Travel Wardrobe Challenge: Uses for Sunglasses and an Umbrella

It’s that time of the month again when we ask the HDC team to come up with as many original uses for a typical holiday item.

And with most of the country covered in rain this week, we thought we’d combine one essential holiday item (a pair of sunglasses) with another more topical item… a brolly!

Here are a few alternative uses for them:

Looking cool

Want to impress the ladies (or the men) this summer? As the ultimate chick (or guy) magnet, a pair of sunglasses is the ultimate fashion accessory, guaranteed to improve your love life in seconds. As well as instantly making you look cooler than David Beckham in a sarong, putting some shades on is also ideal for covering up any of those pesky bags under the eyes.

A holiday lunch

It might be grey and gloomy outside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy a holiday-style lunch. Whether it’s getting lost in a good book or chilling out to some music, sticking on a pair of sunglasses will trick your mind into believing you’re relaxing in warmer climes. Simply sit back, put your feet up, and you’ll instantly be transported to a tropical Caribbean beach or a trendy poolside retreat on the French Riviera. Using an umbrella as a parasol will also enhance the holiday lunch experience.

Holiday in England

While an umbrella may not always be needed on a traditional beach holiday abroad (fingers crossed), it is an essential item for any trip a bit closer to home. And there are few places where a brolly is more welcome than in good old Great Britain. So if you’re planning a break somewhere around the country this year, be sure to put an umbrella at the top of your suitcase – in fact you might just want to carry it in your hand!

Eyes in the back of your head

Concentrating on one thing for any length of time can mean you might miss out on things going on behind you. But carefully putting a pair of sunglasses on the back of your head (rather than the front) can ensure anything out of view is kept in order. Although you won’t actually be able to see out of the back of your head (or can you?), an extra pair of eyes on someone is scientifically proven to have an effect on the way they behave.