Wet-Weather Style with Eco Appeal
The rain really isn’t so bad—for a day. Especially if that day falls on a weekend, when it gives me an excuse to bake chocolate-chip cookies, sip endless mugs of steaming tea, and cuddle up with my dog and a good book. After 24 hours of the stuff, I begin checking the online weather channel compulsively and dreaming of a dry bicycle commute. When venturing outdoors becomes an inevitable necessity, I reach for my trusty trench coat, wind-proof umbrella, and Wellies--the ultimate wet-weather trifecta. When you’re ready for a stylish upgrade that’s rain-ready and eco-friendly, too, look to these pretty pieces to keep you dry and looking divine.
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The rain really isn’t so bad—for a day. Especially if that day falls on a weekend, when it gives me an excuse to bake chocolate-chip cookies, sip endless mugs of steaming tea, and cuddle up with my dog and a good book. After 24 hours of the stuff, I begin checking the online weather channel compulsively and dreaming of a dry bicycle commute. When venturing outdoors becomes inevitable, I reach for my trusty trench coat, wind-proof umbrella, and Wellies—the ultimate wet-weather trifecta. When you’re ready for a stylish upgrade that’s rain-ready and eco-friendly too, look to these pretty pieces to keep you dry and looking divine.
The Sturdy Umbrella
If you’re like me, you probably cycle through three or four umbrellas a year. Mine usually die a dramatic death, flipping inside-out or snapping in half at the first big gust of wind. Instead of buying cheapies that don’t perform under pressure, consider investing in a quality umbrella that looks good and is built to last. Brelli makes beautiful, parasol-style umbrellas from recycled, biodegradable plastic. Besides keeping you dry, they offer UVA/UVB/UVC sun protection, making them a multi-season accessory. thebrelli.com/shop/best-umbrella/
The Puddle-Proof Boot
Kamik boots are made in Canada, so you know they’re designed with some serious weather in mind. I love that their Wellies come in cheerful colors and patterns—the blue is especially appealing against a wet, grey backdrop—and the fact that they’re made with recycled rubber on the outside, and recycled polyester on the inside. The Kamik manufacturing plant is run on hydro-electric power, too. How cool is that? kamik.com/kamik_winter10/en/products.shtml
The Chic Raincoat
Biking around town is definitely the greenest way to get from Point A to Point B, and you’ll look great, rain or shine, if you’re wearing one of these Terre New York trenches. The Tribeca model is definitely an “investment piece,” but it’s made from biodegradable, built-to-last Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), which means you’ll look impossibly chic rainy season after rainy season. terranewyork.com
About Aurelia d’Andrea
Veg fashion blogger Aurelia d’Andrea has devoted a disproportionately large portion of her life to scouring thrift stores, vintage boutiques, and flea markets in search of sartorial treasures, and has a closet full of frocks to prove her passion for the hunt. Going veg taught her to sharpen her style skills, and confirmed what she’d suspected all along: It really is possible to develop a fashionable point of view and keep your ethics intact, too. She lives in Paris where she blogs (My Vegan Parisian Aventure), writes books (Moon Living Abroad in France), and eats way too many carbs.