Raincoats have come a long way from the shiny yellow variety that reminds one of the bathtub rubber duckies they splashed with in their childhood. While this archetype certainly can look adorable on your little ones, advances in waterproof fabrics in the last few decades have provided a great many fashionable alternatives in raincoats for children, not to mention for teenagers and adult men and women. No longer must you be warned of someone’s approach (or warn others of yours) by that odious squeak squeak of that classic yet lamentable rubber material.
Now one can be protected from the rain and stay dry while being stylish at the same time. While a raincoat can certainly be its own style of garment, there are other styles of coats which also serve to protect you from the weather, as well as brands which specialize in outerwear meant to be worn when the clouds let loose. The parka, for example, a thick fur-lined coat, is thought to have been invented by the Inuit, as they needed a garment that could withstand both wind and rain. Parkas are enormously popular right now, and child styles are easily found as well as those for teenagers and adults. The trench coat is a similar example of another style of coat that also doubles as rainwear, which is also experiencing current popularity. Additionally, advances with waterproofing have made leather coats an option for rainy weather as well, while synthetic wool fibers make certain wool coats are wet weather ready too. In this capacity, a raincoat isn’t so much a style as it is a function of another type of coat.
As for popular makers of rain gear, several stand out among the crowd. Helly Hansen has a century plus of experience in designing clothing meant to keep out the water, as the original garments were designed by and for fishermen, who certainly know all about wanting to stay dry. Regatta, North Face, and Berghaus are other brands which carry a wide variety of rain coats in all colours, shapes, and sizes. Lighter athletic-style jackets can be made waterproof, while features like drawstring hoods and flap pockets help to keep you dry. Whether you’re on your way to work, school, or play, there are a variety of fashionable options for outerwear intended to keep you dry and looking sharp and stylish at the same time.
© Designer Coats.org.uk 2007.