Umbrella Etiquette
Rihanna makes it seem so fun. The rain, that is. Prancing about wearing Lycra hot pants with water dripping suggestively all over her body. Forget about streaky eyeliner or a single hair out of place. For most of us, being caught in the heavy rain equates to bad hair, make-up and temper.
Rain, rain, go away.
It has been raining in Macau on a daily basis for the past 3 weeks. And when I say rain, I actually mean torrential downpour, with a good dash of gale force winds for dramatic effect. The type which gets you soaked head to toe, hopping from the bus stop into the bus 2 feet away.
If someone had told me a few months ago that I could still be wearing my boots in Summer and not look like a fashion victim with sweaty feet, I would have beamed. Of course the fact that I’m wearing boots because battling the puddles in heels or sandals would be pure madness is not something I could have predicted. And leather boots aren’t always waterproof, especially when you discover a hole in them. And some enterprising person should add gumboots to the umbrella carts which pop up when the rain comes down.
I’m sure pink gum boots would do a roaring trade, especially if it came with Hello Kitty prints on the side.
Think most men would rather get wet than be seen with Hello Kitty? Think again.
It amazes me that out of 10 umbrellas on the street, ¾ are in pastel shades, with almost ¼ in pink. And that ½ of these pink carriers are actually male. In my experience, guys usually shy away from carrying umbrellas unless they are absolutely necessary – seeing they aren’t viewed as being the most “manly” accessory.
The only explanation I can think of is that guys are
a) Embracing their feminine side, or more likely
b) Too lazy to carry or purchase black umbrella so are forced to grab the first one nearby (usually their daughter/wife’s) lying nearby when it starts to pour
Pretty in pink 1
Pretty in pink 2
The rain isn’t all that bad. On the up side, there is less traffic on the road. On the down side, all the taxis go into hiding and you’re almost as lucky to find one as you are to win the grand prize on the slot machines.
Which is of course one popular option of entertainment to while away time when it’s too wet and windy to go-kart, check out the historical sites or bungee jump. Of course, being trapped in a casino like Wynn, MGM or the Venetian isn’t all that bad. Even if you’re not a gambler, there are plenty of shops and bars and great restaurants to keep you occupied.
This brings us back to umbrellas. Wynn has a nice touch of dishing out free umbrellas to their casino patrons, which is handy, because one can never underestimate the value of a good umbrella, what with Macau’s unpredictable weather. And when I say good umbrella, I mean one that can really weather the storm.
I have been through 4 umbrellas in as many weeks, and I have finally learnt my lesson.
Introducing my savior – my Venetian umbrella.
The only way to brave Macau’s rain - the view from under my Venetian brolly
This heavy-duty umbrella can shield up to 3 people and is a formidable force on a crowded footpath. One look at that black beast of a brolly trudging towards you can instill fear into the hearts of most small neon versions.
Small dainty umbrellas with fancy satin covers which can fit into your handbag are certainly more stylish than lugging round a monster umbrella but they make you look darn foolish in anything but a light drizzle. Just last week, I was trying to hail a cab, while borrowing my colleague’s dainty umbrella, but trying to stop it from blowing away with one hand, while trying to hail a cab with another and keep my feet grounded scared away any perspective cabbies.
Fat lot of good an umbrella can do, when it’s turned inside out, and at an arm’s length. I would have stayed drier and looked slightly less stupid using a handkerchief to cover my head.
Which is why Rihanna’s Slender ‘brella, which retail for US$25 is not really all that practical here in Macau. Although the vesrsion which comes with an exclusive “Girl Gone Bad Print” does sound tempting.
Rihanna likes her umbrella so much she doesn’t let a minor detail like the absence of rain prevent her from sporting one about town
Yes, I kid you not - we guess it’s not enough to make millions from making millions from a song about an Umbrella. Why not set yourself up for life and keep the fans happy with their own, to take home.
Here’s the starlet posing with her ‘brella available now.
“Just like the ones used in her 2007 MTV Movie Awards performance of “UMBRELLA,” these Rihanna inspired stick umbrellas are beautiful in shiny satin matrerial. The satin material keeps you dry while looking completely glamorous. Rihanna satin stick umbrellas automatically open with the touch of a button. Each Rihanna Collection umbrella now comes with an exclusive Rihanna removable charm.”
Well, one can’t really blame Rihanna who probably hasn’t carried her own umbrella in years, except when performing in a fake storm or posing in a fashion suit. Although we haven’t given the Rihanna Slender ‘brella the Macau test, we have feeling that while it may make the cut in Hollywood, here in the Vegas of the East, we have much higher standards.
Though over in Europe, umbrellas are a whole different breed - just check out these monster brollys out and about town…
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