FashBlog.com

By Christina VanGinkel

For many places, spring means lots of sunshine and flowers sprouting up with seeming ease, for other places, it means wind, rain, hot one minute, cold the next, and flowers sprouting up with seeming ease. Unlike flowers, people are not always so adaptable, but with the proper clothing, we can at least strive to be. As I happen to live in an area that the second description describes perfectly, finding good outerwear for the spring is a must. What I am actually most in need of clothing wise, for this upcoming spring season, is a good raincoat. Something versatile that I can wear when the day is sure to bring at least a shower or two, and if it turns into a heavy downpour, which happens often where we live in the Midwest, than it would have to work for that too.

I cannot tell you how many times I headed out the door for a Little league game, with the sun shining bright, and the promise of beautiful early evening weather, only to find myself digging for my umbrella or running for cover under the concession stand. A stylish raincoat would at least solve this scenario partially. If I could find something trendy, not too bulky, that I would not mind wearing out in public, unlike the old trench coat I currently owned, I would be quite happy! Every time I put on that rain coat, say for a quick dash to the mailbox, I always thought heaven forbid someone actually see me in that old thing, as it was reminiscent of some past time when style defiantly did not matter. To hear me talk, you would think that I was some fashion queen, and I am actually the opposite, always more interested in comfort than how something looks, but the raincoat was truly that awful!

As if reading my mind, my mail person was kind enough to deliver me the current L.L. Bean catalog, with their free shipping offer still active. Inside of it was the raincoat that I knew would be ideal for my needs. That it came in several colors, one that I particularly liked, made it even more perfect! They have a new H2OFF DX Rainwear coat. The fabric is exclusive to L.L. Bean, and is a lightweight (Yes!), breathable micro fiber polyester that resists wrinkles. Because of the way the fabric is designed, it is perfect for rainy and windy days, which about sums up spring weather in the Midwest. It also comes with the option of a zip-out wool and polyester liner for if you happen to live in an area where cold is a concern. Their alternative is a mesh-lined un-insulated version. Both versions, the insulated and un-insulated, both come with a snap front storm flap that hides a full-length zipper. You can also choose each version in either a traditional long trench coat style, or a three-quarter length.

Colors choices for the three quarter length coat styles include coral pink, seedling, Aegean blue, and plum rose. For all the styles, including the three quarter length, you can choose from light mocha, deep red, bright navy, periwinkle, and black. With all these colors and styles, everyone is sure to find the perfect raincoat for their needs.

To complement the rain coats, L.L. Bean also offers umbrellas in a push button style that are compact enough that they would slip easily into the pocket of these coats for those days where you feel a bit extra protection will be required. They come in four different color choices including black, wild berry, lime, and turquoise, so you should be able to match one to whichever color coat you chose.

To finish off the look, and to keep every part of you dry, they also have a classic Wellie Boot. It is an English styled rubber mid calf height boot. The tread on the bottom is deep enough to offer a good grip, making these boots not only stylish, but also practical to wear for everything from wet yard work to wet commutes. They come in several fun patterns, including a citron stripe, a mandarin orange polka dot, an Aegean blue stripe, and an Aegean blue polka dot. They also come in a solid green color. One of these is sure to match whichever raincoat color you choose. My personal favorite is the coral pink three quarter length coat with the mandarin orange polka dot boot!