In the old days, you could judge a lady by the fairness of her skin, while asian women have always been praised for their porcelain tan. What do the English rose and a Geisha have in common? Parasols of course.

As Sun skin damage is one of today's biggest scares, not only because of its relation to skin cancer but also wrinkles, every girl thinks twice before leaving her house - double checking if she put on the sunscreen.

New York, the fashion trend capital, once again puts a new IT accessory on the road, NY Daily News report:

"But the classic Asian accessory has crossed the Pacific and swiftly been seized by style-conscious New Yorkers. In fact, sun umbrellas have collectively become the hottest style trend of the summer."

I really excited for having yet another possibility to act out my style. Just think about it: you can wear all the colors, patterns and trends above your head! Black for sexy, with for romance, plain paper for casual walk and dangling ornaments for fun. Although carrying a parasol can make your life more difficult (public transport, other stuff in your hands, opening and closing it while shopping), it does look wonderful, doesn't it?

Great selections of styles and sizes can be found at Pamela's Parasols and Rain or Shine, there's a genuine Chinatown shop for cheap and fun parasols, while the more romantic among us will be thrilled with Lace Parasols.

If you don't live in a big city, but still suffer from sun exposure, remember - it takes only a few days for a trend to stick, so you might as well be the first one to wear a shade above your head.