The Sleek Raincoat That'll Have You Hoping for Spring Showers
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Shop Now $155 us.rains.com
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I'm really not an umbrella person. I have exactly one winter coat that has a hood, and it’s impossible to wear without melting in temperatures above 30 degrees. Living in a climate where it’s often a little bit warm and a little bit—or a lot—rainy (that is, New York City) means that my stubborn-headedness about rainy day attire often leaves me soaked, with damp and frizzy hair for the rest of the day. Until, that is, I found the perfect parka.
The Fishtail Parka by Rains is single-handedly responsible for keeping me comfortable and warm in rainy weather, no matter how long I’m outside for. Sleek and sharp, the unisex design has every feature a weatherproof parka should—elasticated hems, a drawstring hood, pockets, and a waterproof fabric—and more. It’s also got a double zip and button closure to ensure extra dryness, a curved hem that drapes perfectly off the body, and a contemporary silhouette that, even in an urban sea of puffers and parkas, is noticeably chic.
The Scandinavian design is a staple in my closet now. I reach for it any time rain is even remotely on the radar; I’ve even worn it when it’s just a cloudy day, because it looks damn cool, feels soft as hell, and goes with absolutely everything. Well, everything except an umbrella—you can leave that at home.
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It’s the perfect weight
Let me describe to you the worst feeling in the world. You’re walking in the rain, and even though it’s pouring, it really isn’t that cold. But, to avoid the drizzle, you’ve put on your heavy rain coat anyway—it’s the only waterproof option you had, and it has a hood! But now you’re walking in the rain (already bad) and you’re overheating under your heavy coat (terrible) and you’re going to be sweating and damp whenever you get to your destination (disgusting), and you’re going to have to lug around a thick, puffy, wet jacket inside (absolutely insufferable).
Now, let me describe to you the best feeling in the world. It’s fifty or so degrees. It’s raining. You have your Rains fishtail parka on—it’s lightweight, so you’re staying dry and cool, and the concealed ventilation vents built into the design are even allowing some air in the back to cool you down. When you get inside, you’ll be good still wearing the parka—after all, it’s thin enough to not be an annoyance, but if you want to take it off anyway, it’s easy to fold up and stash in your bag. Life is good.
Seriously, though—there are fewer greater pleasures in life than having a solid piece of outerwear that not only gets the job done with nothing amiss, but looks good while doing it, too. Which brings me to the fact that…
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It’s sleek and stylish
Two things about the Danish: they know how to do style, and they know how to live with rain. The fishtail parka is simply cooler than the classic rubber raincoat that it reinterprets, with a silhouette that flows with the wind, drapes off your body, and still manages to look quite sharp and utilitarian.
Personally, my least favorite thing about rainy weather is how it limits your wardrobe options. There are certain shoes you don’t want to get wet, of course, but beyond that, putting an ugly, bulky coat on kind of ruins a look, and even if you choose to go the umbrella route, you’re stuck carrying that around all day and dealing with opening and closing and un-inside-out-ing it. The obvious solution is to have a raincoat that is a) stylish, and b) functional. Rains ticks both these boxes, and adds a third: It’s affordable, too.
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It’s remarkably versatile
As if it wasn’t enough to be a lightweight raincoat that nixes the need for an umbrella, the fishtail parka has more functionality to it than just being waterproof. For starters, it’s pretty windproof, too. With rain often comes wind—a fact that umbrellas haven’t seemed to have adapted to yet, but Rains certainly has. While the fabric is lightweight (but not too lightweight), it’s also sturdy, with ultrasonically welded seams and a polyurethane coating that doesn’t budge in the face of heavy winds. Even the hood has drawstrings, so you can tighten it around your head and ensure it doesn’t go flying off.
Moreover, this is a coat you don’t—and shouldn’t—have to wear exclusively when it rains. I mean, it’s a stylish, lightweight coat! Wear it whenever! I wear mine to the office, I wear it on weekends, I wear it to formal events and to late-night bodega snack runs. It’s just comfortable, with a surprisingly soft exterior and stretchy interior (seriously, Rains even added elbow pleats to the design to allow for maximum movement).
And even though the coat is lightweight as far as rainy-day coats go, it’s quite adaptable to all weather, with an adjustable hem that you can shorten or elongate to add or take away warmth. Plus, you can layer up under the coat if you need it for a super cold day; I wear mine often with a sweater and tee under, or even another jacket. It’s been a faithful winter companion, and now that it’s spring—well, I’ve never looked forward to April showers more.
Shop Now $155 us.rains.com
Photography by Philip Friedman. Prop styling by Caroline Colston for Halley Resources.
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