Did your grandma carry around a rain bonnet in her purse? I’m not sure if any of ours did, but a dear friend brought us a rain bonnet this week (straight from a hospital gift shop, no less). The package looks vaguely Nagelish ( you remember those from the eighties, right?), but of course, the contents are a different matter entirely.
When exactly was it ever a good idea to use a rain bonnet? Why not just a hat or an umbrella? It must be a generational thing, we just don’t understand them. Also, this is Oregon and we natives don’t even use umbrellas much because of our amphibious ability to shed water, but still, who thought these up and how did they become so ubiquitous?
As Judy Markey said in the Chicago Sun-Times, “There is no other reason to wear a plastic rain bonnet than to preserve a head full of thoroughly curled, thoroughly sprayed, thoroughly immobilized, rigidized, petrified hair. And when you get into the land where HARD HAIR PRESERVATION seems like a reasonable and nifty thing to do . . . well then what? Can subscribing to Reader’s Digest be far behind?”
Now, I don’t actually know anyone who uses a rain bonnet, but someone must, or they wouldn’t still be available. I guess they used to be cool, as these cute little numbers on Ebay demonstrate. Maybe we could start a rain bonnet revival, you know, bring them back in popular graphic prints and snazzy shapes — skulls, daisies, polka dots? Maybe our grandkids will buy them at Claire’s. Designers, start your computers, we have a challenge for you. Maybe Amy Winehouse could use one for her poor, tortured coif or Britney for her wigs — after all it kind of goes with the new British accent…
2/27/2008
Thanks Helena for the great pics of the Queen! If She can wear a rain bonnet, maybe I can, too!
27 comments
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February 8, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Scotty
Hi Trixie
I noticed yuour post regarding rainbonnets. I am a 46 year old guy from Scotland who remembers these plastic fold up hats, they were popular with the girls at school before the fold up umbrella.
I used to love seeing the girls wearing these for some reason? I did have a girlfriend who used to wear a nice clear one with a pink umbrella pattern, however noone seems to wear them anymore, except those horrible hooded rainhats.
Perhaps they will make a comeback, fashon always seems to go round in phases, it would be so retro 1960 chic, woudnt you agree?
Scotty
February 8, 2008 at 6:52 pm
trixiesbeautybar
Maybe with a redesign? Thanks for checking out our blog, Scotty.
February 21, 2008 at 4:01 am
Helena Handcart
Hi people
I am in my late 40s, and I have worn pleated rainhats ever since I was about three and Mum had to tie the strings for me. They were compulsory for the first few years of high school, and even after I started using an umbrella I found it was handy to have one on for those few seconds between taking your umbrella down and getting onto the bus or into the car. I still wear them most of the time it’s raining but especially in crowds when umbrellas can be a nuisance.
I remember I had one when I was little which had little white umbrellas on it, which was extra long with extra folds to fit over my shoulder length hair. I also remember them with little white dots in rows, and multi-colored spots, and flowers, and other designs.
The ones I use now are all old, mostly plain clear plastic, bought as-new practically unused from second hand shops for next to nothing, and they’re thick enough and strong enough to keep my hair dry sitting in a football crowd for three hours with a proper nylon raincoat. Those other rain bonnets you get today, the ones with the visor, are incredibly ugly, and so are those ghastly useless plastic ponchos every other poor sod wears in sport crowds these days.
When you can’t use a brolly a classic nylon or plastic mac and plastic fold-up rainhat is the most practical and convenient alternative and IMO looks the best.
Rant over!
