More often than not I wear black for all the usual reasons-it's sophisticated, elegant, and it always works with itself, no need to worry about shades. But, every once in a while, especially when it's fashionable (ok, who are we kidding here-only when it's fashionable) I do wear color. Today, with lovely fall temperatures in NY I am wearing orange. It's a silk wrap dress narrow and fitted in the bodice but wider and flutterier in the skirt with a vaguely 50's feel to it. I have orange flats but not heels (one day I will) so I wear gold sandals when it's warm enough brown boots when it's not (I don't expect to ever have orange boots, no) with lots of gold jewelry piled on. I do have an orange coat-orange satin and also very fitted in the bodice and as wide and fluttery as satin can be in the skirt, with 3/4 bell sleeves and a peter pan collar. Because it's raining I put on my brown tortoise-shell jelly ballet flats and I have a floppy orange bag from H & M (no important designer pieces in bright colors-I may wear something one season and then never again, I buy designer pieces only in dark colors that I will wear for years).
I got dressed, went downstairs and put on my coat grabbing a brown umbrella on the way out the door. But something made me pause. It was there, in the umbrella stand, gently calling to me, making me smile and I took her up on her offer.
A few years ago there was an umbrella in H & M that I fell in love with. It's long and slim with an elegant curled gold handle and leopard print fabric-for me it was love at first sight. But the reality is that I hate long umbrellas, I want to be able to close an umbrella, put it in a plastic bag, and then into my bag when indoors or not raining and my bag isn't big enough for this umbrella. I don't want a wet umbrella leaning against my clothes for several reasons and finding a plastic bag for this umbrella has been difficult. I don't want to put it down someplace and leave it, either. And animal print goes in and out so I will only wear it when in. For weeks every time I went in to H & M I saw her there, I resisted. But eventually love won out and I invested the full price of $12.50 and bought my beauty who was patiently waiting for me to take her home. I have carried her only once-all the conditions must be right and today is one of those days. It is supposed to rain all day, I have no particular plans so I don't need to furl and unfurl her very often, animal print is about to explode in "inness" for fall and she most definitely has that 50's vibe that is my ensemble today. She also has a very satisfying snap upon opening. One must stand with one foot firmly on the ground and the other pointed out in front in a very balletic stance, keeping the umbrella in the opposite hand point it out also, press the button and voila-she opens with a perfect very authoritative SNAP.
As I sit on the train looking at her lean elegantly against the seat I am glad love won out.
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