April showers

April showers supposedly bring May flowers. On the East Coast, however, April showers often bring a continuation of questionable precipitation (is that rain or – gasp – snow?), flooded sewer grates and a miserable congregation of New Yorkers who would give anything for a healthy dose of sunshine and relief from their respective Seasonal Affective Disorders.

The bright spot in any rainy day – no pun intended – is the selection of adorable, “Not your grandmother’s rain slicker” wet-wear accessories available to turn even the heaviest downpour to downright darling. And, dare we mention, dry?

Pare*Umbrela, an online specialty boutique that specializes in – you guessed it – fancy umbrellas, uses the motto “Stylish outfits meet stylish umbrellas.” Their Mod Battic umbrella, $65, available in purple or orange undertone, is sleek, cheerful – and bears a striking resemblance to a certain Italian design house’s (cough, Missoni, cough) signature print. I think the intent to knock off our favorite horizontal design maven is unintentional, though question the double digit price tag of an item meant to protect a girl from the elements that’s described on their website as “fragile and delicate.”

Hunter’s Wellington boots, $115 at J. Crew, are perfect for splashing in puddles, fly fishing and reminiscing about the days in the bayou.

Okay, fine – maybe I have a secret agenda against girls who rock ‘Wellies’ over elasticized skinny jeans on days where there’s not a single drop of rain in sight (save for the crocodile tears I cry at witnessing such a fashion faux pas). Trendy or not, these boots will keep your feet dry and happy. And while I’m not one for copycats, I give replicas – available everywhere from Target to department stores – the green light on this style.

Crisp, clean and structured, this white cotton trench by JCPenney’s in-house brand, east5th, will have you singing in the rain, on sale now for $89. The best part about this coat, aside from its cut and detail that suggest a much steeper price tag, is that it’s machine washable. Just don’t blame us when your dry cleaner serenades you in the street, begging for forgiveness and bi-weekly cleaning fees.

Looking stylish while springing forward no matter what the weather brings – now, that’s what we call a bargain.

-Karyn Polewaczyk

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Posted by karynpol at 06:00 AM
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