February 12, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Shirley
I GREW UP IN THE 50′S AND 60′S IN SO. CALIF. THOSE OF US WHO RODE THE BUS TO SCHOOL AND WALKED TO SCHOOL, USED THESE RAIN BONNETS WHEN IT RAINED BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T TAKE UP MUCH ROOM IN YOUR PURSE. AND YOU DIDN’T ALWAYS KNOW WHEN IT WOULD RAIN. WHO WANTS TO CARRY AROUND BOOKS AND A UMBRELLA ALL DAY JUST IN CASE IT MIGHT RAIN. ALSO IN THE MID 50′S HAIR SPRAY WASN’T AROUND MUCH AND NOT HARDLY ANYONE USED IT. THE HAIR SALONS OF THAT DAY DID USE HAIR LAQUER THEN AND IF IT GOT WET WHAT A MESS. THEY REALLY ARE A BIT OF NOSTAGILA. I CAME ACROSS YOU ARTICLE LOOKING FOR A RAIN BONNET FOR MY AUNT IN HER 80′S SHE CAN’T SEEM TO FIND THEM IN ANY ORDER CATALOGUES, AND I TOLD HER I WOULD GO ON LINE AND FIND HER. SHIRLEY PALM SPRINGS, CALIF
February 21, 2008 at 5:23 pm
trixiesbeautybar
Hi Helena–
Thanks for your comments! In my typically American fashion I had no idea that rain bonnets had such a different legacy in other parts of the world. It sounds as though you had much cuter styles to choose from — do you have any pics of the ones you wore when you were little? I’d love to see them. Great to hear your thoughts.
–Tracy
February 22, 2008 at 1:14 am
Helena Handcart
Thanks for your answer Tracy. I think rainhats were always more common in Britain than anywhere else, and not just because it rains more. But on the other hand they were never called ‘rain bonnets’ until the Americans found them. In Australia they were standard for most primary school girls (with bright red plastic macs) in the 60s then they became less popular in high school as girls got their own brolly, and at my school just because they were compulsory until you were about 14 they were specially hated by some girls (always the way). But they were still common as a Plan B, and right into the end of high school I was always being asked for a spare one by girls who had left their umbrella at home.
About the designs, I think I might have a photo in a book somewhere of the Queen (of all people) wearing a white spotty rainhat at the Olympics in Canada the day Princess Anne fell off her horse – I’ll have to scan it but once I’ve done that how can I get it onto here? (I’m still lagging behind a bit on this sort of stuff).
Regards
HELena Handcart
February 22, 2008 at 1:59 am
trixiesbeautybar
Hey Helena,
I’d love to see your photo — just email it as an attachment to trixie@trixiesbeautybar.com and I will post it. Is a “Brolly” an umbrella? I guess as hairstyles & hair products changed, these hats are seemingly less of a necessity, eh? In Oregon, it rains a lot, but you can tell the people who have lived here a while because they never carry umbrellas — usually thay just run for it, ignore it or use a hooded parka. Very interesting. Thanks for your comments!
–Tracy
February 28, 2008 at 2:28 am
trixiesbeautybar
Helena –
Thanks for the AWESOME pics of the Queen! Look how young Prince Charles is there — amazing.
–Tracy
March 1, 2008 at 4:55 am
Helena Handcart
Glad you liked them. Those pics were from 1976 so Charlie would have been about 28 and Mrs W 50 that year.
It’s good to see those clear umbrellas like she’s holding are making a bit of a comeback. Not that I’ve ever liked using them much – they’re a pain to cart about when you’re not using them, the area they cover isn’t as big as it looks, and because the sides slope down so fast walking under them is always like walking into Niagara Falls.
But they’re one of the few kinds of brolly you can get new these days that does the job and looks like it was made to last, and is fun and not depressing.
My pet hate is cheap black umbrellas. So anal, so style-less, so conformist, so damned dull. You see corporate yuppie type women with them all the time, dressed to impress but carting this reject shop $2 umbrella. It looks like a piece of crap (or a hundred yards up the road it will) but because it’s black it’s in line with the dress code. BOOORING!!!!!
