Dear Wardrobe

Trending in the TwentyTeenies ...

Wellies

Do you remember when you had to think Niagara Falls or trips down sewers to find a wellie? Or Guardian persons gardening. Not any more. They were standard Festival kit in the Noughties and look set to march straight ahead into the the Century's teenage years... So much so that Guardian persons feel the need to differentiate. Fashion Wellies are ahem not quite the thing, with their primary colours, polka dots and positively darft heels. Choose something much more expensive and preferably flown in, like the Aigle, or Le Chameau, although a pair of Lowthers will pass muster if the bonus is hurting.

Read Paula Cocozza in the Guardian.

Capes

A cape, says Alexis Petridis, confers an "elegant, wicked sophistication" on its wearer, who would pay £870 for the one he favours, by Undercover, at Browns. Me, I think Mandarmani in SlickR by Rajkumar for £159.

Trenchcoats

Cross fingers on this one. One more season? They've transformed the high street for three years now, I'm thrilled to see Marks and Spencer still reworking the magic in their latest line-up. Video

1st January 2010

Here's wishing everyone a 2010 that willl let them find pleasure, and nudge them to hand a bit of it on.

I've been run ragged in recent months by the Bazaar, but it's been very exciting to play a part in introducing really new things into the impermeaphile repertoire. In view of the great reception they have received, that's set to continue. To the MD of Rajkumar, a terrific round of applause, for knocking spots off his Nokia as he responds to our emails throughout the (Indian) day and night: always friendly, always tolerant, always helpful.

And to the many many who continue to pass me pictures and stories and ideas - many many thanks. Do please go on tolerating the delays that build up. Don't stop now!

Here's the video

More Horseplay from Aquascutum, a single-texture riding mac from mid-century. Thanks to cm.

1st December 2009

MacJames reminds us hat Aquascutum are producing today - as they always have done - some of the most gourmet trenchcoats on the planet. (Pic courtesy the ST)

And they are presenting them with all the trimmings, including a promotional video of how they made their latest ... promotional video. Just how post-modern can you get!

One of the great things about Aquascutum is that they have a great track record with proper rainwear fabrics. CM has a couple of single-textured Aquascutum on his pages - where you can look out for his striking, uncomfortable early life story. The British boys' school mid-century at its best I guess, from the full horror of which CM is saved by his transforming impermeaphilia.

H

- and have you seen this? Hopeless site but brilliant idea!

Enjoy the update

- L

MinkyMac on the right Fleurty on the left, Somerset mud below.

1st November 2009

If the Noughties have seen the triumphant return of the welly, the Teenies could see the MinkyMac back as the funky choice for Glastonbury 2010 and beyond. It's practical, neat, and, like the Wellington, possessed of an amazing lubricity which a new generation have yet to discover...

Don't you think?

UK postal strikes have driven us spare this month, sorry to everyone waiting for deliveries.

Do you remember when Posties had double-texture navy mackintoshes for their wet-weather delivery rounds? No thoughts of Terms and Conditions then - the walking was enough. Now it's all silicon proofing and garish colours and they've quite rightly drawn a line.

The Howrah might do it, possibly, or, quite definitely, the RainSuit. Even in red reversing to black, if that would be less of a jerk.

LE

John Loadman's Tears of the Tree, cried over by impermeaphiles everywhere.

Good to see Burberry going from strength to strength on the catwalks, their trenchcoat theme somehow always fresh and bewitching.

Burberry do some moody videos too.

Kolkata's finest keeps coming through with new models, incidentally, Nicco is the latest, sweetly charming, the Yin to the Yang of the mighty Howrah cape...

[Thanks for correcting Yin to MK]

1st October 2009

Friend of the site John Loadman has just published (with Francis James) a book about Thomas Hancock and family.

John's collaborator is the proud possessor of quite a few authentic Hancock genes apparently, so The Hancocks of Marlborough - sumptuous title - is bound to carry a very special je ne sais quoi, as well as the Prof's unique expertise when it comes to history and rubber.

I'm asking Hazel to do a proper review now the book is available. Meanwhile I think this is something you will want to get hold of. Maybe spend some of the cash you are saving by buying your rainwear courtesy Rajkumar.

Available from Amazon

Enjoy the update - I'm way behind again so will be adding things throughout October.

