Rainwear dilemma. Can you lovely ladies offer your thoughts?

[nomoresleep]

This is my first time on the style & beauty topic..normally I'm hanging out on the threads about sleepless babies... but I need some help and hoped this might be a good place to get some!

Right, so I've just done the school run in the pouring rain, with a baby in one arm, lunchboxes and bookbags in the other arm, and an umbrella in my third arm ... .no, wait, I don't have a third arm, that would be the problem then...

After my inelegant effort to get my kids to school with an umbrella I looked at what all the other mums were wearing and they all seem to have some kind of coat with a hood which clearly makes a lot of sense.

But what is the style consensus here? Mostly people seem to be wearing proper rain jackets like the thing you'd get from North Face or some kind of ski shop, which in my pre-baby life I'd have thought of as not hugely stylish. But are normal rules suspended for rainwear? Or is there such a thing as a stylish raincoat? What do you stylish ladies wear in the rain?

[seb1]

If you ever find the perfect rainwear for the school run it will be like discovering the secret of eternal youth, many, many have tried and failed .

[Carrotfly]

Barbour jacket.

But confident that the majority of MNetters will not think this is particularly stylish

A hat is always a useful addition for me as I've got that type of hair which frizzes up at the mention of rain.

[nomoresleep]

Ah, I thought it was going to be tricky! What are my options though? The umbrella is madness.

[PrettyCandles]

First off, essential school run accessory: the buggy! It's not just for carrying the baby, it carries bookbags, lunchboxes, gymbags, bottles, EVERYTHING!

I don't bother with an unmbrella - no third hand, LOL. I wear a raincoat and a hat with a brim that turns up slightly at the edge. The trouble with hoods is that you can't see to cross roads and keep an eye on dc at the same time. When you turn your head to look, all you see is the inside of the hood.

I wear, as you say, a walker's raincoat. But that's for the pockets, and comfort when slinging babies and bags and whatnot around. For preference I'd wear a trenchcoat.

[Carrotfly]

How about parking your car on the zig zag lines immediately out front and wave them off from there !!!

[tulpe]

IMO, normal rules have to be suspended for rainwear. However, it is possible to find plain black or navy (and therefore moderately stylish) hooded raincoats and I would go for one of those, personally.

I wear my North Face hooded coat (a very unstylish hot pink.......but in fairness it was bought for the piste rather than for when its pisting it down........). But then if it is really raining heavily I will have jeans & boots on anyway so it looks fine.

May I also hi-jack for a second and ask if anyone has any stylish rain hat options too?

[nomoresleep]

oops, cross-posted, I was replying to seb1...

Didn't think of a hat. Not sure I can get away with a hat - I'm v small and wear glasses so perhaps I will look silly in a hat?

What's the view on Barbour jackets then?

[tulpe]

Prettycandles raised issue of hoods being difficult to see out of.......if you buy a ski jacket rather than raincoat, that won't be an issue. Ski jacket hoods are more snug and move with you rather than with a raincoat hood staying put as you turn your head and only get a few of the lining

[seb1]

If I had a spare £400 I would get this.

[lucykate]

i've just got a squall coat from landsend (i'm lucky to live near one of their factory shops and only paid £29 for it), my other rain coat is hip length, so i end up with wet legs from the drips, so wanted something longer. i don't find wearing a hood a problem.

[tulpe]

I think Barbour jackets can look v stylish in a boho mum throwing on the old raincoat kind of way .

I have the Boden biker jacket which is a fitted waxed cotton jacket. It is shower proof. Doesn't have a hood though - hence my question about rain hats.

The thing about raincoats is nobody else will notice what you are wearing - they will all be too busy rushing into/from school with DCs and all school related paraphernalia So get something YOU like and sod everyone else

[nomoresleep]

Wow you style and beauty ladies move fast...this is great...

I can't push my buggy with one hand, so as you say, you still can't have an umbrella even if you take the buggy, though I do think you might be right about it being easier to carry all the other kit...

Don't have a car! We are in the city and school is a 5 minute walk away - shame on anyone who would use a car in that situation!!

So, options so far are...

Barbour jacket
North Face type rain coat thing
Hat

The hat option sounds v interesting - especially given what you say prettycandles about seeing to cross roads. You are so right about seeing the inside of a hood! It's even worse if you wear glasses too - all you see is mist, raindrops and the inside of your hood!

Anyone else?

[mehgalegs]

I have a much admired raincoat from here www.gudrunsjoden.com/butikhy/docs/webshop/singleitem.asp?OrderId=734265145&pf_id=GB-96100&dept_id=GB -1315&sSida=. Similar to the dark one but a different pattern as it was from last years catalogue. It is very flattering and has a great hood,

[VerityBrulee]

Rainhats, well, 5 years ago, yes that's 5 years, I was outbid on an Orla Kiely rainhat on ebay, it was a large pear print in shades of pink and red. I waited and waited, and 2 weeks ago another one came up and I got it! I was thrilled as pink and red are good colours for me. Sadly, and unbeleiveably as I live in Ireland, it hasn't rained since. I want a big downpour so I can wear it!

While I was waiting I had last years Boden rainhat in purple, which did the job well.

I agree that a hat is more practical than a hood which limits visibility.

[PrettyCandles]

I wear glasses, too. Since I've been wearing a hat, I have rediscovered the joy of actually being able to see in the rain!

I also prefer a hat to a hood because I don't get too hot. You know that in-betweeny sort of weather, when you have to keep your coat closed because of the rain, but you wouldn't have done so otherwise because it's really just too warm for a closed coat. Which is most of the time when striding out with a buggy. And in real winter I just add a silk scarf.

[nomoresleep]

Ah, so the hood thing might be solved by the type of jacket you get then?

That coat does look amazing Seb, but I can't justify spending £400!!!

Interesting that it comes with a hat - did you see those hats tulpe?

Off to check out these other links too...

keep them coming ladies!

[nomoresleep]

I can't keep up with the posts, thank you so much ladies!!

There seems to be a strong vote for hats, yes?

[tulpe]

Verity! It is awful when you become obsessed with something and only that item will do!

[VerityBrulee]

Tulpe, I thought I was alone in my obsession, until I found this board

[PrettyCandles]

This is one of my hats. It has survived everything the dc have thrown at it. It is almost waterproof (survives our 50minute round-trip school run in the rain) until it's washed. Then it needs reproofing with this, which is very easy.

I lurve it .

[Lilymaid]

I'm rather taken by Olney hats but am a mad old woman.
I'm now beyond the school run coat stage, but would love to find a rain jacket with a zip in/zip out lining that I can wear all winter over work suits. I've not seen anything apart from Barbours.

[LauraIngallsWilder]

I bought a landsend rain coat in their sale - last month and am pleased with it - but we havent had any rain yet

[ComeOveneer]

The ultimate solution

[PrettyCandles]

My winter hat is an Olney.

Nothing old-ladyish at all about it. I feel stylish and elegant in it - from the neck up, at least