March 1, 2008 at 3:00 pm
trixiesbeautybar
Hey Helena,
When I saw your comments about umbrellas I thought of this groovy new umbrella I recently saw. http://www.dailycandy.com/everywhere/article/35217/Bubbleicious
Do you know that Shedrain umbrellas are actually based here in Portland right down the street from my salon? Maybe you should come for a tour sometime! Thanks again, Tracy
March 23, 2008 at 11:22 am
rona rainhat
Until I found this site, I thought that I was rather unusual in wearing rainhats and carrying a spare in my handbag. I am 41 and the only other ladies in my area to wear them seem to be approximately 70! I have a clear memory of being put into one by my mother when I was about 7. We had been on a country walk and had been surprised by a sudden downpour. Afterwards, a rainhat became a necessary part of the walking kit. Little did my mother know that this was to spark off a passion for collecting and wearing some 600+ rainhats and bonnets of all different styles. My husband actively encourages me. Like the photograph of the Queen, mine is often worn over a headscarf. In my case it is used to protect the scarf as much as my hair! I wear them every day, and always have one or two “spares” in my handbag – one must always be prepared for inclement weather in Britain!! I will send a couple of photographs of myself to you.
March 31, 2008 at 7:52 am
Helena Handcart
Hi Rona
No I don’t think we’re the Last of the Dinosaurs just yet and maybe not even the last generation. My daughter, who is 16, and i found ourselves ‘sans parapluie’, with the car parked a good hundred yards away, leaving church on Good Friday, although we both had showerproof coats on they were to keep out wind rather than rain. I straight away took a rainhat out of my pocket, as is my habit, and put it on and half-joked that I had another one in my bag if she wanted to borrow it. To my amazement she thought about it for only about two seconds before accepting the offer. She carefully tucked her hair under the back of her coat and put the rain hat I gave her on, making sure the back was over her collar, tied the ties under her chin with some difficulty, and we walked to the car.
When she took it off and pulled it shut when we got home. she asked if she could keep it. She said she was surprised at how neat it looked and how dry it had kept her. As far as I know (she has mainly lived with her father since she was 8) she had never worn a plastic rain hat in her life before.
Not many of her friends even have their own umbrella, she says, and even less actually like using one, so she’s already out on a bit of a limb using a brolly by choice.
But I would have thought a plastic rain hat would have been beyond the pale even for someone as defiantly ‘uncool’ as her. Obviously either the umbrella has lost so much cred that even wearing a grandma plastic hat isn’t that huge a backward step, or they might be making a comeback on the ‘retro’ wave.
August 10, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Emma
Hi,
Where can I get a rain mate (bonnet) from? Been looking everywhere?
Emma
August 10, 2008 at 8:21 pm
trixiesbeautybar
Hi Emma –
Have you tried Ebay? Good luck!
–Tracy
August 14, 2008 at 10:01 am
Scotty
Hi Emma
I have a couple of retro accordian type rainbonnets that I collected over the years and are stuck in a drawer. If you are still looking for one, I can send you one
Scotty
August 17, 2008 at 10:46 am
Helena Handcart
Hi Emma, you could always make one yourself with a 600 ml square sheet of clear plastic (or bigger for a ‘de luxe’ bonnet that protects both your face and the back of your neck properly at once) and a couple of lengths of hem-binding. Just fold in the pleats and sew the ties into each end.
November 11, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Patrick
Hi Trixie,
I have read your blog regarding rain bonnets and I am surprised at the responses I have seen. It seems that women take great care and pride in their looks and making sure that the hair, makeup and clothing are well groomed and coordinated. Then why would you let the rain make you look like a “drowned rat”? I don’t understand the anathema for the plastic rain bonnet.
I happen to be a male who uses plastic rain bonnets and the visor type rain hats. My wife gave me one years ago as a joke and to her surprise, I wore it in the rain. I have worn it ever since and I get an occasional giggle, but in reality, no one cares what someone does to remain dry. Any why should they? Why would anyone care how I choose to remain dry? I am an adult and I should be able to make my own choices.
Also, where is it written that they are for women only? I bought several in a beauty supply store and when I asked it they could be worn by men also, the response I received has always been positive. I have never been refused.
I would rather see a woman protecting her hair with a plastic rain bonnet than a woman who looks like she just stepped out of the shower. Believe me, the rain bonnet is much more attractive that a soaked head.