LE

How does this make Emma feel? Still, good to know the trenchcoat sweeps onward and upward.

Couple of celeb albums prove it:

Thanks to Artem - for these and his continuing stream of contributions. Much appreciated by us all! L

1st September 2009

Brilliant objet caoutchouc trouvè from Sarah Jane, courtesy the Scotsman Mazazine 22:08:09. It shows Joss Ackland with Rosemary Kirkcaldy, with whom he fell in love for ever in 1951.

"From the instant he caught sight of the actress, 11 months younger than he was, Ackland was a goner," we are told. In his own words: "As I entered the room I saw this beautiful young girl cross the floor and perch on a window ledge. With one look I fell in love."

Sarah Jane thinks she knows why.

The Anonymous friend who sent us the pics featured in Recent Macquisitions has, if I understand correctly, posted me some more. More lovely things, much appreciated.

Hope the update is OK!

LE

14th August

Well, amazing things from India keep on coming ....

L

Rajkumar's innovative Hospital Mac

4th August

Update to the update really: another new thing from Rajkumar.

It's a raincoat made out of traditional rubberised hospital sheeting (both sides rubber).

The material used is also available as a simple bedsheet: 240 cm X 110 cm. Ask me!

The new MinkyMac

If only she had done up her mac properly ... he might have won.

Thanks to MacJames for the pointer.

1st August 2009

Rajkumar continue to shower us with good things from Kolkata. A low price genuinely rubberised classical Grasshopper / Friesennerz / MinkyMac is one of two latest to come on-line. Midnight is the other.

Should have noted this earlier but my hero and yours the big PO has already given the right steer to the rainwear trade. Today, trenchcoats for the daughters, tomorrow - surely, decent protection for ALL. You know we can.

I have word that Val Offord's latest is a short story about a pianist with a stress problem in which a classic MinkyMac plays a curious disciplinary role. I'm told it's not terribly adult itself, but it is in definitely ADULT company so please ignore this link.

Holiday season, update's a bit ragged, sorry. Hope you can enjoy even so.

L

Maidan appearance,
Glastonbury 2009 ?

1st July 2009

Glastonbury was all a bit of a Blur to me, if you know what I mean, but a couple of highlights. The downpour on Thursday night exhausted Millets' stock of wellies early on so people had to present themselves in proper ones instead - by which I mean Hunters, and classical ones to boot. At least £20 a foot please, or really - best not to bother...

Highlight 2: Maidan appearance, see left.

Emma Watson, formerly apprentice witch Hermione Granger, now fully protected by Burberry.

Amusing for Harry Potter followers, says MacJames, to see Emma growing up into such a pretty girl – and modelling rainwear for no less than Burberry!!

And please note that Colin P has produced a new addition to his extraordinary take on the impermeaphile theme.

There is something absolutely brilliant and original about his pictures. The moment somebody notices he will find himself with the Turner prize or something.

In the meantime, hope you enjoy the update, and thanks to everyone who has sent me things. I think the backlog is growing again, but I'm still on the job.

Lorraine

1st June 2009

Lovely new mac for £99!

Sweetly named The Maidan after the parkland riverside district of Kolkata.

You are expected to buy it without delay and to wear it correctly: The Maidan is owned by the Indian Army.

“The great Maidan presents a most refreshing appearance to the eye."

H.E.A. Cotton, 1909
(Thanks to Wikepedia)

IN

OUT

Jess Cartner-Morley has some expert advice on Festival Wear this Summer, a genre invented by Kate Moss at Glastonbury in 2007. Avoid the waistcoat Kate wore then, because she wore it then. But be sure your wellies are Hunters, because she wore them then. This is a case says H of an invalid argument leading to a true conclusion.

'Having great big pink pansies on your tent, wellies or anorak immediately marks you out as an amateur. Classic Hunter wellingtons in green, black or trawlerman-yellow are to the festival field what Jimmy Choo sandals are to the party circuit: dependable, comfortable and classy.' (Guardian G2, 08:05:09, p.15)

H. advises on another topic: Impermeaphile geeks will be interested in the new range of rubberised netbooks just launched by Dell into an otherwise well-saturated education market.

I say: Just in time! Pack a rubberised computer with your mac and wellies and bunk off Shangri-la.

Enjoy the update - many many thanks to all contributors -

LE

Seen this site? Keeps UK tv adverts for you! Here is one by the people who give digestive transit a bad name.

