When the skies darken and the rain starts to pour, chances are you’ve asked yourself the age-old question: what should I wear? If you’re looking for inspiration that’s fun, practical, and rooted in history, the fashion trends of the 1930s to 1950s have something for everyone. From classic trench coats and chic ponchos to quirky rain hats and sensible rain boots, discover the 1930s to the 1950s best pieces for staying dry and stylish in any storm.
Note: At the end I provide vintage shopping tips on where to get your own vintage rain gear.
Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy & RocknRomance Vintage are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
What To Wear When It’s Raining-1930s to 1950s Inspiration
Vintage Rain Gear Advertising & Vintage Patterns to Inspire:
1930s Vintage Catalog Page for Raincoats: I’m a big fan of the transparent raincoat (top on the right) which you will see a few more times below. Your outfit will never be hidden! Honestly though all those coats are pretty fantastic in this ad.
This is a early 1930s Canadian ad for a slicker called “Whooppee Slicker”. Comes in fun patterns I must say.
Source: eBay
1940’s raincoat and rain hat vintage sewing pattern illustration.
1940s Vintage Sewing Pattern for a women’s raincoat with hood.
Source: Etsy
Here are transparent raincoats for both men and women made from Vinylite Plastics-1946 ad.
A real life example of a plastic transparent raincoat from Follow me Quietly, 1949.
Another FANTASTIC examples of transparent raincoats from the 1943 MGM film, ‘The Human Comedy’. In the film Donna Reed rocks a transparent slicker and headcover with matching transparent umbrella.
Thank you to Michael W for the screenshots for my blog.
Raincoats for the whole family in the 1950s! The green coat is so beautiful and did you notice her boots (keep scrolling to see an ad for the rain boots)? What a cool Fashion Frocks ad.
1950s Vintage Sewing Pattern for Kids Rain Coats and Fall Jackets.
Source: Etsy
Looking for some vintage rain boots that are also transparent?? Look no further than these darling “Rain Dears” with bow! Can I have 10???
1950s raincoat and rain gear ideas as seen in a 1950s Sears Christmas Wish Book catalog. What would you buy?
Source: Sears Wish Book
1953 ad for Firestone Velon Plastic. Love that even the dog has a rain coat 🙂
I cannot end this post without referencing some great rain-wear photos from “Singin in the Rain“.
I want Debbie Reynolds boots in this picture.
“Girls: Protect your curls!” 1950s vintage ad for a rain bonnet.
You can’t go wrong with a cute plastic rain bonnet (you can find lots of versions on Etsy, which I have shared some samples below).
I recently did a video on a rain bonnet and how they work on TikTok. Take a look below!
@tovintagelizzie Hairstyle tip: How to protect your hair when it rains #hairtip #vintagehair #vintagetip #raining ♬ original sound – Liz Gruening-Vintage Lover
Here are some examples of vintage rain gear items you can take home and enjoy
(updated Feb 2024)
Vintage Shopping: I have put together an Etsy Collection that I update monthly of “Vintage Rain Gear“.
NOTE: If you click on any of the items featured below and they are not available, don’t fret! Hit the search button and see what else is on the websites. There are 1000’s and 1000’s of items being listed daily.
Do you love the transparent rain coats I posted above? Well Etsy has a bunch of new and vintage styles, just hit the search button and pick what works for you. To get you started here is a vintage 1970’s clear vinyl raincoat with white polka dots (avail as of Feb 2024 HERE).
Source: Etsy
RocknRomance Vintage is a brand that makes REPRODUCTION 1940s & 1950s fashions (aka modern sizes and fabrics), they have a cute ‘Semi Transparent’ raincoat that you can purchase from their website (this one is made to order). Take a look by clicking HERE or the image below.
1950s overshoes. These black rain boots are two-tone glossy and matte rubber with cuban heels. They slip on and are just below mid-calf (avail as of Feb 2024 HERE).
Source: Etsy
Late 1950s Baby Rain Jacket that features a bright yellow trim with a clear body with yellow poppies and white daisies.
Source: Etsy
Look at this adorable 1950s rain bonnet box with a surprise inside..the rain bonnet itself! LOVE THIS! The seller has more styles, that are just too cute!
Source: Etsy
1950s ladies full length raincoat with hood & 3 snap fasteners in handy purse size pouch.
Source: Etsy
Well I think I have lots of ideas now on what to wear when it’s raining, I can’t wait for it to rain now. HA!
