I used to be the same as your son but recently I've relaxed my stance on umbrellas, mainly due to the fact I kept getting wet. Its only acceptable to carry an umbrella if it is a golf umbrella, it is made up of no more than two colours, preferably some sort of company logo on it so it doesn't look like you bought it yourself, it is raining heavily (not merely 'spitting') and the journey takes more than five minutes on foot.
If these conditions aren't met then it is inexcusable.
I remember the 'brolly boys' of the early 80's. I wouldn't call any of them effeminate.
Brolly = not wet = common sence = brain = cool = pink shirt = attractive to women = getting a shag = success
Man bags = I want to indulge in greco-wrestling with other sweaty males = gay. FACT!
This is the bit I like best!
I own and use a bag which I keep my stuff in. If I wanted to carry all of the shit I want to in my pockets of my jeans and coat, I'd look like a right tit. I therefore keep this all of this crap in a bag. If this makes me a man-bag hermasexshal, then so fuck!