Shine in the rain
Go glossy when the heavens open with this season’s fashionable – and super-practical – wet-weather gear.
High shine, nylon, patent, latex… this season’s affinity with splash-proof textiles is not only on trend but a weatherproof approach to dressing for the most drizzly of days.
If the recent Fashion Week shows are anything to go by, local designers are on board. At Stolen Girlfriends Club, a brooding army of models were showered by a rain machine as they stomped the catwalk.
Laquered trench coats were high on the brand’s agenda, belted at the waist to bring the chic, and glossy vinyl trousers styled with high-shine biker jackets added a contemporary edge.
If making a statement is your MO, look to Danish outerwear brand Rains, which has given the classic raincoat a new spin in eyecatching holographic materials to ensure you stand out on the dullest days.
PVC doesn’t have to be statement. For a more accessible take on the trend, choose one piece to add to your existing wardrobe and you’ll be surprised by its wearability. Trade your raincoat for a patent jacket for a new season approach to outerwear. Georgia Alice knows how to cut a blazer and her belted high-gloss Night jacket is classic in shape, so would work just as well over tailoring for the office as it would over a midi
dress and boots on the weekend. Moderation is key – avoid squeaky clean by balancing one PVC piece per look, and keep everything else minimal. If you have to pull out the talc you might’ve gone one step too far.
Kate Sylvester paired wellies with her ethereal 2019 collection of romantic 1950s dresses and charming pussy bow blouses. A tailored trench in the softest shade of lilac will be a wardrobe hero this spring, elevating anything it’s thrown over on a drab day. Keep the proportions balanced: elongate by styling a coat with a hint of wideleg trousers peeking from underneath and a roll neck when the weather reaches its most grim, or Timberland’s chunky hiking boots will toughen up a feminine slip dress for a nod to the 90s. A patent beret is arguable the chicest way to keep your hair dry – otherwise a printed bucket hat is a playful way to inject some colour.
The simplest way to shop this trend is accessories. Patent ankle boots such as Chaos and Harmony’s Enigma boots will make your tired jeans/jumper combo more polished. Seed’s pearlescent top-handle bag won’t get soggy and Witchery’s nylon crossbody bag is subtle yet functional, leaving your hands free to hold your brolly. The Karen Walker for Blunt collab is about as stylish as they come.