Guy's Guide to Rain Coats and Umbrellas

Buy it here

"Wear a raincoat for when it rains, use an umbrella for when it pours". -Joseph Edward Daniels III

That is my stance on how a guy should dress for the rain.  If it were up to me, I would end this article right there.  However, I read somewhere that you should question the sexual preference of a guy that uses an umbrella.  That.  Is.  Crap...  Officially.

Find it here

A proper raincoat is designed to keep you and your suit dry in the event of rain.  They are usually made of nylon or other synthetic material and are lightweight and light colored.  They work by sheeting the water away, instead of absorbing the water.  I once used my raincoat to cover a neighbor's car window after he had left it down during a downpour.  It probably saved his car from being ruined.

An umbrella is the second line of defense to protect you and your wares from the rain. When it pours, there isn't a raincoat and hat combination that can protect you like an umbrella. So why the stigma?

According to About.com, "Starting in the 16th century the umbrella became popular to the western world, especially in the rainy weather of northern Europe.  At first it was considered only an accessory suitable for women.  Then the Persian traveler and writer, Jonas Hanway (1712-86), carried and used an umbrella publicly in England for thirty years, he popularized umbrella use among men.  English gentleman often referred to their umbrellas as a ‘Hanway’". (Mary Bellis. Who invented the umbrella. Inventors.about.com. Retrieved on 2/22/2014)

Society sees men as men.  We should be manly and tough cavemen beating our chests and clubbing women to take back to the cave.  We are the protectors.  We should not be afraid of the rain.

Here is what I believe.  Wear a raincoat for when it rains, use an umbrella for when it pours.  When it pours, there are two types of people:  Those with umbrellas and those who will have the flu in a few days.  When it pours, the people without umbrellas are too busy running past those with umbrellas to form opinions about their sexual orientation.

Most importantly, a gentleman carries an umbrella on the off chance that he can use it to help someone else.  Every umbrella I've owned has spent more time shielding someone else than it has shielding me.

The owner of an umbrella can barely get in or out of their car in the rain without getting soaked.  But if you use an umbrella to help a deserving person in and out of their car, they will emerge, unscathed by the rain.  That's enough proof for me.

Is there a problem with guys using umbrellas?  Absolutely not!  There is, however, a problem with guys NOT using umbrellas.  Always remember; a raincoat for when it rains and an umbrella for when it pours.

PS. When buying a umbrella, keep it simple. When buying a rain coat, keep it classic.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram for more menswear tips and advice. @Styleguyjoe on twitter and @styleguywc on Instagram. Either way, search #styleguysays for quick reference to my posts.