Share your favourite way of staying dry, in the comments section below.
FURTHER READING:
Thanks for dropping by!
Liz
Oh, I just love the colorful artwork of pretty people. I only wish it rained here so I could don this gay apparel. I recall watching The Dating Game in the 70s, and they always spoke of “making whoopee,” so perhaps that is not the best term for a slicker.
Well we all know how meaning of names/terms change as the years move on. I guess “Whooppee” in the 1930s was just a slicker and not what we think of now 🙂 When I saw the ad I HAD to add it to the post as it just made me giggle
I love the “Scotty Cape Coat” in the first image, and the pink and green coats with hoods! Lovely. I’m thinking of having a go at a rain hat soon, although it feels a little daunting. Oh and this is a cute video of raincoat fashions from 1956 you might enjoy: http://www.britishpathe.com/video/raincoat-fashions/
The Scotty Cape is so gorgeous, wonderful choice 🙂 I think I might skip the rain hat (so hard to wear when you actually take the time to do your hair lol) and go with those clear rain hood things (love my highly technical fashion term there lol).
As for that video…Love it! I’m going to share it on Twitter with my followers as that is too good to not share. Thanks so much for posting that.
Liz 🙂
I saw a clear cape in PA, didnt buy it and now IM KICKING MYSELF!!!!
Oh no!! That is a shame 🙁 maybe tomorrow you will be in luck and find one
Someone needs to relaunch a brand called Whoopee Slickers, that name is just too fun and imaginative to languish simply in the annals of history, if you ask me.
Great post, sweet gal, we’re still battling snow (some days) out here, but hopefully soon it will be time to dust off the ol’ rain coat again.
♥ Jessica
hehehe I totally agree Jessica! I can just see the advertising now for Whoopee Slickers 🙂 I think it would catch on in our social media crazed days.
Soon enough winter will be gone and we will 100% be back to complaining about the heat of the summer lol! Stay warm in all your vintage loveliness Jessica 🙂
Hi, just discovered your site….in the rain I have always used 1970s retro-vintage Shelta umbrellas (my first was a 13th birthday present in 1974 and lasted 25 years, school, University, two overseas trips, countless football matches and outdoor concerts in the rain, probably thousands of miles walked under it and shared with more friends and random strangers than I can possibly count), but recently, for times when they won’t let you put the umbrella up I’ve reverted back to pre-teen years and started wearing a full-length nylon raincoat and a concertina rain hat just like the bike ride to primary school. I bought the coat for $2 from a charity store and found the bonnet in the pocket. The coat may have been used once and the hat I suspect not at all, and so far they’ve lasted over 10 years and do a much better job of keeping me dry than those dreadful plastic overgrown sandwich wrappers they charge a fortune for.
Cheers Karen (Melbourne Australia)
Hi, just discovered your site….in the rain I have always used 1970s retro-vintage Shelta umbrellas, if they count as Vintage yet (my first was a 13th birthday present in 1974 and lasted 25 years, school, University, two overseas trips, countless football matches and outdoor concerts in the rain, probably thousands of miles walked under it and shared with more friends and random strangers than I can possibly count), but recently, for times when they won’t let you put the umbrella up I’ve reverted back to pre-teen years and started wearing a full-length nylon raincoat and a concertina rain hat just like the bike ride to primary school. I bought the coat for $2 from a charity store and found the bonnet in the pocket. The coat may have been used once and the hat I suspect not at all, and so far they’ve lasted over 10 years and do a much better job of keeping me dry than those dreadful plastic overgrown sandwich wrappers they charge a fortune for.
Cheers Karen (Melbourne Australia)
Hi Karen!
Thank you for sharing your rain fashions with me. I love hearing stories like this 🙂 I also love that story of your umberalla that lasted 25 years. How Fun and the memories..awesome!
I agree with the garbahge bag wrappers..yuck!
Thanks fors stopping by!
Liz
Hi Liz, Thanks for your kind reply – feel free to delete one of my posts above.
Is it possible to post pics on this site?
You can email me if you want off my blog: thevintageinnblog@gmail.com
Have a nice Monday!
Liz
What I wish to wear is a rubber lined cotton traditional rain cape with an attached hood that has ties to go under that chin. As I am a transvestite I would wer it over a maid’s dress on my way to work for a lady I clean for. Two problems one she may not let me do that and second they are very expensive. I do not mind about the colour.