a floral design in a lighter blue. The main umbrella canopy is navy blue colour with a lighter blue floral design over the canopy. There is also a matching protecting sleeve when it is not being used. The lightest and the smallest in the totes umbrella range, but conveniently flat when folded and even easier to fit into a handbag or pocket!

This is an elegant, stunning, and beautiful umbrella by Fulton.
It has a double canopy - which means a top and a bottom cover which covers the ribs of the umbrella. The outer canopy is navy blue and the inner canopy is floral which resembles falling leaves. This fabulous umbrella also has an automatic opening mechanism.







For the yummy mummies out there this Lulu Guinness umbrella opens automatically at the touch of a button and is stunning when you see it in real life. It has a luxurious double canopy made from polyester pongee fabric. It has the distinctive Lulu Guinness diagonal stripe on the inside. The shaft is a black plated automatic steel frame with a red curved handle.






For our full range of exquisite Christmas gift ideas for mums and mother in laws click here. 

And as the Dalai Lama, Leader of the Tibetan Buddhists, said; "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."

Celebrities and their umbrellas

We couldn't help noticing how many times umbrellas in celebrity pictures look like those we stock at www.TheUmbrellaShop.co.uk (but, sshhh, so much cheaper). So if you fancy a bit of Hollywood in your own wardrobe, here are just a few of our favourites with links to the matching item on the web site:

Chris Cavill seen sporting a GustBuster's classic umbrella., which has a uniquely patented double canopy design that works in 2 ways. The first is that the upper canopy consists of large rain drop shaped wind vents that allow the air out the sides of the umbrella.

The second part of the design is the elastic straps that connect the upper level to each of the outer fibreglass spokes which are mounted on the lower canopy and main frame.

The frame has been tested in winds of up to 55 mph, but you don't have to be Superman to hang onto one of these bad boys.

It wasn't so much the style of umbrella-ella-ella that Rihanna chose (it is her own range) but the colour we loved. Pairing it with the simple orange shoes makes both stand out against her all black outfit.

If you love the colour as we do try our stunning, top selling range of beautiful floral designs, with detailing and colours second to none and shaped edges giving that extra wow factor.

Or how about our gorgeous purple Pagoda umbrella. The Pagoda with its particularly elegantly crafted tip is a small, exquisite work of art which adorns its owner even in bad weather.

 

Leonardo Di Caprio has certainly got the style right but we think he would look even better on a day like this with the white version of this umbrella.

He should have gone for the Splash Love White Wedding Umbrella. A classic white canopy with a wooden crook handle and wooden stick frame.

This umbrella screams quality with the detail from the grey metal ferrule, the matching metal opening cup and rounded spoke tips.This umbrella is light to hold as well as robust.

For the lady who has been holding her own umbrella with such dignity and style since before many of these other celebrities were born, Queen Elizabeth II takes colour coordination to new heights.

Our Fulton Birdcage Umbrellas are fantastic, and, like our Monarch, are very popular with people all over the world.

Their transparent high grade PVC cover gives ease of vision when walking and the iconic dome shape provides complete coverage for the head and shoulders.

Gwen Stefani goes a bit dotty with this Totes Mini Thin Compact lookey-likey.

We love this attractive spotty compact umbrella in white with black dots. There is also a matching protecting sleeve when it is not being used.

The 5 section Thin is the lightest and the smallest umbrella that Totes have ever made - strong too, yet so small it'll not only fit in your handbag, it'll fit in your pocket!

Comedian, actor, author, director, etc Ricky Gervais shows his sensible side sporting a Stormshield umbrella which is vented to increase wind resistance and constructed with advanced technology to protect you from the wind and the rain.

The Stormshield umbrella comes in a choice of two colours - black or royal and navy blue. Very smart and big enough for two with a 130cm span.

Little Suri Cruise's choice stumped us so we thought we'd show you one we think she'd like. What little girl could refuse a Princess umbrella like the one from Bugzz Kids.

These brilliant, fun new dome shaped children's umbrellas are an instant hit. The bright and happy designs will put a smile on anyones faces in the wet weather.

They feature a safe glide opening mechanism to stop little ones trapping fingers and are virtually indestructible, just like Suri's dad.

And finally Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, proving that any man can carry any umbrella and look good. (As long as he's a 1.96m tall ex-WWE professional wrestler)

If you want to look this good, and who are we to stop you, check out the Lindy Lou (honest) clear large golf umbrella.

Extra strong fibreglass shaft, flexible carbon ribs, a real quality item and big enough for the whole family to shelter beneath all at once.

  

Secret Santa | TheUmbrellaShop

Joy upon joy, inflation has benefits. Not so long ago ‘Secret Santa’ expenditure was usually set at £5 each, but as just about everything has gone up in price it’s now more likely to be around £10, which opens up a world of opportunity. 

Begone those days of key ring measuring tapes (for him) and discount chocolate shaped naughty bits (for her), this is the year that Santa comes good.

Not that we are biased, but imagine a colleague unwrapping a beautiful new brolly from you to enjoy all year round.

Genuine smiles and appreciation, at last. We have a huge choice for under a tenner just take a look at these examples:

The Kariban is a big umbrella that has a large canopy. It is an automatic opening umbrella that has lightweight fibreglass frame. A black metal shaft, with nickelled metal tips. Available in Black/Red, Black/Burnt Lime, Red, and Slate Grey.

Simply fantastic, the Jackman Birdcage Clear Umbrella with black trim and matching handle is very popular with people all over the world due to its transparent high grade PVC cover for ease of vision when walking.

