Welcome back to another segment of how to get rich and stay rich, clothing and accessories style! Today, I will be talking about another one of men’s essentials, the man’s umbrella, and the symbolic swagger that comes with it.

It is difficult to say when we considered umbrellas disposable. Perhaps it was long after some schmuck created the collapsible version. And in reducing it to a mere functional tool as opposed to an accessory, the true symbolic meaning of the man’s umbrella – the sword, the vestigial battle-axe, the swagger stick – became lost.

So, today I am going to show you how I added my first man’s umbrella to my collection. And on a budget to boot!

Now, if money were not an issue, I’d run out and purchase a silver handle, bespoke Brigg Umbrella for $3,000.00 plus, in a heart beat. But, I’m on a budget. But, I’m not sacrificing my taste in quality.

So, instead I scoured eBay for an old Fox Paragon umbrella, manufactured by British steelmaker Samuel Fox. I managed to find two (a men’s and women’s) for around $40.00 a pop. I then contacted and sent the two units to the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn and the only known expert umbrella man left in the United States, Gilbert Center. Check it out!

Center recanopied both the paragons in pristine black nylon, striped rust from the frames, polished the brass tips, and gave one of the faux ivory handles a bit of TLC. The result? two rapier-thin 1950s umbrellas that total less than $120.00 each.

So, go out there guys and gals. Find your own umbrellas before the rainy seasons begins. Or, use it to dispatch evildoers and hail cabs. When properly cared for, your umbrella can last a lifetime. Just remember, your umbrella shouldn’t fold up in your briefcase, and should not be sold in bargain bins. It should be able to fend off thugs!

See you in seven!

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This will be the first in a new segment of how to get rich and stay rich, clothing and accessories style! I am a man, so most, if not all of these will be geared toward men’s stuff. I hope you enjoy it. Hopefully, it will draw on new readership as well. I mean, not everyone is into Real Estate after all.

Now, keep in mind that this will not be in any order of importance. The first essential piece of clothing that I believe every man must own is a sheepskin coat. Why? With all the modern technology textiles, the warmest thing in a man’s closet are usually the ones invented by cavemen with sharp sticks. The sheepskin coat is stitched together from the skins of young sheep and still one of the best defenses against winter’s wraith. One side offers resilient leather that fends of the wind while the other consists of natural wool fleece that is still attached to the hide.

Winter wraith? It’s spring! What’s this guy talking about, you may be wondering. Ah, but that goes perfectly well with this site. Remember, how do the rich stay rich? Well, one way, is by purchasing things when they are lower in price, say a winter coat during summer time?

Alright, I’ll bite. So, what’s this coat going to run me? Well, a nice specimen of the coat is made by Tom Ford. As you can see from the picture up top, the lambskin coat can run up to $8,970.00. Yeah right! I know what you’re thinking. I felt the same way. Not in this economy.

So, what will I be sporting this coming winter? There is Canadian company called Mac Mor, that makes beautiful sheepskin coats, at a fraction of the cost. While still costing a few hundred dollars, it’s well worth it. I know what you’re thinking. You’re still not going to drop a few hundred dollars on a winter coat in the spring right? Not in this economy!

Okay, so here’s the kicker. I found a nice new Mac Mor sheepskin coat in my size (42, for those of you that want to know) on eBay for $100.00, but with a Best Offer option. It’s spring after all. I offered $49.00, and it was accepted! Like I said guys, buy nice things out of season. You can save a lot of money.

I also had my tailor sew on two elbow pads in dark brown suede to offset the tan color. The other reason is to reinforce the elbow joint since that is usually the weak point of the sheepskin jacket.

The picture really doesn’t do it justice, but all you have to do to make it look exactly like the Tom Ford coat is to unbutton the coat, flip up the collar, and if you must, dye it a dark brown. I personally like the neutral tan look. But hey, to each their own.

I tried the jacket on and I’ve gotta tell ya, it’s warm! I can only wear a t-shirt underneath without breaking out in sweat. So, hope you enjoyed the first segment in how to dress like a prince at a pauper’s price! See you in seven guys!

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