Stylish Raincoats Do Exist—I Just Found 16 of Them

For fashion people, the idea of pinpointing the very best raincoat feels like an oxymoron and rather challenging. After all, it's an item of clothing that has been created to fulfil a functional, rather than fashionable, purpose. Though autumn has begun with sunny spells, it's only a matter of time before the rainy days appear. And I'm here to make sure you're well prepared for all weather eventualities.

Conveniently the whole "practical camper" look (think fleeces, rubberised sandals, bucket hats, et al.) has been prevalent over the last year or so, so there is no shortage of water-repellent items that tick both the style and substance boxes. Just look at Barbour's sell-out collabs with It girl Alexa Chung or Rains, the outerwear brand making cagoules cool again. It also helps that the minimalist aesthetic is so popular right now, as it means those traditional, clean-lined raincoat silhouettes can end up looking unexpectedly chic. Kin, Kassl Editions and Rains are particularly good in this department.

I also have to give a shout-out to the preloved options out there, as, if you're a city dweller like I am, you may well be looking for a raincoat for a one-off occasion, so buying new might feel excessive. Etsy is great for hunting down designer iterations—I've got a number of raincoats in my saved items right now—while Vestiaire Collective has a host of both old high-street pieces, which are still in great condition, alongside fun, vintage '80s and '90s iterations. So yes, it is possible to buy a stylish rain-proof jacket or coat, and these 16 buys prove it. Scroll down to see and shop my edit of the best raincoats.

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Up Next: I Just Tried On So Many Chic Whistles Pieces - Here's What I Really Rate. 

This story was published at an earlier time and has since been updated.