1st May 2009

Excellent news on the UK weather front: the met office is predicting a hot dry summer. This means I would say about a 76.77% chance of a great deal of rain.

The best person to hear such news from in the UK, I'm told, is Carol Kirkwood, who is often to be seen predicting the weather on the BBC Breakfast programme (6-9am each morning). Carol's secret is to dress for the job, which almost always means a good-looking raincoat. Thanks Carol for telling us about the weather, and thanks David for telling me about Carol! (I assume you all know about her already... Tele at 6 in the morning is a bit early for me, and actually it stays that way for ages. But that is without an incentive.)

Hope the update is OK.

Lorraine

Katie, there's absolutely no need to look so worried. In that cutting-edge trench you can play doctors and nurses with them all.

King Charles' luck changes

From McJames this cheering thought:

Lady Mackintosh, wife of the 33rd Chief, raised a regiment of Mackintoshes for King Charles in 1745 and entertained him at Moy hall in 1746.

Tapestry at Caberfeidh, Carrbridge, Invernesshire

2nd April 2009

The Mistresses have been in trench warfare, boots an all. Best trench goes to the doctor, left, best boots without question to the pink Hunters given to Jessica, although I don't like the distinctly uncool assumption that you have to wear your lovely rubber boots outside. Pic courtesy Greenpeace on flickr.

Don't like doing the update on April 1st, so it isn't really late, or at any rate it's late by choice. I was hoping to make better progress catching up this month, but have slipped back instead, sorry: esp to people with things in but not up. Efforts will be redoubled!

Lorraine

The Leaning Woman of Pisa.

Thanks to MacJames for the orginal pic.

1st March 2009

Well! Another month! I must have missed February. Thanks for the lots of things you sent in, sorry if they are not up yet. Special thanks to SM (lovely moniker!) for his original riding mac pics! Suddenly very difficult to get hold of this material, I have to say, let alone a mac made up in it: so these lovely pics of SM's are very timely...

Not all gloom though - the ads are crisper than ever with trenchcoats, imho. The latest from Boots makes something wonderful out of a single wriststrap, don't you think? Haven't managed to get a pic yet, though, sorry.

Hope there is something special for you in the update.

LE

1st Feb 2009

Spending all my time sorting out the Crunchy Sale for people, so I'm well behind this month! One casualty is the excellent intelligence I get about clips on YouTube - which get removed, I assume because of copyright problems (surely not bad taste?), before I get to look at them, or recommend them to you. Anyway the loss I'm sure is only mine - everyone who reads this will already be watching YouTube like hawks. Just in case, I pass on Andy's recommendation for pedal-pumping in a mac and from André, two survivors amongst a clutch of removals: Daniella by Night and a fond memory. (I got asked to remove this one by the copyright owner when someone kindly sent it to us...). Inconnu is up there too.

Anyway, don't get lost in YouTube, which is a weird and wonderful world I know, have a look at the update as well - hope it's OK - and don't forget the sale.

LE

The super mac Rachael designed for Lakeland Elements

12th Jan

Just caught up with Rachael Gibson's blog, iconically titled Fur Coat, No Knickers.

Lovely!

But for coats don't think fur, Rachael, - actually, please don't think fur - think Gemma Arterton and her cresty trench. With nothing on but her mac and boots (in Quantum of Solace) she sets us up for 2009.

By the way, some lovely person has put up zillions of pics of said Gemma in her essential trench and someone else (anon) has told us about it. Thanks so much Rachael, Gemma, gemma-arterton.net, and Anon.

L

7th Jan

I've only just seen these terrific videos from Weathervain!

On the town, New Year 1956

1st January 2009

Were there really scenes like this in that far off country of 1956?

Have you pored over those books of old photographs, piled high at knock down prices on the high street now near you - and found the high street of yesteryear jostling with citizens properly protected in what we like to think of as the traditional manner? The Golden Years?

If you have please please send them to me!

I pore and pore and pore some more: nothing! - Well, hardly anything.

I have to make some up instead.

That's all right. We can make a better past that way.

Maybe our imaginations will make a better job of 2009 too.

Anyway, I do hope the New Year , whether we have to imagine it or not, will be really good for us all!

LE

PS From one of out most generous contributors, André: Happy new year to all the friends of the site.

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