Women's Plus Size Raincoat

Selecting a Raincoat

Your raincoat should do more than just keep the rain off your skirt, shirt or pants. It sets the stage for your entire outfit and your style. And, in most cases, it is the only piece of clothing that people will see you wearing. Most will never see what you have on underneath.

Put as much shopping thought into the selection of your raincoat as you would for anything else in your wardrobe. The style, fit, length and fabric are all keys to finding a raincoat that will enhance your personal style while it keeps you dry.

Styles

• Classic trench – The trench has been the classic raincoat style for men and women since the 1930s. It has a broad collar, a capelet-style back, is often double-breasted and usually ties or belts around the waist in a matching fabric. Some trench coats also have a zip-out liner that increases their coziness in cooler weather.
• A-line – This style is fitted in the shoulder and arm areas and becomes fuller around the hips. There is no belting. It flatters wider hips since it flows softly down to the hem.
• Reversible – This is a great style if you are looking for a coat that can keep you dry and warm. Most styles are a soft, waster-resistant microfiber on one side and some type of a soft faux fur on the other side like the reversible coat offered by Dennis Basso on QVC.
• Slicker – This solid vinyl, shiny bright raincoat style is a wonderful way to have fun while shedding cold-weather rainstorms. It incorporates snaps or zippers instead of buttons and usually has a matching hood. This style is a basic American fashion. In bright yellow the slicker kept us dry as kids, keeps the police dry as they direct traffic and provides protection for the fisherman at sea.

Raincoats are designed to be functional, with design details added to prevent or solve a problem. For example:

• Capelet – This extra layer of fabric in a trench coat keeps the rain off your shoulders and directs any water off your back.
• Hooded – This is a great alternative to an umbrella to protect your hair from the rain as you are running in and out of the rain.
• Back pleat – The inverted pleat starts at the back of the neck under the collar and extends to the hemline to provide extra room for movement.
• Belted back – This is an adapted feature from the fully-belted style of the classic trench coat. With the belted back style you have the added interest of the belted detail which is more figure-flattering than a fully-belted coat.
• Raglan sleeves – They provide extra room to wear comfortably wear jackets and sweaters under your raincoat.
• Sleeve tabs – Each sleeve has a tab on one side and a coordinating button on the other side to let you cinch-up the wrist to keep out the rain and cold.

Fit

Once you find a style you like, be sure to try on several sizes before you make your final choice. A raincoat needs to flatter your figure just as much as any fashion separate. You may find that you need to go up a size to give you enough room to accommodate bulkier clothes and to let you comfortably reach, bend and move.

Lengths

The longer the raincoat, the drier you will stay. Jacket and car coat lengths look great with jeans and pants and are certainly more comfortable getting in and out of a car – but, you run the risk of getting your legs wet.

A mid-calf length raincoat will keep you warm and dry, but it may be too much fabric to contend with, particularly if you are petite. You will probably get the most use from a knee-length raincoat. It looks great with either pants or a skirt.

Fabrics and Finishes

Raincoats are available in a variety of fabrics from water-resistant poplin and microfiber to water-repellent vinyl. The fabric you choose should be based primarily on when you plan to get the most wear from your raincoat:

• For fall and winter – Heavier fabrics will keep you drier and darker colors will look cleaner longer than lighter-weight, lighter-toned colors. If you aren't into black, brown or navy raincoats, consider red, olive or burgundy.
• For spring – A soft pastel or a fun bright tone raincoat is significantly more fun in a spring rain shower than a basic tan raincoat. Look for colors that accent the colors in your warmer weather wardrobe like spring green, or a banana yellow or a soft grey.

If you plan to only own one raincoat for both seasons, look for a color you will be comfortable wearing in the dead of winter as well as with your spring clothes during March and April showers.

Special Rain Needs

Once you have your basic raincoat in the clothes closet, you might also want consider a second purchase for special rainy day needs:

• Travel – Even if your only travel is a few days away each year, a lightweight, nylon raincoat with a travel pouch could be an very smart investment. Keep it in your desk drawer, your car's glove compartment or tucked in your gym bag. You'll be amazed at how many times you'll use this handy little item to stay dry. If you do a lot of business travel, the super-stylish, reversible maxi raincoat from Christine Columbus would be an excellent investment. It works well as an evening coat, even if the skies are dry.
• Cold Weather – If you plan to be in a cold, icy rain you might want to find a raincoat with a liner. In warm weather states, this may be the only coat you need in your closet.

Where to Buy a Woman's Plus Size Raincoat

Raincoats in plus sizes can be purchased in many plus size retail stores. However, the largest selection of styles and colors are online and in plus size catalogs:

• Lane Bryant
• Woman Within
• Macys
• TravelSmith
• Blair
• Jessica London
• Catherines