Umbrellas have become significantly underrated when it comes to fashion, and that needs to change. Umbrellas date back to 3,000 years ago when they served the royals in ancient Egypt and China as protection from the sun as well as symbols of status. When Umbrellas came to Greece and Rome they were seen only as female fashion accessories. In fact, Jonas Hanway in 18^th Century England was the first man to carry an umbrella in Europe.

Despite its past societal roles as fashion accessories and statements of status, the umbrella as we know it, is purchased at a drugstore and thrown in our trunk only with the purpose of keeping us dry for the next season. I want to discourage this behavior and view umbrellas as we do our shoes and purses. I believe that it is not only more fashionable, but also more sustainable to purchase one or two nice stylish umbrellas that will last – oppose to this excessive purchasing of cheap flimsy umbrellas that our culture has adopted.

Today's umbrella fashion features a lot of clear deep-domed designs that offer a fun overlaying pattern or saying. Another common theme is to find umbrellas that have a designed pattern on the inside of the dome. Umbrellas are special accessories because they only get used on rainy days. Umbrellas offer so many ways to express personal style from crazy patterns to elegant handles. Umbrellas deserve to be the next designer shoes and handbags because they carry such a large portion of history including social classes and gender roles. Not a lot of accessories can claim that they have overcome gender stereotypes. I encourage everyone to find a fun umbrella that expresses you; that makes you feel confident, that represents your style, and that makes you smile on a rainy day.

From good sturdy umbrellas, down to high-end designer umbrellas, I have listed the best places to find umbrellas that will put you on the rainy-day runway.

If you are looking for a cute, practical and affordable umbrella:

rain check? umbrella

rain check? umbrellawww.katespade.com

Women's Original Moustache Bubble Umbrella

Women's Original Moustache Bubble Umbrellawww.hunterboots.com

Designer umbrellas:

189 21065-30 K9 - Flamingo Umbrella

189 21065-30 K9 - Flamingo Umbrellawww.pasottiombrelli.com

Men's Skull Umbrella | Alexander McQueen

Men's Skull Umbrella | Alexander McQueenwww.alexandermcqueen.com

Vintage Check Folding Umbrella in Antique Yellow | Burberry United States

Vintage Check Folding Umbrella in Antique Yellow | Burberry United Statesus.burberry.com

For unique styles:

Vintage Style Ivory & Black Polka Dot Princess Pagoda Umbrella

Vintage Style Ivory & Black Polka Dot Princess Pagoda Umbrellawww.unique-vintage.com

Pieni Unikko mini manual umbrella - white, red - Umbrellas - Accessories - Marimekko.com

Pieni Unikko mini manual umbrella - white, red - Umbrellas - Accessories - Marimekko.comwww.marimekko.com

For those of us who are superstitious, there are two beliefs surrounding why opening an umbrella indoors is associated with bad luck. In ancient Egypt, the umbrella was used solely as protection from the sun, so to open an umbrella indoors would be disrespectful to the God of the Sun. In addition, in Western Europe it was seen as bad luck because opening an umbrella indoors often was clumsy, un-classy, and resulted in breaking something if not crashing into something or someone. Beyond the well-known superstition are additional rules that say "bad luck does not occur if the umbrella has first been opened outdoors and then brought inside to dry. And that bad luck is associated with an umbrella if it is the color black, was given as a gift, has never been used outside in the rain, is opened on a ship, or is dropped on the floor". (Psychic Library)