Whatnot Glossary - 07
Rain gear, rain musings
Happy Saturday! I hope your week had more ups than downs and that you have a fun weekend ahead.
I’m going to Ireland next month, and I am so excited. A friend told me “It rains A LOT there. Take rain coats. It makes England look like a desert.” This obviously sent me down a very consumerist path towards rain gear— but also sparked some less shopaholic thoughts about rainy days in general.
One of my favorite weather delights is when the sun comes out right before it sets at the end of a rainy day. The humidity, the damp ‘green’ smell, the divine optimism. A middle school friend used to say there was nothing better than coming home after a rainy day, taking a hot shower, and putting on sweatpants— and I’ve kept this idea tucked in my raincoat throughout the many years since middle school: get to the hot shower; get to the sweatpants! And so even if there is no ray of sunshine after a rainy day, we’ll always have sweatpants.
RAINY DAY BRIGHTS
Blue Rain Snood // All Weather Uggs // Color Blocked Rain Jacket // Waterproof Backpack // Ralph’s Coffee Umbrella
In researching rain gear, I noticed: a) perhaps a gap in the market and b) that rain gear is either completely dopamine-coded like “look at meeee bringing my own sunshine!” or “it’s raining, and I’d like to blend in with the landscape behind me.” There’s some good stuff out there, but room for more. That rain snood above is fun and so practical for those of us who just want to preserve our hair at all costs. Plus remember those plastic rain bonnets grandmas everywhere used to carry in their purses? My hairdresser told me she still uses them; Here are some cute ones. I hate to promote single use plastics, so let’s just promise to reuse these forever. Lastly, as someone who’s lost a laptop or two to a FL downpour, I really want that backpack.
UNDERSTATED RAIN GEAR
Ear Flap Cap // Navy Raincoat // Rain Clogs // (Vintage) Burberry Umbrella // Clyde Raincoat // Black Rain Boots
This is what comes to mind of when I think, “I’m in Europe, and it’s raining.” Somehow I suspect wearing a bright raincoat in Dublin would be akin to holding a sign that says “American!” I am obsessed with the Sézane Clyde trench coats. If someone offered me a Burberry trench (retails for $2500) or the Sézane trench (retails for $350) and exchange-for-profit was not an option, I’d choose the Sézane. Probably.
PONCHOS
I was pleasantly surprised to see a number of pretty poncho options. I like the idea of whipping a poncho out of your bag. It’s a little “waiting in line for Thunder Mountain” but fancy. Boden has a good one. The above brand (RAINKISS) has a variety of fun options for adults and kids. This silver one from Rains has the potential to be either wildly chic or wildly Marvel; not sure which. Thoughts?
WE’LL ALWAYS HAVE SWEATPANTS
To be clear, I don’t think sweatpants are good rain gear, but they are the perfect thing to put home once you are cozily inside, safe from any additional rain. The move is: Hot Shower→ Sweatpants→ Tea→ Book (or TV)
The Left on Friday version (as seen above) I ordered (in purple) arrived and they are COOL. I ordered a small and a medium and the medium has a more exaggerated I Dream of Jeannie bell-shape at the ankles which is kooky and weird but easy-to-wear.
I can’t find the pair I recently bought from ALO, but they are thin, not too baggy and wonderful. These look like an excellent stand in.
I’ve seen these “whipped” pants all over and
notes that they are divine, but probably not for wearing out of the house. (Side note: it’s funny to see culinary terms make their way over from beauty to loungewear. What’s next? Seared Denim? Syrupy Leggings?)
If you want to take things a step further and look cute in sweatpants…I have two resources for you. First
responded to my own cry for help around styling gray sweatpants with a definitive breakdown. Second, , who I referenced last week (but bears repeating) will also blow your mind.HOMEBODY MAGIC
I’m a homebody who loves to hear the words “game’s canceled; rain” because OK, GREAT, this is my time to shine with something gurgley and slow-roasted or maybe just snacky, like a big pile of nachos or pressed sandwich.
(Erin Boyle) has one of my forever favorite soup recipes. This soup + baguette + soft, salty butter is a low-effort home run. On the other end of the labor-intensive spectrum is Ina Garten’s Beef Bourguignon: worth the effort AND thrilling because you get to light the whole thing on fire. Grilled cheese on white bread with Kraft slices + Campbell’s Creamy Tomato soup is a perfectly acceptable rainy day lunch response in my book. If you need to be extra: Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese + Smoky Roasted Tomato Soup.This is the definitive rainy day candle. There are no others. The “jazzy rain” nighttime sound on the Calm app is the most heavenly way to drift off into a nap (but blow the candle out, please).
I think rainy days are good for revisiting old favorites. Movies like Goodbye Christopher Robin, The Love Letter, Coco Before Chanel, The Banshees of Inisherin, Little Women (Greta's version or the 90s version, you choose— probably both) and Midnight in Paris all fit the bill. From the bookshelf, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, Where’d You Go, Bernadette, The Prince of Tides, The Goldfinch and Rules of Civility carry the same ‘melancholy-but-charming’ (or ‘charming-but melancholy’ in some cases) tone that I would delight in re-reading.
The line below is the exact two shades of how I feel at the end of a rainy day. Sometimes like Peter, who spent the day running from Mr. McGregor and went to bed with just a sip of tea; other days more like his sisters who were good and got treats.
I am sorry to say that Peter was not very well during the evening. His mother put him to bed, and made some chamomile tea; and she gave a dose of it to Peter! 'One table-spoonful to be taken at bed-time.' But Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail had bread and milk and blackberries for supper.”
―Beatrix Potter, The Tale of Peter Rabbit
The best umbrellas
For the person who has everything: a parasol (not an umbrella)
15 Retro Southern Snacks > Hummus
Speaking of unhinged snacks…
11-yr-old me would have carried this around relentlessly to and fro Jazz & Tap classes
How to Stay Consistent is gorgeous and wise
- has every link you could ever hope for
A CBK style breakdown in The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University (her alma matter) is very sweet
Substack Icon
is featured in the NY Times (gift link) and also AirMail. Both are lovely; neither note how remarkable she is at engaging with readers.“She is rebellion, she is rock ‘n’ roll.” Nili Lotan on what’s next
Also Nili: GASP I LOVE THIS
Was just in Ireland and Scotland over winter break. Definitely saw color and pattern in Dublin for what it’s worth! :) Don’t be afraid to express your own authentic style, whenever you go, as long as you respect and adhere to local modesty customs. (Morocco comes to mind, specifically.)
Where in Ireland are you headed? Are you exploring other parts of Europe or the UK while you’re there? The tenement museum, 14 Henrietta Street, is a can’t miss in Dublin.
This whole thing cheered me up (I’m fine.. just hitting that 8:30 pm wall with two cooped up littles) - thank you, this was a lovely way to spend my five minute “hiding in the bedroom” recharge sesh.