Waterproof overcoat?

[DominusTecum]

College will begin very shortly for me, and I'm trying to figure out where I can get a nice looking -and somewhat waterproof, hopefully- overcoat. I thought a classic mackintosh would be just the ticket, but to my surprise, they seem impossible to find. Few, if any, on the 'bay, and new ones are prohibitively expensive for the "poor college student." What do you all wear when you want to stay out of the rain and still look like a gentleman while doing so?

 

[Feraud]

Check those vintage/thrift stores.
I recently picked up a Burberry trenchcoat, Vietnam era raincoat, and a heavy, coarse wool overcoat all in perfect condition.
The prices were well within a college student's budget.

 

[dhermann1]

Inverness Rain Cape

I got this Inverness Cape online from misterantony.com. They're in Glasgow, Scotland. It's light weight, so in cold weather you'll need a layer beneath, but it's amazingly effective at keeping out the rain. It cost about $110 as I recall. You'll be the only guy on campus with one of these, for sure! The top hat is optional. You go with a deerstalker, too. Actually, it comes with a button on hood.

 

[Fast]

Geesh,
I'd sooner reccoment underwear than a raincoat, it's that personal. If you want way old, like bowler/duster. Driza-bone or the like.

WWII trenchcoat, the billowy kind. Used to come out of czech republic and into . . . burlington. Surplus works here too. Get out your Fedora.

London fog still makes the american standard version of the single breasted "I'm just here to keep the water out" in lined or unlined coat (dad went through a couple of tans and a couple of blacks). Trilby time.

I've seen a lot of high tech new fabrics with aussie hats, even on TV. I guess that's modern.

I have a Driza-bone. The name fits. It's long. If you're walking a lot, you can use the leg straps. Got it for a hundred bucks ten or twelve years ago and it looks and wears like new, even without the treatment. If you lived someplace really rainy, you'd probably have to have reproofed it by now.

Carpe Diem
Fast

 

[thunderw21]

I'll echo what Feraud said: keep an eye on the thrift shops.

I picked up a classic vintage trenchcoat at Goodwill once, keeps me super dry. It just might take some patience but you'll find something.

 

[Tomasso]

. Few, if any, on the 'bay,

I predict a proliferation of outerwear auctions on the 'bay come Fall.

 

[Sin Khan]

Wear what works, and wear it with a smile.

You’d be amazed at what all will keep out the rain while walking around. As a college student however, some options are not as suitable as others. For instance…

You can get a great trench coat for good prices if you do some of that good old fashioned college research. Trench coats were designed for the rain and are still to this day issued to soldiers and marines around the world (as of my last looking into this). A good trench coat is great period wear and very versatile all year long. Yet, all too many students these days use the trench coat as a symbol for extremism. The Columbine shootings might be linked to you in an unfair and childish manner that so many college students have not rid themselves of from high school. For this reason, wearing a trench coat in such a setting would take very careful planning and an outgoing attitude to pull off without repercussions from fearful worriers.

As well I guess it goes without saying that to wear period wear without rumor in a college setting would mean that you would have to be a good ambassador of the product and not a sullen loner, that is if you don’t want other college students who are immature to constantly mention you negatively whenever they see you around. “The right person can wear anything” some would say, but the truth is that “any person” can wear almost anything “right” if they only have the right attitude. Honestly, you could wear a clown costume to college and be the coolest guy on campus if you only knew how to be a good ambassador, and of course planned very carefully how you were going to go about it.

Also, trench coats come in many styles and colors, beware though that while some call themselves “trench coats” not all of them are truly designed to handle the rain.

What you should do first before planning anything else is to do what other people have all ready recommended. Visit every consignment shop and thrift store around and see what they have. Why? Well, firstly if you have never done this for clothing than it is a good experience that you will not regret. Also, wearing thrift store cloths at college brings with it a “coolness” that should not go unappreciated. Many of these items at thrift stores have character and style that you just can’t buy elsewhere, at any price. But most importantly, whenever someone asks you what you’re wearing and where you got it you will be of a humble mind when telling them the truth. “Yeah I spent all my money on books so I picked this up at a thrift store.” That one line speaks volumes about who you are if you say it right with a dash of humility and tact. It means that you’re not a snob that others have to constantly feel uneasy around because your particular tastes above a “thrift store”. It means that you can balance style, money, and function, and that means that you are well rounded and most likely have your priorities straight.

In short, wear what works and what you can afford and spend some time finding out what that is and no matter what you choose to wear, wear it with style some confidence mixed with a dash of humility and, of course, a smile.

 

[Doh!]

I have an actual military trenchcoat that I wear for rain protection. I got it new for under $20, shipped, from The Sportsmans Guide. Mine had no insignia but they currently have one that does:

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=366865

Look around and you might find something more to your taste. They're a VERY reliable vendor.

 

[Kevin Popejoy]

I picked up a new with tags Barbour Bedale on ebay a couple months ago. $99 Buy it now.

k

 

[Feraud]

Raincoats -

This is an overcoat but the wool is so thick it is rainproof (probably bulletproof too) and applicable to this thread.

 

[Sin Khan]

Outstanding buys Feraud. Good job my friend and thanks for posting the pics. I bet that if i ever visit your town i might just find you "Singing in the Rain" with those smart purchases.

Thanks again.

 

[HDRnR]

I have a bunch of Burberrys and London Fogs, I've gotten some cool vintage London Fogs on ebay cheap. One thing about these tho is that they are really only good in light rain, in a real heavy rain they all soak thru except for maybe a Grenfell. If you want serious rain protection get an Australian Drover like a drizzabone.