May 7, 2009 at 11:16 am
Steve
Hi Patrick, I am a keen follower of the rain bonnet as you are. I have a few of the clear “pharmacy store supplied” visor types as well some donations of the old pleated variety. http://www.montcler.com do some nice alternatives to the visor types selling them in heavier gauge glossy white and black PVC, to rainscarf styles in soft semi transprent vinyl and tie up rainhats.
http://www.plastiqueunique.com sell a mint green and white semi transparent visor type to a tradtional headscarf with a lovely long taper, and a boxier style tie up vintage style hood.
I have worn the glossy PVC visor inside outside out, matt surface showing to go with a long black matt plastic raincoat that I have from Muji. I find that the bonnet is more practical to wear over the head and secures tightly with the ties as the Muji’s hood is very deep and even in a small breeze can blow off leaving the head uncovered. I have also worn the beige transparent vintage hood from Plastique Unique with a matching fly fronted matt beige ladies fastening raincoat to afford me good protection in the rain.
Rain bonnets I think are more practical than umbrellas which can blow inside out and are difficult items to tame in windy weather. To get the benefits of wearing a rain bonnet, hood or scarf, hat, souwester (think I’ve covered them all!) then these items are best worn with preferably a good waterproof raincoat, ideally one that doesn’t leak and so will be made of lighter / heavier guage transparent or opaque plastic / glossy PVC or rubber with a cotton or rubber lining / or cotton, satin or nylon which is rubber lined. The rubber raincoats are known in the UK as mackintoshes. I think the US calls them slickers although I’m not sure what the general term for plastic raincoat is, is it the same? I know in France it is “impermeable”!
Comments please!
Steve
November 11, 2008 at 8:17 pm
trixiesbeautybar
Hmmm, I never thought of that. Good point. In Portland, we just run between the raindrops I guess. Thanks for checking out our blog.
January 14, 2009 at 2:04 am
kellie
Hi I am really glad to have found your site. I was talking with my mother and she told me how she went into a local drug store to look for a rain hat but the people working there had no idea what she was talking about! haha I’m 37 and live in Georgia/USA and I have lots of fond memories of my grandmother always carrying rain hats in her purse. I’m glad I’m not the only one who remembers them.
January 17, 2009 at 12:37 am
trixiesbeautybar
Thanks for checking out our blog, Kellie. Actually, I’m working on getting an ecommerce site up for rain bonnets. Stay tuned.
–Tracy
September 9, 2009 at 10:51 am
rainman
Hey,
I am a great friend of clear rain bonnets. I have a lot of them and it´s raining I put on a rain bonnet to protect my hairs. It´s a pity, that only some women wearing this “old” clear rain bonnets.
Hve a look at youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/rainman90de
If you are a friend of rain bonnets too, write to me
Regards
rainman90de
October 8, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Cole Porter
Very interesting comments. I bought my first pleated rainhood during a wet cycle tour of Scotland about fifty years ago before hooded cycle capes and macs became acceptable for men and secretly wore it for years afterwards for night time cycling in the rain.
I still love such rainhoods and anything else rainproof, now I’m 70.
October 9, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Dottie
I wore them when I was younger, also, but a looking for one now to keep in my purse for when it is raining, and I have no umbrella, to protect my hearing aids from getting wet.
October 30, 2009 at 11:17 am
Cole Porter
Referring to your comment on setting up an ecommerce site for rain bonnets, if this means a site for selling them might I suggest they’re made in bright metallic colours?
If they were all the same they’d be rather mundane whereas ‘A Different Colour For Each Day Of The Week’ and/or ‘Each Colour Of The Rainbow’ would provide a bit of novelty and sparkle to attract customers. Gold and silver would be attractive too.
A piece of card folded into a concertina fashion can be used to push the would be bonnet into with a ruler, making it easy to fold them up.
March 7, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Alisa
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3754803&l=f3afd2727c&id=551033104
I was recently in San Francisco with my family and it started to drizzle and my mom pulled out a rain bonnet! At the end of the day she looked great and the rest of us all looked a little bedragled. Now I need to find a local source!
July 3, 2010 at 7:29 pm
Martin Aguero Gallo
She`s a Muse in my world….