To many University students, a rainy day is not a fashion show; however, thanks to new designer galoshes and rain jackets, rainy weather is now an excuse to show off some style.
According to Ashley Fisher, manager at Imelda’s Fine Shoes on Jefferson Highway, new lines of rain boots and galoshes are giving students something to wear to make going to class on rainy days worthwhile.
“Rain boots have never been fashionable before and if they were, they were expensive,” Fisher said. “Now it is more mainstream. They are fashionable, not just functional.”
Imelda’s offers galoshes, which are intended to be worn over other shoes, rubber rain boots and clogs, which are shoes intended to be worn alone to protect the feet from rain.
The boots and galoshes come in bright rainbow stripes, polka dots and floral patterns.
Made by Jeffery Campbell and Chinese Laundry, the gear ranges in price from $37 to $44.50. Fisher said the shoes have been selling well, with the full length boots selling the best.
“As fast as they come in, they are gone,” Fisher said. “It is a really high turnover. They are doing really good with college students who are going to class.”
Though the store carries a variety of patterned umbrellas, Fisher said they do not sell as well. She said she does not like the mess associated with them.
“Think about it,” Fisher said. “Who carries an umbrella anymore?”
The Backpacker, also on Jefferson Highway, is known for carrying outdoors equipment, but the store also carries several options for those looking for durable rain jackets.
According to Backpacker Manager Aaron Mickey, the jackets sell well to students.
“We sell a lot of North Face jackets to college kids, as well as other brands because of their strong reputations,” Mickey said. “All the brands are comparable and high-quality.”
Brands such as Sierra Designs, North Face and Backpacker’s newest line, Marmot, use components such as Gore-Tex and treated nylon to make their jackets more comfortable.
Mickey said Gore-Tex is a liner placed underneath the fabric to make the jackets more breathable.
“Gore-Tex sells well, especially here in Louisiana so you are not all clammy,” Mickey said.
Gore-Tex is more expensive than other options. Most rain jackets are merely treated nylon to aid the wicking away of rain, keeping their cost down. “Gore-Tex is quite a bit more expensive,” Mickey said. “A Gore-Tex jacket would run about $300 where as a non-Gore-Tex jacket could run between $130-150.”
Mickey said in the fall, purple and yellow jackets sell well for football games, but more neutral colors sell all year round. Reds sell well but not as many as the neutral colors.
Mickey said this time of year many students are going on trips, specifically to Europe, and need a dependable rain jacket for the trek.
Backpacker employee Sandy Lemoine said rain coats always sell well and on rainy home football games, the store has nearly sold out of jackets.
Lousiana residents often think of their weather as unpredictable, and a local meteorologist agrees.
WBRZ meteorologist Jake Skellet said because of Louisiana’s location near the Gulf of Mexico, it is common for a rain shower to arise at a moment’s notice.
“During the summer, especially, you never know when a shower is going to pop up on you,” Skellet said.
Skellet said the showers tend to be smaller and harder to predict.
“Especially as a college student walking, you could be having a beautiful day near the Law Center and get to the stadium and it could be pouring,” Skellet said. “The best thing you can do is stick a poncho or an anorak in the back of your book-sack.”
Though Skellet is a weatherman he said he often makes the same mistakes most students do.
“You would be surprised,” Skellet said. “I am like every other dummy who gets caught at the grocery store without an umbrella. But I am not sugar, I am not going to melt.”
For those not prepared when rain strikes on campus, the Union offers umbrellas and ponchos ranging in price from around $4 to $30 dollars.
Joe Bender, the LSU Union Bookstore general manager, said most of the sales are on rainy days.
“Students wait until it does rain to buy rain gear,” Bender said. “Students might get caught off guard and do not have an umbrella. It is not a price issue at that point, it is a matter of staying dry.”
Chad Schoonmaker, bookstore employee and undecided freshman, said they sell many more rain items to desperate students when it is raining.
“You hear people say ‘$25 for an umbrella, that is ridiculous,’ but they still pay for it,” Schoonmaker said.