Coachella officially kicks Music Festival season off in the US this weekend and, as the UK's Summer Festivals loom large, there's one thing you can guarantee - rain. Luckily, designers and retailers, ever quick to herald their Festival Fashion trends, have finally caught on to the fact that floral dresses, a plaid shirt and some cut off denims aren't really where it's at. What modern festival goers really need are cool, lightweight, at least shower-proof jackets and ideally ones that can be screwed up at the bottom of your backpack or tied round your waist when that sun decides to show itself.
Pac-a-macs have enjoyed a huge resurgence recently but can get a bit 'boil in the bag' so thankfully now there are some serious yet practical fashion options available that are perfect for everyday too and come in this season's cheeriest shade - bright, citrus-y, sunshine yellow. Here's my pick of some of the best rainwear out now, and a selection of cute wellies - including the inspired Moschino Cheap And Chic 'Wet-A-Porter' boots for Net-A-Porter.com - to go with them.
Top Row:Altuzarra Walnut hooded shell parka, £1,400, Burberry Brit Coated-cotton hooded jacket, £395, Mulberry Coated-cotton hooded cagoule style jacket, £550, Adidas by Stella McCartney hooded waterproof jacket, £300, Aubin & Wills Emley hooded coated cotton-blend poncho, £95, all from Net-A-Porter.com.
Bottom Row: Petit Bateau Jersey Lined Anorak, £125 from www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk, Ilse Jacobsen soft shell water repellent coat, £110 from www.coggles.com, Primark Paddington Bear shower proof parka, and if you don't fancy going all out yellow, you can rock a hint of primary with this unisex Lazy Oaf parka - I have this, it's awesome - for half price! Now £55 from www.lazyoaf.co.uk.
Top Row:Burberry buckled rubber boots, £235 from www.Net-A-Porter.com, Isle Jacobsen tall rain boots in White, £110 from Coggles, Moschino Cheap And Chic 'Wet-A-Porter' patent rubber boots, £125, exclusively from Net-A-Porter.com.
Second Row: Left and right - Ilse Jacobsen short wellington boots £95 from Coggles.com now plus Poste Mistress Covent Garden and Harvey Nichols from May, and centre - Aigle Yellow Chantebelle boots, £80 from www.aigleboots.com.
Third Row: High shine Original Tall Hunter wellies with neon soles, £85 (Top Tip - try Marc by Marc Jacobs stores 'Special Items' section for cheaper versions of these in a variety of colourways without the fitted style), Hunter vintage Union Jack print wellies, £125, Burberry rubber wellingtons, £250, all from Net-A-Porter.com.
Bottom Row: Aigle lightweight foldable wellingtons - roll them down to stash them in their own little carrier, £75 from www.aigleboots.com.