What to wear in the rain

**Drac** · 17th January 11, 12:49 PM

Good day all,

Went to a show last night and it was misting. A rather chilly mist. Broke out the lined rain coat. After putting it on my wife looked over at me with the coat and hose showing but little else.

Her comment was I looked like a flasher.

Since I don't think this does the kilt wear population's reputation any good I was wondering what you guys did. I would want something that goes with a nice night event. Day casual I figure a normal jacket should be fine. I've looked into the capes but are those for the most part for pipers? Also they aren't lined from what I've seen.

Thanks,
Jim

**ForresterModern** · 17th January 11, 12:59 PM

The only time I have been kilted in the rain was during my Scotland golf trip last August, and I simply put on a rain jacket that stopped at the waist, and let most of the rain roll off the kilt naturally. Some of the tartans are teflon coated (MM Jura I think) which helps, but wool has some natural repellency as well. Kilts still got wet but I never got wet or cold inside them. Even my hose helped keep me warm and dry despite the outer surface feeling wet.

That said, I do have a heavyweight tweed Inverness that I would not hesitate to wear in the rain if needed. I also have regular length (waist or hip) raincoats that would also work well, barring an absolute downpour. In extreme rain, I doubt anyone would really care if you looked like a flasher regardless of what you were wearing over your kilt. Besides, you could always just use an umbrella (bumbershoot for our UK brethren).

j

**DougC** · 17th January 11, 12:59 PM

A Barbour jacket or a cape. I go with the Barbour when I need to.

**EagleJCS** · 17th January 11, 01:42 PM

Sure, typically pipers and/or pipe bands wear the black (Inverness) rain cape, and they are unlined. (I have one and wear it on occasion when piping.) You'll still look like a flasher, since the capes cover everything to about mid-shin, or a little higher, depending on the fit. Still, for keeping your upper body (mostly - unless you get the IMO geeky-looking hood) dry and getting you out of the wind, they work just fine.

There are a couple of other (more expensive) alternatives in a similar sut but better material that I found just by searching for Inverness capes.

**rtc872** · 17th January 11, 01:54 PM

Inverness capes are fine for anybody. If you are worried about looking like a piper just don't wear white socks. My dream is to own a tweed cape like Forrestermodern. They just ain't cheap.

Cheers

**ForresterModern** · 24th January 11, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by rtc872

Inverness capes are fine for anybody. If you are worried about looking like a piper just don't wear white socks. My dream is to own a tweed cape like Forrestermodern. They just ain't cheap.

Cheers

You too can have a lovely handmade but machine sewn one of a kind woolen Inverness cloak for between $225 and $275 US just by visiting Twin Roses Design at (scroll about halfway down the page):

http://twinrosesdesign.com/Cloaks%20for%20Sale.html

As of the time of this post she had 5 in stock in that price range, with fairly wide range of fit, as they run loose and have no real sleeves, just the cape. And that is significantly cheaper than the $700-1000 tweed ones I have seen online elsewhere.

j

**Drac** · 24th January 11, 07:17 PM

Thanks all,

I really like the Inverness capes though I would still like to get it a little longer so again to avoid that flasher look.

Jim

**Geoff Withnell** · 26th January 11, 06:35 AM

Gentlemen,
What do you think your day plaid is for? Take off your shoulder, unfold it a bit and put it back around your shoulders. As has been noted previously, wool will tend to shed the water, so your lower half is ok, and the plaid will shed the water for your upper half. Of course, if you didn't plan for rain, it's likely your lady didn't either. In which case the procedure is: Take it off your shoulder, unfold it a bit, put it around her shoulders, and man up; a little water never hurt anyone.

Geoff Withnell