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This may seem like an old-fashioned question, but what is proper umbrella etiquette? When I get out of the subway and then while walking a few blocks to my office I’m coming up against an army of big black umbrellas, which way is up?

–Addie, Brooklyn, NY

Thank you for your question about umbrella etiquette.

You probably know this first part. Climbing up the stairs from the subway unfurl your umbrella slowly because you obviously don’t want to poke an eye.

• Once unfurled, keep the handle of your umbrella close to your chest so that you take up as little space as possible while navigating the oncoming foot traffic, as well as those in back of you trying to push past you.
• Walk to the right and when turning keep to the right.
• If you are tall, keep your umbrella high up so as not to tangle with shorter umbrellas. There are more shorter umbrellas than taller ones.
• When you arrive at the entrance to your office building shake out your umbrella while furling it inward.

*While sharing an umbrella with another person, the taller person holds the umbrella over the shorter person.

~Didi