Is there such a thing as a cool/stylish waterproof jacket?!

[runner2]

Going on holiday and need a lightweight waterproof but I cringe at the thought of an anorak/cagoule-type jacket. I bought a North Face jacket a few years ago that was quite expensive but it's a bit on the heavy side and it's red, which was a mistake...should have gone for black. So I've hardly worn it. Any suggestions, please?

I have a great black animal waterproof (actually I think it's a ski jacket) was £50 in sale 3 years ago and lasting well.
It's not here but this is a link to the site.
www.animal.co.uk/womens-jackets/?sz=60
Maybe try similar surf brands?

Well it's here and I've just tried it on! protected species mac
My immediate reaction is very impressed with just one niggle which I'll come to:

Firstly it's very much a walking-to-work-meeting-for-coffee mac, which is exactly what I'd been after for years and years but may not be what you want for your holiday op, so apologies if this is a hi-jack.

It's by far the best looking waterproof coat I've seen - at first glance you'd take it for an ordinary trenchcoat. The fabric's very lightweight and it's well constructed e.g. you can fasten with a zip (optional) as well as buttons and even the pockets zip up.

The red isn't too jolly either. It's a very dull shade and quite flattering (at least on me).
It's fitted which I also like but I concur with their advice to size up if you're in between sizes.

My only doubt is the hood. Obviously it needs one but I'm a city gal and I'm vain and shallow and I'd have preferred one that folded out of sight. It's easily detachable (poppers) so I could just scrunch it into my bag and carry it around with me. But would I?

If I'd got the grey (out of stock) then I probably wouldn't be giving this a second though. But it's red, albeit a very dull red. As you may know, I normally have no truck with age related dressing but one of my very, very few rules is is, nothing nursery / nothing Disney. So I'm asking myself whether it might be a bit Little Red Riding Hood when I'm actually Grandma's age.

That's my only concern. But I'm guessing waiting for grey to come back in would probably mean paying non-sale price, i.e. double.

Thanks for the report, Floisme. I get the Little Red Riding Hood reservations. Also, I know what you mean about the hood that doesn't fold into the collar, and it would irk me to have to detach/attach the hood, but if there's a pocket it could be kept in, neatly folded, I might live with it ... if everything else were perfect. Dull red would be fine by me. A posh waterproof hat instead for the wettest days? Cocoon or Glenalmond Tweed sometimes do good uns, but you have to be a hat person to start with.

I do like a hat - I used to wear a trilby but that's probably best kept for another thread - but then you're back into having to carry something else around with you which is what I'm trying to avoid.

However good plan - because it's so lightweight, the hood fits in a pocket very easily and, while a purist might say it ruined the clean lines blah blah, I think it's barely visible and besides I always stick my hands in my coat pockets so this clean line never lasts long. I've just been practising whipping it out of the pocket and attaching - I think I could learn to do it pretty fast. I'm definitely looking for a way to keep it if I can.

Did you say you were looking at the parka?

I'm waiting for it to come back into stock. It will probably be olive, unless they add some new colours, and replace my ageing goretex Barbour which is not quite long enough to keep my thighs dry in a downpour when I'm out (daily) with SockDog.

Thank you for updating, Floisme. I've been looking at their Commuter coat for a while now (after hearing about Protected Species on here) so I've been eagerly waiting for your verdict! I'm glad to hear that you like the fabric etc.

I have a waterproof Jack Wolfskin mac type coat at the moment, which isn't too bad, but it's a bit too obviously waterproof and sensible looking, if you see what I mean. I'm really hoping that a Protected Species coat is the holy grail of waterproof AND stylish!

I'm waiting to get home so I can try on the black one I've ordered, but this has tided me over in the interim - thanks Flo!

I initially wanted M in the black bit it was OOS, so I signed up for their availability email and lo, they emailed me a day or so later to say the M was in (just after I'd got impatient and ordered the L 🙄), so it's worth signing up to that if awaiting stock. Flo, do you mind me asking what size you ordered and whether you think the L will be too big for a fairly busty 12-14?!

Laquila I'm usually size 8-10 and in coats, I normally go for a 10 to leave room for layers. The small is just right for me but I wouldn't have wanted it any smaller. I would say if medium is your normal size then stick to that but if you're in between, then I'd go up. Or, if you ordered both, I think it says returns are free.

Another thought on the fabric: it has a kind of silky feel to it. I don't mind it at all and I definitely prefer it to that nylony-plastic waterproof feeling but it might not be everyone's cup of tea.

The small details are really good e.g. I've just noticed you can tighten the sleeves which I bet helps keep out the cold as well as the rain.

I ordered the PS parka (black), it arrived today too and I love love love it!

Not cheap, but I think I finally feel like a proper adult, having a properly waterproof coat that I will actually wear!

Having been introduced to protected species by this thread, and dithering for a few days, I have just been swayed to finally order a black parka!

Having seen your review floisme I am seriously tempted. I already have a Rains waterproof parka, which I love, but there's definitely a gap in my wardrobe for a smarter raincoat... hmmmn

The mac has a hood? Oh man, that's why I didn't order it (thought it didn't)

I might be tempted back to that site...

