$55 may seem a little overpriced for a mere umbrella, but this one from Oroton is no mere umbrella.

Well, actually, it is just an umbrella, in the sense that it doesn’t double as a laser gun or cure cancer. But Oroton’s umbrellas have a reputation for being sturdy, well-made and long-lasting, unlike your average $10 supermarket variety.In fact, most umbrellas I buy these days don’t seem to last the first moderate gust of wind. They just don’t make them like they used to.

Seeing as our weather has become so prone to mood swings of late, going from showers to humid heat in the space of an hour, I have decided to invest in an Oroton umbrella at the first possible opportunity (ie, next pay day, or if I find $50 on the street before then).

I love the large version in Oroton’s signature print, as pictured here, but you can also get smaller fold-up versions and the decorative O version is pretty, too.

By Caroline Warnes