The 'there's no such thing as bad weather!!' Wardrobe Solutions
The 'there's no such thing as bad weather!!' Wardrobe Solutions
from a woman firmly in the camp of... yes there is in fact bad weather (but I'd rather be dry in good clothes)
Firstly! Hello!! There’s a fair few new faces around here- so although I can admit that I have a mild case of stage fright right now- it’s so so lovely to have you here. I’m over the moon you’ve found your way to my little newsletter, and I really hope you can bed in, settle down and make yourself right at home…
When it comes to parenting one thing I am categorically not good at is dressing efficiently. Or, for that matter, crafts, creative snack plates and getting to bed on time- but mainly dressing efficiently. There is no reason for this, except perhaps an inherent love of wearing denim and being someone that quite simply, often struggles to be a practical human being- and being a parent, for the most part, requires an awful lot of practicality.
A saying I have observed in the last three years since becoming a mother is that ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes!’ A quote I mentally pull out when it’s pissing it down outside and my little boy is craving a park visit (thankfully he also likes spending time inside when it’s raining, and it always fills me with a true parental pride)- but I do think of it when I see the slanted rain and confusingly stare at my coat-rack of denim jackets and trench coats and think WHY AM I NOT BETTER AT THIS.
Don't get me wrong, I am firmly in the camp that there *is* such thing as bad weather. I have yet to meet anyone, ANYONE who can say that going out with a pram in 40mph winds with diagonal rain, even if they *have* got a nice Barbour on will say ‘SEE!! IT’S ALL IN THE JACKET!’ And trust me- I am not snobby! I have nothing against a Dryrobe as outerwear! I encourage being warm, cosy and weather-proof to all degrees, I just happen to be really bad at it.
There are more times than I care to admit when I have found myself hoodless with a scarf artfully (*cough*) wrapped around my head, which, if I’m being honest- doesn’t often give the impression of together mother. I’ve also been known to pick up a disposable rain poncho to go over a leather jacket (sorry what gives you the impression I didn’t grow up in the countryside???) and the only time I’ve felt it truly necessary to buy wellies was for festival season- which, as a parent to a toddler I can confirm is not true (you will also know this if you’ve ever been to a toddler group called something like ‘Squirrels Forrest Muddy Academy!’ in trainers and looked down in despair too).
Once upon a time not dressing sensibly would be wearing stiletto heels on a night out in Liverpool’s cobbled Concert Square when you know a chunky heel would be the key- but now it’s realising one flimsy £3 poncho does not a dry woman make. Life comes at you fast!!! Anyway! Given ‘tis the season of April showers, what better time to see this as time to turn over a new leaf and dare myself to dress just even a tiny bit more sensibly. I can almost feel the rush of going out, come rain or shine and knowing my hair might look the same whatever the weather because of a HOOD. A power move if ever there was one, weather!
So! In an attempt to better my wardrobe (or at least get thinking about it)- I’ve rounded up my selection of ultimate ‘no bad weather’ wardrobe additions which would mean, yes, you could fully embrace a day muddy puddle jumping and going on outdoorsy walks (at least until you find a nice English Heritage cafe to warm up in anyway)…
The Outerwear!
You’ve got your Rains and your Stutterheim but where else are we looking for rainwear Gene Kelly would be proud of?
*affiliate links have been included in this post
Okay, we’re starting with the big guns- because who does British weather better than Barbour? The fact they’ve dabbled in both gingham and chambray for a practical jacket makes my heart sing, and it gives real Alexa Chung Barbour collection vibes which can only be a good thing. This longline version is also excellent (as is this Glassworks little cropped brown number too). My only qualm is a distinct lack of hood but this FatFace wax jacket with a hood feels like a nice alternative too.
OKAY UPDATE! Stop everything! CALL OFF THE SEARCH! I have found the waterproof jacket of my dreams!
Upon searching for a couple of extra jackets I spotted this on John Lewis and I think it might just tick every box (plus it’s not something I’d spotted before yet which makes it a VERY exciting discovering for me). But the buttery yellow/beige gingham?! Tie back?! Ugh, Midge Maisel would be thrilled with this! It *is* a light jacket so I think it’s more for the squally showers above all, but it’s comfortably one of my chicest discoveries and it’s going to take a whole lot of willpower to not succumb to it’s buttery waterproof goodness.