I love bags more than the average individual and I’ve certainly had my fair share of obsessive handbag behavior, but every now and then I see something that makes me pause and question “who the heck would use that”? The most prominent example that comes to mind is the purse rain coat. If you’re unfamiliar with a purse rain coat, it is exactly what it sounds like. The best way to describe it is a literal plastic poncho that you hang over your bag to repel rain. Sounds like a great idea in theory, but I’m puzzled by who would actually use one of these. Don’t get me wrong, I am an advocate for protecting my beloved bags even at the expense of social normalcy, but a purse rain coat seems unnecessary. Wouldn’t a traditional umbrella do the same trick?
When I lived in Ireland a few years ago, I was walking home from work one day with my brand new Gerard Darel 24 Heures bag. I had just purchased it earlier in the week during a long weekend in Paris, and I was so excited to use it on an unusually sunny winter day in Cork. The sun was shining one moment and the next thing I knew the skies opened up and dumped what seemed like a lifetime of rain onto me and my precious bag. The road home had no shops or places to seek shelter, so I had to suck it up and walk 15 minutes in the torrential rain. Literally every inch of my bag was drenched, to the point where droplets of water were forming off the bottom of it. I have never had a bag soak up water like that before, and I hesitate to use that bag even today due to fear of damaging it beyond repair. Luckily it dried evenly and has minimal water spots after such a dramatic event, but sadly the leather was never the same after that incident.
It’s the memory of my 24 Heures bag getting soaked to the core that opens my mind up to the idea of a purse rain coat. I’m not sure it suits my lifestyle or needs, but I can see the benefit of covering your bag in a total rain emergency, especially if you’re partial to suede bags. A rain poncho is lightweight enough that you could throw one into the depths of your bag, only to bring it out in the event of a torrential downpour. I suppose it could also come in handy when there is sideways rain, when even an umbrella can’t protect you from getting wet. Honestly I doubt I will be using one of these unless I ever become the lucky owner of a Birkin or Kelly, but to each their own. You won’t get any judgment from me for using one!
I’m curious to know, would you use a rain coat for your bag? If so, you can shop the Handbag Raincoat via Shopbop.
I think that it would depend on how sentimental the bag is, for me at least. If the bag has no sentimental value, than it doesn’t matter how big the price tag is, I’ll wear it even in the rain. This is coming from someone who loves to wear her bags to tatters or until they have a ugly eyesore of a stain. ?
Only if they are as cute as the ones that FENDI had created for their bags
I absolutely adore the FENDI bag cover. It’s great.
There was a company that that made me really cute ones that’s now defunct, which is too bad. I feel like if you’re gonna be as extra as having a handbag raincoat, go hard or go home, don’t just get an ugly one lol. I personally would use one, eff the haters!
I have one! I kept it in the car when I had a detached garage. That way if I came home and it was raining, my nice bags would be safe. Same if I was out somewhere. It isn’t very cute, but a high end leather bag needs some sheltering
Yes I have a folded nylon tote I got for free that I keep in my bag at all times. If its raining I take the tote out and pop my bag in there and I’m good to go.
That’s what I do too. It makes me cringe to think of my bag wearing a made-to-fit rain cape
haha well I I do have a bag that came with made-to-fit raincoat, I just don’t think they are convenient/work as well.
I have one by Chanel that I adore to bits.
I have that one! It’s so cute. I don’t think I’ve actually used it, I keep it on different bags on display. 🙂
I also have the one pictured, but it has stars on it. So cute.
Probably not. What can I say. I like to live life on the edge. LOL!
Living in NYC this came in handy a few times. I used the one that comes with the Peekaboo a few times because sometimes an umbrella won’t cover the sides completely. I’ve also been that psycho running down Lexington Ave into a Duane Reade holding my bag with Lambskin and under my shirt for fear of damaging the fur lol. So as ridiculous a raincoat for a bag may sound, it looks more ridiculous to run in the rain with a bag under your shirt or jacket lol. Rain blisters on bags are NOT the look.
Probably not. What I have seen in NYC is women placing their bags in water resistant reusable bags.
Depending on where you live I guess. Here in Rome you can always find shelter in a bar or a store so it’s impossible to get as drenched. But, if I lived somewhere else where there was a risk of getting in a rainstorm and not being able to find shelter then yes, I would buy a raincoat…
Hell yeah. I live in a place that rains more often than not, so if I want to use my bags, I need a way to keep them dry. Paying a few dollars to keep my thousand dollar bags in pristine conditions…it’s just good sense.
No, no, no. The thought of a purse rain coat is preposterous – I don’t buy leather bags that can’t take a bit of rain. If there’s a risk of rain I usually don’t carry canvas and instead I go for nylon or leather.