Umbrellas are not just for grey skies. As Valentine Fillol Cordier proved at the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup Polo yesterday, you can use them (or, OK, parasols if you’re feeling pedantic) to fend off the rays as well as the rain. 

There are two reasons they’re great: 1) pretty colours and Victorian lady vibes add automatic poise and put-togetherness to a look, even if, like Valentine, you’re not wearing any make-up and have bed-hair. 2) you can protect yourself from the sun without getting that awful sunglasses tan-line across the top of your nose that even factor 50 doesn’t seem to prevent. 

A positive reason to wield an umbrella in the summer, don’t you think?