The men’s style guide to buying an umbrella

Do you carry an umbrella with you on days if it looks like it might rain? If you’re a guy in the Denver area, the answer is probably no. Many Colorado men tend to reach for the rain shell jacket instead of a umbrella. After all, we own all sorts of mountain tested gear, and we enjoy wearing it. But in the city, much of our torn and abused jackets just aren’t appropriate when you’re walking into the office or meeting with clients. So then, how do you buy an umbrella?

Specifically, an old-school styled umbrella with the curbed handle and thoughtful details. The one you see depicted on this page is just that. And at the time of purchase, I only spent about $30 on it from Amazon. Despite it’s affordability, it has held up great over the years and I’ve gotten lots of great use out of it.

From a style perspective, the humble umbrella is probably the most practical accessory that you’ll own. Buy one to either keep in your car or at the office. It’s a great thing to have on hand for when you’re leaving work and especially for date nights.

Buying considerations

Details

Regarding styles of umbrellas and details, I think you’ll be surprised at what you might find. For instance, mine has a thoughtful little strip of leather on the handle, that although isn’t large, still helps with grip.

Sizing

For the actual size of the opened umbrella, go with whatever you think you’ll need. On the golf course, you probably want the biggest one that you can carry. Whereas, in town, you might want to opt for a smaller diameter to better navigate pedestrians on the street. Also, larger umbrellas tend to carry more weight, which may or may not be something that you want.

How to buy an umbrella for style

My advice is to steer clear of loud designs and certainly logos. I tend to lean towards earth tones and relatively bland colors, to be honest. But if you want to buy a design or pattern, stick with something classic that will look just as good in ten years as it does today.

Something in bright red, for instance, will be a statement piece. Whereas, the black umbrella will blend right in with the crowd. But always opt for a high quality handle (e.g. it’s hard to beat a great looking wooden handle).

Cost

Like so many things in life, you can spend pretty much whatever you want on something. As I mentioned earlier, mine was only in the ballpark of $30 and has proven to be a great purchase. If buying online, be sure to look for high reviews. Here’s a handy guide for popular 2019 versions.

Wrap up: how to buy an umbrella

Last year, I wrote an article about dressing like a Frenchman. You may recall that one of my tips was to follow the good example set forth by Parisian men and carry an umbrella. Like you, I own plenty of rain shell jackets for the mountains, but in town, I use the right tool for the job and grab my umbrella. And if your experience is anything like mine over the years, you will receive a few compliments here and there!

Further reading

Practical rain wear for urban Colorado

Is the rain ruining your favorite dress shoes? Here’s how to protect them.