I know seefeld I wasn't even looking - I'd resigned myself to never finding one!

I'm just a little bit miffed now that I've looked again at the other styles and realised the mac is the only one that doesn't have the hood rolled up inside the collar. Maybe there's some technical reason? But I'm really starting to like the colour now (and convincing myself it's not really red at all) and I think it actually suits me more than the pale grey would.

So I'm going to spend a few days practising attaching the hood, see how fast I get and then decide.

I got the black in a L and am so disappointed as I don't think it's cut for a pear. I'm a 12 too and 14 bottom and it's much too tight around my hips. The next size up (assuming they do an xl) would be enormous on my top half. I'll be reluctantly sending it back as i really do love it, love the silky material and the fact it has a good, decent sized hood.

Ive done it

Yay for Yogi

Ariel that's so disappointing. I'm verging towards pear shaped and I can see what you mean.

I have mixed feelings!! Generally positive - it's obviously been v careful though out and has some lovely details. I love the big hood and it doesn't bother me too much that you can't roll it away. I love the feel and stretch of the fabric alhough it's admittedly a bit shiny. Love the length and the zip but not the lining. If I still commuted via public transport I wouldn't give it a second thought but I drive to work now and have less time standing around at bus stops. And the L is a fraction too big...but the M isn't in stock and would probably be a bit snug on the bust! Will keep it for a few days to consider.

I meant that if I still commuted by public transport I'd definitely buy it, just to be clear.

You know I hadn't thought about the lining but now you mention it - yes! I don't know about the other colours but the red has a cream lining. It's not a deal breaker for me (I walk to work) but I think it's partly why I'm not keen on how the hood looks.

I got carried away and ordered 2 macs - 1 red, 1 blue to compare, and they both arrived today. I'm about a 10 to 12 on the top (depends on brand) and 10 on the bottom. I ordered the M.

The red (actually burnt orange) is slightly too tight across my arms/chest. That was with just a light cardi underneath, so definately no room for anything else. The blue coat fits. I agree the mac is cut very narrow on the hips, but I'm narrow on the hips so that bit's okay. The coat's a bit too long in length and on the sleeves overall (I am on the shorter side) - although that means it'd keep me drier in a downpour.

The fabric is nice and light and not very bulky. The detail and styling is great. The belt doesn't appear to be sized to the coat, so when it's done up on me there's a long bit left over. The hood is generously sized, soft and adjustable. I think I might even get away with my hair up - most of my other hooded coats don't allow enough space for this.

I agree that the main negatives as others have pointed out is the hood. I think it looks ugly and outdoorsy and makes the coat look much more casual. Both hoods are lined in an ugly shiny flesh tone. It would work so much better if it was lined in the same colour as the coat. I've gone back to look at the website and now realize that none of the photos show the hood.

I'm going to decide if I'm going to keep or return the blue one. I also like the look of the PS parka, so if I do end up returning, I might keep an eye out in case the olive parka comes back into stock.

I wanted the olive parka too! But black is always handy - stupidly excited that it's due to rain tomorrow now

Update: I'm now wondering if I need to even attach the hood when I use it. Because it's a decent size and you can tighten it around your chin, I can just plonk it on my head and turn up the coat collar. It might be less than ergonomically perfect but hey, this is style and beauty. And if I fold it flat and keep it in the pocket, the outline is barely visible and not at all once I've got my hands in my pockets (bad habit I know).

Hoods by the way, are a bastard when you have jowls. But at least I'll have an instant face lift every time I whip it off.

Of course none of this would be necessary if someone could come up with a bag sized umbrella that a) worked and b) didn't spike passers by when you're only 5'3". Come on British fashion - you're supposed to be clever.

I have a black Regatta lightweight waterproof jacket, although cool or stylish is probably pushing it, it's pretty inoffensive looking with nice clean lines.

It also comes in plus sizes.

It's something like this. www.regatta.com/joelle-iv-jacket-black/

Ahh that's weird - the hood on the black mac is lined in black! The nude-coloured lining is only in the rest of the coat.

Sesame I'm glad you posted that about the sizing - I might not bother trying an M then, if the arms/chest are too tight on you as a 10-12. (I'm a 12-14 with 32FF boobs so it seems a bit unrealistic.)

There appear to be subtle design differences between the colours, so I'm wondering if perhaps they are clearing some old stock, produced at different times. To add to the size variation, between my 2 coats the red has zipped pockets underneath the flaps, which the blue one doesn't. Online, the only photo with hood is the grey one, which is also lined in the same colour as the outer. There is a review which mentions the black coat hood is lined in nude - so it looks like Laquila's is different again.

Anyway I tried the blue coat on again, in daylight this time. The colour looks lovely on. I used to have a navy mac, which I got rid of in the end as it looked far too dark against my face. This blue by contrast is great with my colouring. I now think the hemline is also perfect and well proportioned - yesterday I had a long skirt on, which didn't look right sticking out the bottom. It is quite a narrow fit overall, I can get a cardi or light jacket underneath, but not much more than that. But it looks good fitted, so I'd prefer not to size up.

Anyway it was raining this morning and I didn't fancy wearing my seasalt. After parading in front of the mirror trying it on one more time I decided to keep it and take it out for its first outing.