Over the years, I’ve been all too familiar with the standard black rain boots or galoshes, canary yellow raincoat and hat with a matching umbrella.
It’s time to take that norm to the curb.
In modern times, we have transcended the “Man in the Yellow Hat” look into a plethora of various styles and details for contemporary rainwear.
The rainwear industry has grown recently as suppliers recognize the significance and demand for more fashionable dress in a tropical climate.
What’s impressive is how brands now have a more stylish take on this concept, incorporating creative prints and images, woven cloth details, zippers, buckles, shoe strings and eyelet holes, tailoring the fit of calf-high rain boots and stacked or other types of high heels.
When shopping for rain boots, one’s first priority is usually price, so start this journey at Target, where you can find colorful polka-dotted, plaid, checkered or cute kitsch-patterned styles for around $30.
But over at Macy’s, you’ll find Dirty Laundry has upped the ante on designer rain boots, offering quilted detailing as well as neon color styles with wedge heels.
Lucky Brand offers a classic shoe-stringed calf rain boot in chocolate for men in the Orland style, competing with Lacoste sporty boots that display white foxing and stripe to imitate a casual shoe available in navy and neutral colors, both around $80.
In the designer range, many innovative additions have come to dominate.
Popular overseas brand Hunter Wellington – often called Wellies – can be found in abundance on targetwholesale.co.uk for what’s considered a bargain price starting around $80. Wellies include all colors in the spectrum, wedges, British flag prints, metallic tones, laced and floral printed rain boots to carry the theme of the spring trend.
Others that have caught my fierce eye are the serious paisley prints of cowgirl rain boots by Rain Bops, which have the traditional shape of cowgirl boots but vary in the wild prints offered to complement its unorthodox presentation.
For more heavy-duty, sporty rainwear styles, evaluate your merchandise in person by visiting a few stores around the way. Cabela’s in Gonzales provides a great variety of rainwear finds. Cabela’s GORE-TEX Guidewear Sport and Under Armour parkas for men are great additions to fitted khakis or quality denim paired together on a stormy afternoon. For women, the North Face white women’s K jacket has a sleek design that comes belted, giving the waist a bit of definition.
Dick’s Sporting Goods keeps a fitting inventory of North Face waterproof gear. The women’s Bella jacket with slit pocket detailing is a chic look, and the men’s rainwear options are plentiful, including Adidas, Nike and Orage jackets to accentuate the wardrobe.
There are plenty stylish waterproof North Face jackets found in abundance on GearBuyer.com. From order of cheapest to most expensive, the Carli, Claremont, Maya and Grace designs are most fitting for fashionable accessorizing from $80 to $200.
A classy umbrella can be bought in the trusty LSU Bookstore. But for a more high-profile shopper, ArtGifts.com has the most charming floral designs. I’m more attracted to the bubble umbrella, usually clear in color to match any ensemble, which can be found on Overstock.com for around $20.
When seeking out your rain gear, look not only for protection from torrential downpours but also for items that give a more attractive appeal than the styles of the Swamp People that have entertained us.
Al Burks is a 25-year-old apparel design senior from New Orleans.
 
____
Contact Al Burks at [email protected]