It glides open and closed with the easy to use mechanism and has colour coordinated handle, terrule and tip.

See more Secret Santa ideas for Him click here

See more Secret Santa for Her click here

Last minute Christmas Shopping ideas: Men's Umbrellas | TheUmbrellaShop

When we say ‘last minute’ we don’t really mean a knee-jerk, up against the clock, I've got to get something (anything) approach to choosing one of our fabulous gents umbrellas, you can buy him a gift he will treasure any time you want.

This year we've surpassed ourselves in style, practicality and affordability. From our Large Vented Canopy Gustbuster, which is easily big enough for two, cuddling or not, through to our super chic Fulton Chelsea umbrella in smart city stripe grey, we have the style to suit anything the weather or occasion can throw at him.

Make this the last year that he ventures out with the insurance company branded golf brolly and let his style shine through with a sleek and elegant Fulton Commissioner in black. 

Or throw caution to the wind and go the whole hog with a Jean Paul Gaultier ‘Marius’ umbrella in cream and black, cream and navy or olive green and navy blue stripes.

Alternatively, as they start from just £9.99, why not buy him two or more umbrellas from our Kariban range, so that he has the colour to complement his (or your) outfit every time you’re out.

Whatever you plump for he’ll appreciate it every time he picks it up or shelters underneath it.

If you've ever wanted to be kissed in the rain, this will do it.

Taxi ranking

Q. Who is the most popular person at a taxi rank on a freezing cold night?
A. The guy with the huge overcoat who is willing to share occupancy.

Q. Who is the most popular person at a taxi rank in the rain?
A. The person with the biggest umbrella as we've never seen a taxi rank canopy that covers any more than the first 10 people in a queue.

Stands to reason don’t it?

To increase your (taxi) rank with friends is easy; here are just some of our widest brollies to consider:

This stylish Balmoral umbrella provides excellent protection. Fibreglass ribs and shaft provide strength, and the rubber handle keeps this umbrella securely in your grip. The mechanism features a safety runner with push-button action. 

The Hunter branding on the outer panels makes it stand out in a crowd and it comes with a smart, matching fabric carry case, complete with shoulder strap.

Length when closed: 91cm Span when open: 123cm




The Jackman Rainbow Golf Umbrella is a traditional shaped large golf umbrella in a rainbow of colours -  16panels of colours in fact. If your friends can't find you in the queue with this.....! It has a 14mm diameter steel shaft with sturdy ribs for strength.

Length when closed: 100cm Span when open: 147.5cm

The GustBuster's Doorman umbrella has a huge span of canopy which means you are completely protected from the wind and rain. Tested in wind speeds of up to 55mph, it’s perfect for taxi ranks from John o’Groats to Land End.

When open it’s a whopping 157.48cm (62") wide.

Or you could have a look at this XXL vented 
umbrella which is great for wet and windy evenings.

Don’t Dampen the Christmas Glamour

The Christmas party season will be in full swing shortly and the focus will be firmly on glamour.

It’s the biggest night of the work year where sensible office wear gives way to Hollywood glitz and fashion status can be created overnight or smashed against the rocks of mediocrity.

Preparations will have begun in earnest well before now, just to make sure everything’s perfect on the day. How exasperating if on the night the rain starts before you leave the office and all you've got is the old folding pinkish pricestretcher brolly with the broken spine you keep way down at the bottom of your handbag? 

After all your effort, you deserve better than to be rewarded like this.

You already know what you’re going to wear and have accessorized accordingly, so take it to the logical finale and be prepared for Mother Nature trying to rain on your parade.

Here are our top tips on the must have accessory to help keep you looking catwalk not sidewalk.

This raspberry pink Pagoda umbrella has a charm all of its own. 

The Pagoda shape made up of 16 segments and an elegantly crafted tip make this pink umbrella a small, exquisite work of art which adorns its owner even in bad weather.

With its lovingly crafted details, this umbrella goes with any outfit and, just to make sure, it comes in a range of sumptuous colours. 100% glamorous rain protection.

An umbrella with real pizzazz. This beautiful heart shaped Splash Love umbrella has an purple canopy and a strong, lightweight 16 rib fibreglass frame which is totally wind-proof.

Around 88cm long, the unique Heart Umbrella has a very smart, colour coordinated, ergonomically designed rubber handle and with a lightweight aluminium shaft, matching tip and handle protector. And as you'd expect, it comes in a range of colours to match or contrast with your spectacular Christmas outfit.

When stunning is the name of the game, this fantastical luxury top selling Jackman umbrella in black has an eye catching deeply sculpted edge.

On the inner side, it has delicate detail showing butterflies and flowers. It has a beautifully designed black hook handle, tips and shaft. It’s only available in black - but so it should be.





We hope you have a wonderful evening whatever you're doing and wherever you're going from everyone at The Umbrella Shop.

Mucho Macho

Umbrellas were originally used by Greek women in the 5th century BC to shade their skin from the sun. Greek men didn't however, as they were not considered to be manly enough. More than a few centuries later we still hear the same twaddle from our blokes who would rather get wet behind the ears, and everywhere else, than admit that umbrellas can be cool.

To prove it, take a look at these bad boys;

Admittedly these are extreme cases of macho, but now we've caught your attention check this out.

Can you honestly tell us that it’s not up there with Daniel Craig’s ‘Layer Cake’ leather jacket as a wardrobe essential?

Click here

So think twice lads before you pooh-pooh the idea of owning one these testosterone friendly trappings. Don’t be a Greek.