I’m a sucker for a nice little waterproof number, and it doesn’t get much more cheerful than the bright spotty lining and cheery cherry red hue of Target Dry’s new waterproof jacket, the Olivia (£59.99), which came with me on my recent 90 mile cycle from Bristol to Oxford, through wind, rain, hail and glorious countryside.
Product description: “The ladies Olivia Jacket is a longer length raincoat for a little more protection from the rain. We’ve made it to high standards – fully taped seams and 100% waterproof and breathable fabric means that you’ll stay comfortable. The dot print lining is getting people talking, and there’s two large front pockets to keep all your essentials.”
Biking 90 miles: The Olivia is perfect for cycling. Compact enough to fold away in panniers or backpacks and easy to pop over a fleece or a hoodie, it kept me dry through an unseasonable hail storm and wasn’t too hot to wear when the sun came out again. The silky lining is mega comfy and the velcro cuffs, foldaway hood and popper pockets are perfect for inclement weather. The best thing about the Olivia, though, is the jacket’s cut – unlike shapeless waterproof coverups, it’s a proper (albeit lightweight) jacket and feels very flattering and comfortable on.
On windy photoshoots: I spend about half of my time at work standing in fields taking photos, which often involves misjudging the weather and freezing in a sundress or sweating in a fleece and welly boots. The Olivia is perfect for these sartorial moments of terror, as it’ll sit happily at the bottom of a rucksack till needed and then can be easily slipped on, and the big pockets hold all manner of lens caps and other bits and bobs.
Verdict: A brilliant little waterproof that’ll take you effortlessly through spring and look good whilst it’s doing it, too – worth spending a little more on for the proper jacket cut.
1 Comment