Like turning lemons into lemonade, reframing a downpour into a fashion opportunity is a surefire way to change your mind about the weather.
We get it, rain can be irritating when you’ve got things to do, people to see. It’s hard to dress for, and plays havoc with freshly washed and styled hair.
But more designers, especially those used to the changeable UK, Australian and New Zealand seasons are having fun with layers for keeping the rain off.
We love the way Karen Walker embraces the arrival of autumn each year. The Kiwi designer curates a ‘weather shop’ with plenty of her own label designs for cold and wet days, but also an amazing selection of pieces from labels like Barbour, The North Face and Merry People to bring a playful moment to what could otherwise be a disheartening scan of the skies each day.
If you don’t want to go full Deadliest Catch fisherman in rubber waders and full-length coat, there are more fashion-appropriate options. Think the waxed cotton coats made famous by Queen Elizabeth and Alexa Chung.
This season we are obsessed with a similar style by Kiwi designer Olivia Cashmore. Her Morison Parka (below) is splash-proof rather than made to survive a deluge, but we think it could a super-useful addition for spending time outdoors. Beautifully made, it will likely last in your wardrobe for years.
Clockwise from top L: Olivia Cashmere Morison Parka: Dark Hampton Ellie Compton scarf; Barbour Elley Harness Wellington Boots; Barbour FARM Rio Bromelia Showerproof Trench Coat; Stutterheim Beckholmen Bucket Hat; Merry People boots; Barbour Kibira Hooded Shell Jacket
A long waterproof raincoat is always a good investment. To keep the proportions clean, one with a cinched waist or belt can help keep layers from looking too bulky.
If you just want something to keep the rain off, we’ve owned multiple Blunt Umbrellas in the smallest Metro size (pictured, top) over the years and found them perfect for getting between city meetings. We’ll vouch for the NZ brand’s durability but also love the zip-up cover, that means you can stash it instantly when going indoors, even when the umbrella is wet.
Clockwise from top L: Duck Apparel Regent Trench;Rains jacket; Zara raincoat;Barbour hat; Damson Madder jacket; Louis Vuitton Drops Flat Half Rain Boot; On Cloud 6 Geo Waterproof sneakers;H&M jacket
If it’s a casual day of dodging puddles, the construction materials for lightweight trainers now make them more waterproof, in many cases. We rate On’s Cloud Geo 6 sneakers for this reason, adding them to bootleg leggings and a pull-on parka for an easy, on-trend way of getting the weekend errands done.
And if you simply want to keep the raindrops off your blow-dry and minimise frizz, a waterproof rain hat is a winner. They’re popular overseas but harder to come by here. We’ve seen great patent leather ones over the years, though never purchased, so its on our list to snap up next time.
