Don’t sacrifice style on a rainy day with these standout wet weather pieces.
Raincoats and umbrellas used to be the type of thing you would wear just to protect yourself and your outfit from a downpour. However, several designers this season have taken the practical aspects of wet weather gear and transformed them into pieces that can be worn rain or shine. Athleisure and utilitarian trims are making a statement with ready to wear collections, and by adding those elements to the various rain coat and jacket options available right now there is plenty to get you through winter and well into spring.
Copenhagen-based rainwear specialist, Rains, have cornered the market for clean cut rain coats, parkas, anoraks and bags that transform rainwear from its practical roots to pieces that easily blend into a contemporary wardrobe. The two longer rain jackets worn by our models work well over office attire or a weekend wardrobe of classics from black jeans and a white T-shirt, the perfect example of the Rains no-fuss aesthetic.
Those organic colours of green, brown, navy and grey have also infiltrated the raincoat offerings from Citta Design, including the 'Shelter' raincoat (#2) made from a tactile nylon outer with 100 per cent pure cotton lining on the inside for added warmth and ventilation.
Poncho styles have also made an impact, and Karen Walker's popular 'Bleeding Rose' print has made its way on to a throw on and go poncho (#1) perfect for any time of year whether it's on the sidelines at Saturday sports or at an outdoor concert. Team with matching rain boots and you're good to go.
Main image: Rains long jackets, $180 each, from Area 51.
1 Karen Walker rain poncho, $70
2 Citta Design rain coat $259
3 Rains rain coat $190 from Area 51
4 Ruby rain jacket $299
5 Karen Walker gumboot, $75
6 Hunter gumboot $219 from Made/Netaporter
7 Trenery navy umbrella, $79.90
8 Witchery Chelsea rain boot, $89.90
9 Fox tartan umbrella, $165, from Crane Brothers
10 North Face glacier print jacket, $320
11 Miu Miu hooded shell parka, about $1085, from netaporter.com
12 Blunt mint umbrella, $109
13 Citta Design printed umbrella, $49.90
Stockists
• Area 51 (09) 529 1958
• Blunt
• Citta Design
• Crane Brothers (09) 377 5333
• Karen Walker
• Made (09) 366 1693
• Net-a-Porter
• North Face
• Ruby
• Trenery
• Witchery (09) 523 1335
- Canvas