Brolly Hunting in London: Tourists Seek Shelter Gold, silver, bronze: No matter who wins what at the London Olympics, a million or more visitors will need to get themselves an umbrella. I live in London and even I need a new brolly, as they are called here. My old one has been reduced to deadly spikes between tattered remnants of cloth. The husband blames me, says I'm hard on things. I blame the British weather - it was the wettest June on record and July is trying hard to beat that. Clearly it's time to go shopping. It rains so much in Britain that a store devoted to umbrellas has thrived since 1830. I went to James Smith & Sons, Umbrellas Ltd. to interview the experts. Umm, no dice. Too busy to speak to the media, today, tomorrow, ever. Do I understand? Did they flunk marketing 101? Who doesn't want to talk to the press about their product? I can still walk around, eye the goods. One section has a dozen tartans, another brollys with big thick stripes possibly related to obscure sporting clubs of which I am not a member. They are sturdy and good-looking though. You could whack a London rioter with one of these if need be, or use them as ladies' hand weights. For 75 to 80 pounds ($116 to $132), you can walk away with a wooden duck handle on your brolly. Ditto ones with parrots, foxes, cats, dogs, even a dinosaur. On the other hand, what are you doing, trying to pretend you have a castle and a moat? Still, the folding umbrella section inspires definite brolly envy, with some so compact they could fit into a clutch. This is where girlie-girl options run riot. Ruffles and Degas ballet dancers, mock-Burberry plaids and polka dots, brollys in hot pink, teal blue, blinding chartreuse. Those craving attention in an Olympic crowd should look no further. "My sister will be crazy about a clear umbrella like this, it's a gift for her," said Mario Marcari, a tourist from Brazil. Others preferred tradition. "Black is the new black," explained Doug Knowles of San Francisco, who travels often to London on business. In the business world I would look odd carrying around polka dots. The quietly professional staff - who won't talk to me - demonstrate to others the sturdiness of umbrellas with steel shafts and teach them how to press spring-loaded buttons so brollys pop into action without blinding family members. Am I joking? James Smith & Sons still sells what used to called parasols for 145 to 155 pounds ($225 to $240) for both men and women but only in cream and white. The chances are nil, however, that Britain will see enough sun to drag these babies out. And after a few days on the island, you will start craving vitamin D like the rest of us. Those with a thinner wallet can go to Camden and other outdoor markets where the ubiquitous "I love London" and Union Jack brollys cost 3 to 5 pounds each ($4.70 to $7.80). Still, don't they just announce your lack of imagination to the rooftops? If one must go the cheapie tourist route, a London Underground brolly for 10 pounds ($15.50) has a classic, recognizable design. For a unique look, artists at the markets also use umbrellas as canvases, painting them like others do sneakers.