Home Design with Kevin Sharkey

Vintage Vogue image 1950s

Along with beautiful springtime sun comes the occasional downpour and every New Yorker knows the dreaded feeling of being stuck without an umbrella when the rain starts to hit. With so many incredible umbrella designs out there now, the umbrella has become not only a necessity, but a style staple for every closet.

One company I love, London Undercover's was established by designer Jamie Milestone in 2008, to bring life to what was once considered a boring, disposable, last-minute item. With all the rain Londoners get, I trust their umbrella instincts. Using age-old techniques and interpreting the umbrella as a canvas for expression, they made the humble umbrella a quintessentially British accessory. I also love this chic polka-dotted option from Drake's London. The handle and tip detach for travel.

Pin Dot Travel Umbrella, Drake's London

British Woodland Camouflage Umbrella, London Uncover

Fox Umbrellas, Swaine Adeney Brigg, and James Smith and Sons all create impressive designs, but my absolute favorite umbrellas are by the company Greenhill Industrial Supply. These large, stable, black umbrellas are used by the doormen in my building. They are designed perfectly to fight off the heavy duty weather in New York.

Ladies Malacca Cane Crook Walking Length Umbrella, James Smith and Sons Ltd

I had the opportunity to meet the Director of IWishUSun, Patrick A. Andrist, recently and I couldn't help but feel connected to their cause.

Patrick A. Andrist and his sister Cathy Boom have started IWishUSun, an organization campaigning against preventable blindness. According to the World Health Organization, there are 39 million blind people worldwide and 80% of them suffer from preventable blindness. Coming from the world of design and fashion, where I rely so much on visuals, I felt so inspired by their desire to change what can be changed.

For every fashionable jacket purchase made through IWishUSun, a donation is made directly to the Islamia Eye Hospital in Bangladesh. You can also make a direct donation if you wish.

168 Euros ($220).

IWishUSun also has a beautiful art blog showcasing some impressive fine art and installation art! Click to see the art.

Good things don’t go out of style, and Gucci’s Horsebit Loafer 1953 Collection is one of them. The loafer was introduced by Guccio Gucci’s son Aldo sixty years ago, marking the family business’ expansion into the realm of footwear. The distinctive Horsebit – don’t call it a buckle or a clasp – tops off the handcrafted leather loafer with signature equestrian style. Worn by the likes of Hollywood legends like John Wayne, Clark Gable, and Fred Astaire, this timeless shoe has endured six decades and it’s still kicking. To celebrate its 60th anniversary, the classic loafer will now be available in a bevy of bold new colors, materials, linings and horsebit finishings. Take Gucci’s Facebook quiz to find out which style suits you best. Gucci's Creative Director Frida Giannini explains the loafer's appeal very eloquently:

“The horsebit loafer has lived many lives since its creation 60 years ago, earning itself an important place as a wardrobe staple for both men and women alike. The double-ring and bar motif taken from equestrian hardware remains an icon linking Gucci’s unique history with its modern-day attitude.”