Rainy day fashion

Rainy days may not be our favourites, but when they offer the excuse to put on a fabulous Great British trench coat, maybe there’s a silver lining after all

Autograph at Marks & Spencer trench coat, £129, stores across Kent and online at: www.marksandspencer.com (Image: Archant)

Victoria says...

Rain with grey sky, blue sky, rainbow in the sky, it’s still ruining our outfit, hair and don’t even start on the footwear. So what’s a girl to do? Get ready to embrace April’s showers, I’m a stylist and a soccer mom, so you’re in good hands.

Watch the rain run off these practical, stylish trousers in mixed materials by Marc Cain Sports, £209, www.marc-cain.com (Image: Archant)

Let’s start by addressing the greatest British luxury fashion brands born by the need to adapt and be stylish in our fickle British weather: Burberry, Barbour and Aquascutum, to name just a few.

Back in 1853, Aquascutum created and patented the first waterproof textile. This unique development led to the inspiration for the brand’s name, which translates from the Latin to ‘water shield.’ If you are looking to invest, I love their Lana double breasted raincoat: classic, feminine, fitted.

Three-quarter length softshell coat allows you to move freely in the rain with no sweat, £145, from Ilse Jacobsen, 6 High Street, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1UX, 01892 537241, tunbridge@ilsejacobsen.com (Image: Archant)

An alternative to lighten up the colour palate is the Antonia trench coat. The details are effortlessly chic: the dark leather on the inside collar matches the belt. It’s a coat for popping into town or meeting friends, and a great colour to wear with a skinny jean and ankle boots.

Burberry, another fantastic wet-weather brand, started making extreme weather wear in 1897 for Major F.G. Jackson, famed for mapping parts of the Arctic Circle. He wore Burberry throughout his expedition.

Rubber boot with laces, mid-calf, from Ilse Jacobsen, 6 High Street, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1UX, 01892 537241, tunbridge@ilsejacobsen.com, £92 (Image: Archant)

These items are ‘forever’ pieces so you will always find them in a dress agency or on a re-sale website if you’d rather not splash out on high-end prices.

Kent has a fabulous wet-weather store right on Tunbridge Wells High Street. Straight from Denmark, Ilse Jacobson is a perfect solution to looking cool while keeping dry. The Tall Welly has been adapted by the fashion-savvy mums. They are so well made and will last a lifetime, however you may need a couple of pairs to suit your mood. Black or navy are an obvious choice, but if you want a change, khaki is always a good idea.

Johnstons of Elgin marl textured scarf light grey cashmere, £199, 03442 252 252 www.johnstonscashmere.com (Image: Archant)

Rules for wet weather

Aquascutum Lana double-breasted raincoat £455, 020 3096 1839 or at: www.aquascutum.com (Image: Archant)

Invest in a great trench coat. You don’t have to buy designer, all high-street brands sell them. However, you will always get what you pay for and it will last forever.

Buy a great umbrella. If you choose one that is more distinctive it is less likely to go missing as it’s so clearly yours: black umbrellas are always going to go on a wander. Fulton has a wonderful range and even designer collaborations. I can’t resist the LuLu Guinness Bloomsbury lips or the Kensington Birdcage.

A fashion-forward suggestion for the daring is the leather trouser; rain simply drips off. You don’t even have to buy real leather as there are so many imitations now; ‘pleather’ is a great alternative, but in all honesty, nothing beats the real thing.