Raincoats that will keep you dry and looking good

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The rain that’s been pelting Los Angeles for days probably won’t let up till the middle of this week. Until then, I can recommend stylish weatherproof coats to keep you dry while you run to your car, duck under awnings or skid through the mall doing last-minute holiday shopping.

It wouldn’t occur to most people living in sunny Southern California to have a raincoat, much less a cute one, because, really, how often do we have the opportunity to use it? While it doesn’t rain here much, it’s good to have one in the closet for weeks like this.

A classic tan trench is the best rainy-day look. And while Burberry makes a great one, the price tag can be a little steep considering you’ll only bring the coat out several times a year. This tan jacket by Gallery ($98) does the trick and gives that same preppy “Love Story” vibe to whatever you wear underneath.

For a bold statement, try this Leopard print slicker by Weatherproof ($128), which would look great with black leggings and boots, a camel-colored sweater and gold jewelry. Who says rain has to put a damper on looking chic? This gray Tahari raincoat with a ruffled front and high funnel collar also delivers high on style. It’s not overwhelming, and the ruffle detail makes it dressy ($64.97).

The most dramatic choice I’ve found is this amazing black, belted jacket from Improvd ($378). The slick and shiny nylon almost has a ‘Bladerunner’ appeal to it. And the oversized collar and rounded hem are interesting details for a waterproof garment.

And for some reason, raincoats are cutest on kids. They always come in some cartoon theme or look borderline-costume. I love these two from Western Chief Kids. The Hello Kitty Froggy ($39.95) is a new spin on the classic pink and white cat, and the Bat Man jacket ($44.95) is just too much, cape and all. These are sure to have kids praying for more rain.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photos (top): Tahari jacket, left, at Nordstrom Rack. Credit: Tahari. Weatherproof jacket at www.nordstrom.com. Credit: Nordstrom.com

Photos (middle): Improvd coat at Nordstrom. Credit: Nordstrom. Gallery trench coat at www.nordstrom.com/Gallery. Credit: Nordstrom.com

Photos (bottom): Western Chief Kids raincoats, left and right, both at www.nordstrom.com. Credit: Western Chief Kids