The worst thing about getting caught in the rain is that a crappy raincoat ruins your whole look. You’ve picked out an outfit that you feel great wearing, and then it rains and you’re forced to cover yourself in a bulky, wrinkly sack that makes you look like you’re wearing a dress from the lost property bin at school. We’ve all been there. We’ve all stood outside in the rain wearing something utterly deforming because we hadn’t packed a better option. This collection is here because we decided we didn’t have to put up with that anymore.
It takes a great raincoat to really earn a place in your wardrobe. Staying dry is obviously job number one, but it also needs to sit over a blazer without looking like you’re smuggling a sausage roll in your pocket, keep neatly in your bag when the rain lets up and actually feel nice enough that you don’t want to tear it off the moment you get indoors. That’s quite a laundry list of requirements and most high street offerings fail on at least one of them. We tried hundreds of options before we found ones we loved that met them all.
You’ll find plenty of styles here because rain isn’t picky about the occasions it visits. We’ve got sharp belted numbers that sit gracefully over office wear without obliterating your silhouette. Longer length coats that properly cover your legs when the heavens open. Packable versions that are lightweight enough to live in your bag all season without taking up unnecessary room. Bright colours for the people who believe that if you’re going to get rained on, the coat might as well at least be fun to look at. And neutral tones for those who prefer their rainwear slightly more subtle.
Waterproof isn’t one thing either. There’s a big difference between a coat that can handle a misting and one that can stand up to a full blown British deluge. We’ve done our best to make sure you know what each coat can handle in the product notes. There’s nothing worse than spending a load of money on a raincoat that turns out to be useless.
The best raincoat is one that you’ll actually want to wear when the rain starts pouring. That’s been our goal every step of the way. These are the ones that made the cut.