It had started to pour again and they had opened the assorted umbrellas.

The women picked their way carefully through the mud, holding their skirts high as the men held the sorry-looking umbrellas over their heads.

The procession stretched out the width of the street.
"It's a masquerade!" yelled two street urchins.
People turned to stare.

These couples parading across the boulevard added a splash of vivid color against the damp background.

It was a parade of a strange medley of styles showing fancy used clothing such as constitute the luxury of the poor.