Arts Design

BEAUTIFUL DROPS FALL ON GORGEOUS UMBRELLAS

Sometimes you need protection from beautiful things, like raindrops. So you might as well arm yourself beautifully. We found what just might be the most beautiful umbrellas in the world right now. For real.

You may never before have gotten excited about an umbrella. That’s about to change. Parisian artist, Michel Heurtault, designs umbrellas that are true works of art. They are an haute couture way to stay dry.

The big problem for us is, which one to choose. They are all beyond gorgeous. Most sport generous canopies made of pure silk, often stretched across handmade ribbed frames. They are rich in detail as well, with embroideries, inlays, insets, and jeweled embellishments.

The Salina umbrella is what you might take to a grand ball on a rainy night. It comes all dressed up in its own right, in black and white silk, with a delicate lace border and a black lacquer handle. You can also order a bespoke version with different colors, patterns, and fabrics.

While the Atelier is only about 6 years old, some of the tools Heurtault uses are more than 100 years old. Everything is done by hand -- carvings, embroideries, lacquerings. The materials are luxe, including silk, exotic woods, feathers, jeweled insignias, and precious metals.

Just as one would do when constructing a couture dress, Heurtault traces the patterns on paper and then onto silk. He cuts and applies the silk panels to the frames, with an intermediate piece of silk sewn in to prevent leaks. Each canopy is shaped by steaming.

Each umbrella takes seven workers over 10 days to complete, more or less, depending on the complexity of the design.

If you are going to grab an umbrella, for example, you might grab a handle covered with shagreen. Or perhaps a lacquered knob inlaid with mother-of-pearl? Or perhaps you might favor a super-comfortable leather wrapped handle.

Heurtault matches his mastery of tailoring with Maud Jarry’s incredible lacquer work. The Isis umbrella domes, for example, are made of handpainted silk taffeta, while the lacquered handles are decorated with gold leaf and nacre (mother-of-pearl).

Heurtault has been obsessed with umbrellas since he was a young boy. He used to play with them, taking them apart and reconstructing them to amuse himself. Heurtault began his career as a costumier for the opera. He then went on to make corsets for Christian Dior.

And then he found his true love, umbrellas that make you wish for rain. Heurtault also designs and constructs umbrellas for the film industry. They are especially valued in period movies.

Heurtault has just been named a Master of Art, an honor bestowed by France on highly skilled professional artisans.

If you go to Atelier Heurtault to shop, you will also be enchanted by the setting, under a former railway viaduct in eastern Paris, in one of the elegant 19th-century arches along with other artisanal boutiques.

RAINWALKERS DESIGNER UMBRELLAS

If you want a more casual, less precious, yet still fabulous umbrella, check out the gorgeous flower power umbrellas from Rainwalker. Made of pongee nylon, they still have an elegant air about them.