It’s pretty odd huh, having practical, protective gear turn out to be something trendy in the fashion world, but there you go, welcome to the topsy-turvy fashion universe. As if taking a leaf right out of the 90s playbook, where jelly sandals and backpacks reigned supreme, we’re now seeing a resurgence of clear raincoats and sheer trench styles — on adults by the way, not on toddlers who make everything look extra cute. We spotted this at a Zara store recently (though it’s currently not listed online), and got curious where the real trend started.
For that, we turned to the Miu Miu runway, where this model proudly rocked the aesthetic, a clear raincoat with stark black trimming, in a bright yellow mini dress. Then, in their September collection, British fashion house Burberry was all over the look, with trench coats, jackets and even skirts rendered in a soft-looking sheer material, and paired with brightly-coloured knits too.
Update: Karl Lagerfeld just showed off Chanel’s SS18 collection at Paris Fashion Week, complete with cascading waterfalls, and guess what? Clear raincoats too!
The key here, then, is both what you wear on top, and also what you wear underneath — paired with vibrant pops of colour or textured materials, the coats are an interesting way to add dimension to the outfit, both in terms of texture and silhouette, without necessarily killing the vibe of the outfit.
If you ask us whether the trend translates well to real life, it’s clear: why not? You’ll get to shield yourself from our unpredictable tropical storms, and still show off your outfit underneath while keeping it in pristine, non-drenched conditions. Nobody’s gonna rain on your parade now! Here are some options you can consider.
Straight up, we have to admit that the ones from Burberry, in a variety of sorbet shades, are obvious beauties. There’s something about the cloudy, dreamy look of the coats, in luxurious soft-touch trenches, car coats or caguoles that make you want to go over and smooth your hands over them — you forget that they’re waterproof and totally practical too. These come with an equally luxurious price tag, but it’s all in the details of transparent buttons and the embossed seams that create a tailored topstitch effect. They look great monochrome, or layered over dresses, while there’s also a checked coat in the classic house colours, for the adventurous among us.
And then we come to the said Miu Miu coat, clear and glossy, with a black contrast piped trim as well as a classic collar, front button fastening and front flap pockets. It looks a bit ridiculous, like you’re a character who walked out of a cartoon, but that’s where the appeal lies — you transform into a walking optical illusion, and unlike the Burberry one that blends into your outfit, this one brings a unique sheen to it that’s sure to turn heads.
As for WANDA NYLON, they’re a respected fashion label that started out as a rainwear brand, before branching out into more directional ready-to-wear clothing. You can bet then that the well-researched technology won’t let you down; this transparent trench style is made using a rubberized fabric that creative director Johanna Senyk spent two years developing, ultimately resulting in a coat that doesn’t fog, crack or yellow with age. The sleek design — with its frosted finish, contrasting black top stitching (more subtle this time) and silver disc buttons, perfectly round off the look.
We’re also pretty stoked that more affordable options exist too — all these coincidentally include hoodies, so you know, they’re way more practical as well. The Hunter coat is a more sporty style that comes with a smocked waist and snap buttons, though with that same soft sheer effect, while the Topshop piece is a poncho style you can easily slip on and off you. QED London and Missguided also give us fun transparent options that can double up as music festival pieces (we’re looking at you
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