Raingear takes on a new diversity, style
Rugged clothes not only for protection anymore; they are fashion trend
On rainy days when you were in elementary school, your mother dressed you in a plastic raincoat and gave you an umbrella decorated with yellow ducks. Since then, the popularity of raingear has increased and so has the variety available.
By Lora Cornell Special to the Kansan
Karla Bickel, salesclerk at Sunflower, 804 Massachusetts St., said an even number of men and women were buying rugged raincoats. She said students were buying the coats as more of a fashion statement than what they were meant for.
"These coats are really meant to be worn for more rugged use, like climbing Mount Everest," she said.
Meredith Henning, Alsip, Ill., junior, said she would like to invest in a North Face Coat, one of the brands Sunflower carries.
"My raincoat sucks — it doesn't work," she said. "As much as it's been raining, I should get a new one."
Of all the different types of hats, coats and boots available, the most popular foul weather accessory for college students is the umbrella.
"Lots of guys don't have raincoats, but
almost everybody has an umbrella," said Steve Verbanic, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore.
He did not buy his umbrella to be stylish.
"I just bought a black one. I didn't think about it being fashionable," he said.
Mike Peters, salesclerk at Outfitters, said students buy raincoats, but umbrellas are a more popular purchase.
"We offer a $10 special on umbrellas every day it rains." he said.
Wanda Davis, buyer for Weaver's Department Store Inc., 901 Massachusetts St., said that she had noticed an increase in the popularity of polyvinyl raincoats. She said she believed people bought this type of raincoat as a fashion trend.
"I have a red one, and I wear it sometimes even if it's not raining," Davis said.
There has been an increase in what is available for men's rainboots, said Larry Floutman, salesclerk at Arensberg Shoes, 825 Massachusetts St. Timberland is one of the many new brands. He said he had noticed an increase in the number of men buying boots. He said that there ought to be more brands available for women besides Sporto, which has been around for years.
Some students think of their raingear as protective rather than fashionable. Jennifer Cole, Arlington Heights, Ill., junior, said she has worn the same pair of rainboots for three years.
"My mom sent my rainboots to me freshman year," she said. "They keep my feet warm and dry.I'll never give them up."
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Fall Fashion Iab • K-you • October 29, 1993